christians please?

Question

i have a strong feeling i gonna convert into christianity.. is there a must to be baptise and visit church weekly?

so can i be saved if i dun get baptise ?

my parents are very traditional and i think even if i manage to convert them (lol) baptising and visiting church may be very unconfortable to them.

i am thinking of taking it slowly . so is there a real need for baptism ? my friend told me it is not necessary as the person who got crucified with jesus wasnt a christian ( not sure ) but jesus promise to save him if he confess

Answer 1

Total amount paid out by the U.S. church since 1950 to more than $2 billion
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19762878/
Settlement represents Church’s largest payout in sexual abuse scandal on account of sexual abuse by catholic church.
LOS ANGELES - The nation’s largest Catholic archdiocese will settle its clergy sex abuse cases for at least $600 million, by far the largest payout in the church’s sexual abuse scandal, The Associated Press learned Saturday.
Attorneys for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the plaintiffs will release a statement Sunday morning and hold a news conference Monday, said Ray Boucher, the lead plaintiff’s attorney.
An anonymous source with knowledge of the deal placed its value at $660 million, by far the largest payout in the church’s sexual abuse scandal. The amount exceeded earlier reports from sources that the settlement would be between $600 million and $650 million — $1.2 million and $1.3 million per plaintiff.
Priests’ files would be released
Some Roman Catholic orders — the Servites, Clairites and Oblates — will be carved out of the agreement because they refused to participate, the source said. The settlement also calls for the release of confidential priest personnel files after review by a judge assigned to oversee the litigation, Boucher said.
The settlements push the total amount paid out by the U.S. church since 1950 to more than $2 billion, with about a quarter of that coming from the Los Angeles archdiocese.
It wasn’t immediately clear how the payout would be split among the insurers, the archdiocese and several Roman Catholic religious orders. A judge must sign off on the agreement.
The release of the priest documents was important to the agreement, Boucher said, because it could reveal whether archdiocesan leaders were involved in covering up for abusive priests.
“Transparency is a critical part of this and of all resolutions,” he said
Matthew 16:4 An EVIL and ADULTEROUS generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it,

A look at reports of sex abuse of minors from three companies that together insure the majority of U.S. Protestant churches.
http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Jun14/0,4670,ProtestantsSexAbuseGlance,00.html
_ Total amount in claims paid: Over the last five years, GuideOne Insurance has averaged approximately $4 million per year in child sex abuse and sexual misconduct settlements, excluding attorney fees.
_ Total amount in claims paid: Total of approximately $7.8 million has been paid out in claims for sexual misconduct and child sex abuse over the past 15 years. (Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co.)
Church Mutual Insurance Co.
_ Total number of clients insured: 96,000
_ Number of churches-worship centers insured: 95,000
_ Number of other religious groups insured: 1,000
_ Top five denominations insured: United Methodist _ 10,000 churches; Southern Baptist _ 9,600 churches; Assemblies of God, _ 4,000 churches; Evangelical Lutheran Church in America _ 3,300 churches; Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod _ 2,600 churches.
_ Reports on sex abuse of minors: Company has received an average of about 100 reports a year alleging child sex abuse over the past decade.
_ Other sexual misconduct: Company has received an average of about 100 reports a year alleging other sexual misconduct over the past decade.
_ Total amount in claims paid: Declined to release because company deems figure proprietary information.
GuideOne Insurance Co.
_ Total number of clients insured: 45,000
_ Number of churches-worship centers insured: 43,495
_ Number of other religious groups insured: 1,505
_ Top five denominations insured: Baptist (all types) _ 10,922 churches; Presbyterian_ 2,812 churches; Lutheran_ 2,665 churches; Methodist _ 1,742 churches; Disciples of Christ/Christian Church of America _ 1,391 churches.
_ Reports on sex abuse of minors: Company has received an average of about 160 reports of child sex abuse a year for the past two decades.
_ Other sexual misconduct: Company has received an average of about 40 reports of sexual misconduct each year for the past two decades.
_ Total amount in claims paid: Over the last five years, GuideOne has averaged approximately $4 million per year in child sex abuse and sexual misconduct settlements, excluding attorney fees.
Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Co.
_ Total number of clients insured: 30,000
_ Number of churches-worship centers insured: 27,000
_ Number of other religious groups insured: 3,000
_ Top five denominations insured: Southern Baptists _ 4,000 churches; Assemblies of God _ 2,300 churches;
_ Non-denominational (churches that haven't claimed an affiliation) _ just under 2,300; United Methodist _ under 2,000; Independent Baptists _ under 2,000
_ Reports on sex abuse of minors: Company has received an average of 73 reports of BOTH child sex abuse and other sexual misconduct each year for the past 15 years. The company did know how many of that total were child sex abuse cases and how many were other sexual misconduct because it doesn't organize its data that way.

