Do I need to be re-baptized?

Question

I was brought up in a Methodist Church. I along with my other siblings were baptized as an ifant. My father and grandparents were also baptized as an infant. I am now 31 years old with a 3 year old and a 5 month old. I married someone who goes to a non-denominational church. It is a mix between Baptist and Catholic. My mother-in-law and I were driving today and she asked if I had been baptized. I said "yes" when I was a baby. She said that it didn't count and if I wanted to go to heaven I would need to be re-baptized. I an not converting to her church. My mother-in-law went on and on about how Methodist's are the only one who sprinkle the water and that to be truely baptized you had to be dunked all the way. She really upset me with this because I believe along with my family that we are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost as ifants. Am I wrong. Should I rethink my beliefs?

Answer 1

Nah.

Answer 2

Probably you should go get baptized. Infant baptisms arent scriptural and didnt start until like the 14th century. It is built on Catholic tradition and nothing in Scripture. If you go by the Biblical definition of what baptism is, it is a dunking in water after one has decided to follow Jesus. The Greek word baptizo means to dunk or dip!

The biggest Q is, when in your adult life did yougive your life to Jesus? Right afterwards you should have been baptized according to Biblical teachings. A baby is incapable of making a decision for Christ therefore there is no warrant to baptize that which is incapable of accepting Christ.

So if you are more comfortable with the traditions of your church and don't want to do it the Biblical way, then do not get baptized! However, if you believe Scripture is inspired and the Bible teaches us the right way to do things, then by all means, please go get baptized!

Answer 3

When you are baptized as an infant, you don't know right from wrong. I believe you should be re-baptized once you understand what baptizing and salvation is all about. The way you were baptized is the correct way ... minus the sprinkle vs. "full dunk" (I am not sure about that) in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. However, don't be upset with your mother-in-law seek God for the proper way.

Answer 4

First, the Bible does not teach infant baptism. It teaches believer's baptism, which is that you are to be baptized after you are old enough to make the decision for yourself whether to follow Christ or not. Secondly, baptism does not get you into heaven; salvation does. Baptism is an outward show of an inward change. When you are saved, you sins are washed away; you are buried with Christ and raised to new life in Him. This is what is demonstrated by baptism. Infant baptism was an invention of the Catholic Church. They would baptize infants and make them Catholics. Then if they ever changed religions or denominations, they could be branded a heretic and brought before the Inquisition. This way they "Kept" people from leaving the Catholic Church. And yes, you do need to look at your beliefs. You need to look at them very closely, because you don't want to let "pride" in the beliefs you were raised with to cause you to mislead your children in a way that is not in line with Biblical teachings.

Answer 5

This is Very deep. Bear with me, okay?

When Christ was baptized, and when John the Baptist baptized others, they were emersed in water. Emersion in water symbolizes death of self, when you go down under, and rebirth in Christ when you come up.

When you accept Christ as your personal Savior, and you know in your heart that you do, then you are to be baptized to show the world that you have accepted Christ.

That's what baptism is. It's a public testimony to the world that you are born again.

It is said that the sprinkling began because of severe water shortage. I don't know whether I believe that or not.

But let me ask you a question. Since baptism is a public testimony that you PERSONALLY accept Christ, that you have made that important decision to follow Him, how does a baby know this?

Baptism is something NO ONE should push you into. I don't agree with your mother-in-law that if you aren't baptised you won't go to Heaven. She misunderstands the Scripture when Jesus was talking to Nicodemus in the Gospel of John:

Jesus said you must be "born of water and of the Spirit". Born of water -- natural birth from your mother. Born of the Spirit -- being born again where the Holy Spirit comes to dwell inside you. That happens when you accept Him.

You could accept Christ as your Savior on your deathbed and die without being baptised, and do you think God wouldn't let you spend eternity with Him because you were too weak to climb out of bed to be baptised?

I've been baptized three times. It was a decision I personally made. It had nothing to do with what denomination I was baptised in. It had to do with the fact that I have turned away from God in the past in such a big way, that when I returned, just like the prodigal son, I DESIRED to be baptized again, because I wanted to tell the world. This time, it's gonna stick.

Being baptized just shows obedience to God, and it is something that gives Him pleasure, because by your being baptized, you are a public testimony to the world what Christ has done in your life. That pleases God.

It is something you need to pray about, on your own. Don't let anyone talk you into doing something you don't feel comfortable about. God knows your heart. That's the most important thing.

And, yes, by your words, I believe I will see you in eternity.

Answer 6

In Mark 16:16, Jesus placed belief before baptism. An infant is not capable of belief.

In Acts 8:36, the eunuch asked "what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Phillip said, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest..." (verse 37) Again, belief is placed as a requirement before baptism.

In Acts 2, belief (knowing assuredly about Christ - verse 36) and repentance (verse 38)are both placed before baptism.

Also, the Greek word "baptism" comes from means to immerse.

