what happens at a baptism?

Question

And what's a "private baptism"?

And how do you perform a baptism on yourself?

Answer 1

Baptism with water is the outward sign of the inner change that has happened to your spirit. To some churches, you have to prove that change in different ways--some accept only full emersion of a person old enough to be accountable, and some just use sprinkling either of adults for themselves, or on babies with the parents accepting responsibilty of raising that child as a member of the faith. Then there are Quakers who believe that the rite of baptism should not be a public display, but should be solely between the person and God.

No matter how it is done, the water really has nothing to do with it, it is what is going on inside you that counts.

Answer 2

For Catholics a baptism is performed a few days after birth. The head is sprinkled with holly water and a prayer is said. In other secs of Christianity, baptism is performed by complete submersion in water by a priest or bishop. The secs I know of that do this is Baptists and LDS (Mormons). There are probably others. The age of the person getting baptized varies but mainly depends on when that person is ready to commit to their God that they will do His will. A private baptism is probably when the person getting baptized only wants them and the priest or bishop to be there. This also might mean that they only want the closest people to them (2 or 3 at most) to witness it.

Answer 3

Cowgirl's got it right and the Greek word rendered "baptism" means to fully submerge. I'd just like to add that the private baptism can often take place in a handy lake, river or swimming pool immediately on conversion. Look at the Ethiopian baptised by Phillip in the desert (Acts 8) - there wasn't anybody else around to witness it. After a friend led a woman to the Lord he dunked her in her pool straight away and found her a church to go to later.

I won't get into the baptismal regeneration debate with choctawdeer.

ADDITIONAL

I am totally unaware of any teaching on self-baptism, although I have no doubt that someone, somewhere has come up with the idea and twisted a couple of verses to justify it. Check out the life of Jesus, He had to go to man to be baptised.

Answer 4

A baptism is when a person is immersed in water as a part of a church service.
Before that time, some churches have the one being baptised tell of what has happened to them to this point. They also tell how and why they are asking for baptism.
That is what you see in the seat. It is a symbol as talked about in Romans 6:1-4

Answer 5

All that happens is the person administering baptism says your name and says something about your profession of faith, then either quotes Matthew 28:19 or invokes the name of Jesus as in Acts 2:38 and in Acts chapters 8, 10, and 19, then you are dunked under the water and immediately brought up and that's it. Sometimes the baptizee will raise his hands in praise to God after baptism. The words of Matthew 28:19 are not repeated in the book of Acts.

Answer 6

A private baptism is one a preacher or priest performs on a person when he doesn't want anyone else watching them.

Answer 7

In 99% of the churches: nothing, except perhaps getting wet, and some are more generous with the water than others. Some cheapskate churches only sprinkle, while others dunk. Some in tanks, some in rivers, some in lakes (not a good idea here in Florida-the gators love fat, crunchy Christians). The whole thing is a sham, a show, a public demonstration of their ability to gain new converts into their church; to boost their membership rolls and to fatten the treasury of their carnal empire. What it supposed to be as defined by Scripture in Romans 6 is an identification with Christ into His death. But who wants to die? Everyone wants only the new life as a Christian, the joy, the happiness, the new family of friends and the ability to sin freely with grace as their constant free pass from the consequences. Only once you understand and agree to your co-death with Christ to the world, to sin and to self are you a candidate to be buried into the waters of Christian baptism. Upon arising from the grave you inherit the new resurrected life that is in Christ, which will provide you with the power to live a life of a disciple of Messiah, in holiness, victory and union with Him. Most people refuse to die and thus we have the apostate church dunking everyone they can grab to baptize them into their polluted waters of deception. But business is good, the water wet and the coffers full. What more could they possible want? Certainly not the Christ of the New Testament who is now in heaven watching and waiting till the day He brings His wrath upon them. And that day is soon.

Answer 8

At a Baptist church or Bible church, the person makes a confession of faith, or a testimony of how he/she came to know Christ. After this, they are immersed in water.
The Bible says to believe and be baptized, in that order.
A private baptism is private; they don't want the rest of the congregation there during the ceremony.

Answer 9

You get wet. Catholics believe in sprinkling a baby and baby's parents "cover" the Jesus requirement with the priest and Baptist's believe you should go swimming after you accept Jesus. This all is based on what happened to Jesus down by the river when John the Baptist pushed Jesus all the way under the water when he was 30 years old. Here is the mystery. . .The cool thief that Jesus forgave while being crucified. . .how did he get baptized? Answer. . .it rained.

Answer 10

When I got baptized (submersed in water at the age of 13, then again at the age of 46) I felt new and whole. I didn't understand that much when I was a teen. But at 46 I gave my life totally. I felt something like warm water pour over me. It wasn't the ice cold water they dipped me in either. I was filled with the holy spirit.
Baptism alone won't get you into heaven. Jesus said "if you are ashamed to confess me before men, I won't confess you before my Father which is in heaven".