Answer 2

Hi there

Baptism is symbolic of the old life passing (when you go under the water) and the new life beginning (when you cone up out of the water) In symbolic terms it's a bit like wearing a wedding ring to show you are married - it isn't by wearing the ring that you are married, but it's a public declaration that you have made a commitment.

Once you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins and invite him into your life to live his way then nothing can change that. Going to church is more to encourage and help you. You have been given many gifts and talents - one of the best places to use those is to serve one another. Church is a group of people, not a building, so meeting with other christians for bible study etc is still church.
We need one another to learn from, be encouraged by and be accountable to.
If you don't mind, I'll be praying for you as you think of these things. It is a life changing experience that while isn't easy, has been, for me, the most fulfilling and rewarding decision I've ever made.

Answer 3

Dear 182e,

Baptism is not necessary to be saved. It is however a good idea to be baptized shortly after you are saved- to basically identify with what Jesus did on the cross and to let people know that you are committed to live a life for Him. It might actually be a good way to share about Jesus with your parents.

Church attendance especially Bible Studies and corporate worship are very important in helping you to grow and to maintain a close relationship with the Lord. Especially as a new-believer you need the encouragement, support, and love of other believers.

i think you want to start-off with good habits- missing church once makes it easier to miss church again and again... At some point i think you'll have to let your parents know that you have made a personal decision to follow Jesus. They may not like it necessarily- but i think as you grow and become more Christ-like they will observe that- and God will use you to share His love with them- just as someone else has shared God's love with you.

Hope that helps. I'm a youth/college pastor- so you can feel free to email me with any questions or prayer requests at anytime.

God Bless You. Kindly,

Nickster

Answer 4

Baptism is a symbolic act that represents death to the old life and rising to a new one in Christ. It is public because it is meant to be told to the whole world.

It is not a requirement for salvation, though some churches may teach that, nor is HAVING to be at church weekly a requirement but Christian fellowship of some sort is a must and church attendance is strongly encouraged.

Answer 5

Baptism is an outward declaration of what has taken place inside you. It is the identifying with Christ's death, burial and resurrection . Your old man crucified and a new man-with the Divine nature (born-again) - your spiritual nature coming into existence begins a life In Christ start.
Water Baptism is to publicly confess that events has taken place inwardly declares publicly . Is that OK?
We must not be ashamed of Him or the Devil will always be on our case.

Answer 6

Get Baptized then get with a Church that will preach and teach the word. Make sure that the people are there for God. and that all are teaching that Jesus is our one and only Saviour.

Answer 7

Life in Christ is a free gift. You cannot buy it or repay for it by church attendance. It is possible only because God shows us His grace through Jesus and what he has done for us on the cross. Moreover, Jesus sets you free from any obligations. Hopefully, when you grasp what God's forgiveness means, you will love God and will want to please Him not because someone tells you to, but because you want to and this will give you immense pleasure.

Answer 8

You must bury yourself in God's word and surround yourself with other Christians. Baptism is very important. But it does not save you. Only Jesus can do that.

God bless and keep you!

Answer 9

a rule like that you mean? baptism is the second step and is commanded. it's basically your symbolic and public declaration that you have died to sin and are alive in Christ.

regular church attendance is encouraged unless the Lord set you out to be an evangelist, missionary or something like that. chuch is for learning, family time, spiritual help, etc. you never grow if you're never nourished. but if you can't make it, you can't make it.

Answer 10

Being Baptised a Catholic is the greatest gift you could receive my friend.

Answer 11

I'd recommend it. If you are going to call yourself something that you would want to act that way.