This can be seen in the description of baptism in the New Testament. Baptism requires "much water" (John 3:23), is described as going down into and coming up out of the water (Acts 8:38-39) and is described as a burial (Romans 6:3-4, Col. 2:12). Only immersion fits all of these descriptions.

Also, one should note the purpose for baptism. According to the Bible, baptism saves (1 Peter 3:21, Mark 16:16), is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38), washes away sin (Acts 22:16), puts one into contact with Christ’s death (Romans 6:3-4, Col. 2:12), and puts one into Christ (Romans 6:3-4, Gal. 3:27).

We must be baptized “in the name of Christ”. The phrase “in the name of” means by the authority. To follow His authority is to submit to his instructions. If we are baptized in a different way or for a different reason than the New Testament authorizes, then we are following a man’s doctrine, instructions, or authority instead of God’s. Are we submitting to the authority of men or of God?

In Acts 19:1-5, there were some who were baptized, but they were baptized incorrectly. They were following the teaching (authority) of John the Baptist instead of the authority of Christ, so they were re-baptized in the name of Christ. They followed the correct authority.

Answer 7

If you are validly baptised, you can't be re-baptised. Baptism is a once and for all sacrament, never repeated.

For Catholics, however, sprinkling isn't considered a valid manner of administering the sacrament: either pouring of water or full immersion are required.

To be honest, even if you're not converting to anything, I'd check this out and be open to the possibility that what happened to you as a baby isn't valid and seek conditional baptism by pouring somewhere. I've come across this kind of thing before. Better safe than sorry. Best of luck.

Answer 8

Methodists are not the only ones who do the sprinkling. So do Lutherans and Catholics and many other Protestant religions. The Baptists believe that you cannot make a conscious decision to be baptized as a baby so you need to accept Christ as an adult and then be baptized.
If you don't want to follow her belief system because it is not right for you then don't. You know your connection to your God...she has no idea what is in your heart.

Answer 9

when you were a baby your parents decided FOR you. You had not choice but to agree.
Baptism is an open declaration to others of your love and devotion to God.
by rebaptizing yourself doesn't mean that you are converting to your mother in laws faith. You are able to attend whatever church you wish in the Christian faith. Baptismals mean that you are choosing Christ over yourself, and there is a wonderful study on water baptism such as what Jesus and John the baptist went through.
Instead of talking this over with your family, talk to a church pastor or elder. What ever you choose, it would be a good idea for you to make the choice for yourself and not accept what your parents felt was right for you when you were a child.

In my faith- Penticostal, when a child is under the age of accountability, ( 12 or so) we as parents, dedicate our children... many parents with thier new born infants come up and make an open declaration that they as parents and children of God will do thier best to bring up thier children learning and teaching thier children about God and what Jesus did for them on the cross.
a dedication can happen at any stage of a child's life, then when the child is able to understand bible teachings, they can choose for themselves the open declaration of choosing God through baptism.
You shouldn't re think your beliefs, just perhaps inform yourself before you make a choice.
God Bless,
Shannon

Answer 10

I would get rebaptized if I were you. The Bible is very clear on this. It does not say to baptize babies. It does not say to sprinkle with water. It says in Acts 2:38, to be baptized in the name of Jesus. Jesus is the name of God, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Otherwise the Bible would say in the name of God, and in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Ghost. But the most important thing about the Baptism. It is an outward demonstration of choosing Jesus as our redeemer by symbolizing our own death, our own burial, and and our own resurrection in Christ Jesus. Jesus said that we must be "Born Again" What did He mean? We are made up of body, spirit, and soul. He meant that our old spirit had to die and then God would replace our spirit with a Spirit from Him, the Holy Ghost, God Himself. It is the Holy Ghost who saves us and Jesus was very specific on what we had to do to receive the indwelling of Himself. I am glad you asked this very important question.

Sincerely Yours, Pastor Jeff Ludin

Isn't it funny that nonchristians, such as witches and pagens would answer your question, and tell you not to get rebaptized. This is a big, red, bright, flashing, warning light, isn't it? Will you follow the words of Christ or witches?

Answer 11

"BAPTISM" is a sacred Christian ritual or a sacrament that symbolizes one's re-birth from the past life, i.e., a "reincarnation" from a former lifestyle of sin, as is usually the case, for we are all sinners.*

The ritual signifies to the congregation of a particular church, religious sect, or denomination, that the person being BAPTIZED is now willing to accept all the tenets and doctrines taught by the church according to its own traditions.

When an individual decides to join a church that is different from his/her parent's religious affiliation, then the process of BAPTISM takes place after submitting first to some form of Indoctrination, which is an overview of the [new] church's doctrines and practices, to which the NEW CONVERT is willing to adhere to.

Either way, in answer to your final query, it's ALWAYS WISE TO RETHINK your current beliefs anyway... REGARDLESS if you wish to convert to another church or not.

Peace be with you.