August 16, 2008
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Picnic ...baptism
Our church picnic went very well. Everyone seemed to have a good time. We roasted marshmallows and pitched horseshoes. All the young and a few old enjoyed the trampoline.I think the beautiful skyline God provided was the most awesome picture of the night.For me The conversation around the fire pit was the most enjoyable time.
Our church is a convergence of three. The evangelical , charasmatic and sacramental.Therefore we have several different denominational backgrounds. We come from Southern Baptist roots. We are struggling with a few points in the CEC'S theology. Our daughter is almost 14 and was dedicated at a young age and prayed to receive her salvation at the age of about 5. Some would call this a sinners prayer. I simply think of it as when we stop running and accept our wonderful and free gift of salvation.Here is the problem. In our church you may not receive the Communion unless you are baptized.They fully push baby baptism Our daughter is ready to receive a "believers " baptism which would include an immersion baptismal ceremony.Our Priest will only do a "sprinkling" type of baptism. Saying sometime next year we "may ' be able to have an immersion baptismal ceremony and she could be immersed at that time. Being 14 and growing up with a desire to be immersed...believing that is the "way" to do it. She is refusing.Therefore come sunday...she will be refused communion . which we have every week. Which means as a family we will stand with her.This is painful to her and she is hurt and whole heartily believes Jesus would never turn her away and that she is not unworthy. Please pray this does not push any of us away while it is worked out.
Comments (10)
I don't understand why he wants to wait until next year. Do they only do an immersion baptism once a year??
Wow, interesting. I've heard both viewpoints regarding baptism. I personally believe in dedication and then baptism. Brian opposes me on that. LOL. I was baptized the summer between 7th and 8th grade (having been dedicated as a baby). I'm surprised that your pastor is being so rigid regarding this issue. What happens when ppl join the church/body of Christ that have never been baptized? Do they have to wait over a year to receive communion?
Glad to hear the picnic went well! Isn't fellowship such a blessing?
@Hecalmsthestorm - they do not normally perform immersion baptism mostly because they do not havre the facilties. He has to get special permission fromthe bishop to perform one outside of the church..like at a lake or pool. This is the CEC . Which is very new to us. not sure I am going to be able to agree with them on this issue...they do not seem to be willing to agree to disagree either.
@kharahlyn - me too..i am covered in just about any denomination..being "double dipped" ;0)
Hi! Thanks for visiting my site.
I'm a worship minister of an 8000-member church in Manila and by my denominatonal label alone you can tell that I am for believer's baptism. Our primary mode of baptism is such, but in certain cases when a believer is not "immersible" we would pour or a perform a "waterless baptism" which involves laying on of hands, and an anointing of sorts.
Baptism is important to every Christian and I believe that your daughter deserves to be given an opportunity to profess her faith in Christ through baptism. The Bible clearly teaches that Baptism is for believers only, but so is communion. Since your daughter is a believer I see no reason for her to be refused such. But then, I respect the tradition of the church in which you belong. That's a reality your family has to face each week.
Recently, there was an exodus of a number of members from the Cathedral of the King (the seat of the CEC in the Southeast Asia), and many chose to move to our church. Their primary concern was evangelism, which is closely related with baptism. You see, the Archbishop teaches that since there is only one baptism anyone who has been baptized in any church is saved, and thus, needs not be evangelized. In the Philippines' context, that is a bit far out because almost everyone is Catholic and is baptized into the church yet many of them are clearly unsure of their faith, and not believers.
I was just in the Church Library with a couple who were CEC members sharing this issue with me, and since they saw me baptize six teenagers that morning in the service, they asked me to schedule their two teen sons and their 9-year-old daughter who recently trusted Christ personally at summer camp for baptism next month.
This has been a lengthy comment.
May the Lord guide you in your decision.
@jonlas - They are standing by the sanctity of communion...in doing so it seems they are saying her infant baptism is more a sign or seal of her salvation than her repentance and sinners prayer. This is what is frustrating her the most.The cross is where her sins were washed away. She is standing firm in her belief in a "believers baptism" I am trying to calm her into undestanding weither poured over or immersed she is already a believer ..therefore it will be a believers baptism. But she still desires a large enough body of water to be completly immersed into and out of.I commend her at 14 for her strong beliefs ,but worry she may put her heels in the ground to stand by and make it a theological argument and no longer focus on the hearts desire to be Christ like and obediant.Thank you for sharing!
I applaud your daughter's decision, and I would correct your priest were I there. He should not refuse Baptism. I have a soap-box about that. If a Baptism is to happen, it should happen right then. I do not believe it is necessary for Salvation, but I do believe it should happen, and your priest should have found a river, lake, or pool to baptize your daughter in as soon as she asked for something besides a sprinkling! I am of the same mind as the Ethiopian Eunich : What is to hinder me from being Baptized? there is much water here!
Howdy! I saw that you stopped by the Campfire earlier, and I wanted to
drop in and let you know that it was great to see you there, and you're
welcome back anytime!
Cowboy
I would be calling around to other churches that do baptism. If your daughter wants to be baptized then I am sure any church would do it. Just explain her desire to be baptized I can't see anyone refusing her. The question is would the church you attend honor a baptism that was done by another church. If not I would say it is time to find a new church. It is so hard to get back to a good worshipping attitude, if you do not fully believe in the doctorine of the church.
Hugs
@lifeliveit - hugs...godd advice,thank u
I'm sorry to hear about the baptism issues with your church. I certainly hope they can be worked out in a way that Brittney is comfortable with. {{hugs}}
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