When you get baptized, do you have to be completely emmersed?

Question

How should you get baptized? Can you just get water sprinkled on you or should you go completely under?

Answer 1

No either way since it is symbolism

Answer 2

You ask a VERY GOOD question. During my search for the right church to join, I have been told "you'll go to hell if you don't go all the way under during baptism" and, "If you were baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, you were not properly baptized...you have to be baptized in the name of Jesus." I am appalled at the way churches condemn one another concerning this ordinance. It's sad that a new believer must enter into his/her new faith bombarded with such confusion. I don't think this was our Lord's intent. You will get many different answers on this and I doubt it will be settled for you here. Here's what I recommend. Since each church wants to insist that their way is the only proper way to be baptized, then just get it done every way possible. Dunking, sprinkling...whatever! All of the above!!!!! This will certainly assure your Savior that you are serious about getting it done right and that you want to please Him. Remember in the Bible when our Lord washed the disciples feet? When Peter didn't feel worthy of it, he asked Jesus to stop, but Jesus told Him 'you cannot be a part of Me unless I do this." To which Peter replied, "Then not my feet only, Lord! But wash my whole body!" (These quotes are my own paraphrase, but you can look them up in the Gospels for the exact words.) So, my point is, shouldn't we be like Peter? Shouldn't we want to be washed every way possible if it means being one with Christ? I have been baptized seven times...I think I've satisfied every way possible. So, the church, which ever one wants to accuse me of having done it wrong, no longer has a leg to stand on. I am most definitely baptized and I am at complete peace over the matter. Perhaps it is this way that will give you the most peace as well. It's funny now when people ask how I was baptized (in hopes of enlightening me somehow) and I tell them I was baptized every way possible 7 times. You should see the look on their face. It really shuts them up. Good luck with this and I hope to find you in Heaven someday living in peace with our eternal Father. Perhaps we will laugh about it then.

Answer 3

Jesus Christ Himself showed us the proper way to be baptized when He was baptized. He went to John the Baptist, because John had the priestly authority to perform baptisms. John baptized Jesus by immersion in the Jordan River.

Therefore, the proper mode of baptism includes:
1. It's performed by a person who has appropriate priestly authority.
2. It's done by immersion.

This mode of baptism is performed in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Learn more here: www.mormon.org.

Answer 4

It is not the substance of water it is the baptism in the trinity that is important. Form and format are met with just a sprinkling.

Answer 5

Technically, "baptism" means to immerse in water, and as you may know, "immerse" means to go under. This is how Christ was baptized. Now, I am not one to criticize or knock other religions, so it is up to you to decide whether you think it is important to literally follow in the footsteps of Christ or symbolicly do so.

Answer 6

Many stand on complete immersion for scriptural reasons. However, the method is not important. What really counts is that you have already been born again. If not-then the baptism is worthless.

Answer 7

it actually depends on the sect of Christianity that is doing the baptism. Some churchs, such as the Baptist church believe that you must be dunked. While other churchs, such as the Methodist church do the sprinkling.

Some churches however may offer other options if you have extinuating circumstances.

Answer 8

Yes the word means to be made fully wet. And it must be in the name of Jesus, not the titles of the mythical trinity

Answer 9

completely under

Answer 10

completely under

Answer 11

That simply depends on the church you attend. Catholic churches sprinkle, I know of some Protestant churches that sprinkle and some that immerse. So it really depends on the church.