Is it true that anyone can baptize people?

Question

What are the requirements? Is there some kind of protocol?

Answer 1

I will reply on the basis that we're talking about Christian baptism.

The requirements and the protocol for Christian baptism can be found in the Bible. God has spoken and caused this to be written down so that we should have no uncertainties about these things. He is fussy about how we go about our service of him and he is offended if we try to do it OUR way and not his when he has so clearly spoken.

Baptism is a sacrament (a 'holy act'), a kind of sealing by man of his consecration and God cares therefore very much how this is done. However, if we go about it in accordance with his revealed will, we can have confidence that what we are doing and how we are doing it pleases him.

Firstly, baptism is the command of the Lord (Matt. 28:19) to the believer. So, a true believer (not a baby) should present himself for baptism as soon as he has made his conversion decision (the Ethiopian eunuch - Acts 8:35-38).

Secondly, you need 'much water' (John 3:23) - ie. enough for full immersion (Mark 1:10) - a 'sprinkling' will not do. Since baptism is a figure of going down into death and then emerging again into eternal life, every part of the believer must go down into the water.

Thirdly, you need a baptizer. Ideally, the person who baptizes you should be the one who first preached to you the gospel to which you responded (as with Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch and as happened after the address of Peter - Acts 2:38 & 41).

The first baptizers (after John) were the disciples of the Lord (John 4:1-2), then as apostles they baptized after Pentecost, then such as Philip (who was a 'lay' evangelist) baptized. Without making too heavy weather of it, it is my belief that, since all true believers are 'a holy priesthood' (I Pet. 2:9), any such true believer who is keeping himself in a clean state before the Lord can baptize another and should not hesitate to do so.

Thereafter, he may lay holy hands upon him and pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit upon him (as did Paul to the disciples of John - Acts 19:1-6).

Answer 2

If you´re baptize and you understand what the baptize means and if you have some whose life is in danger and asks you for the baptize (or if this person is a child) you can baptize him. You should say the words: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holly Ghost" while you put some water on his head.
If the person don´t die (we hope so) you should go to the parrish or to the preist and tell them what you did so they can write his name on the parrish book.
Either if your catholic or not, but if you know the meaning of the sacrament you can baptize under this conditions.
Totús´s Kaa (jajaja)

Answer 3

How Do You Baptize Someone

Answer 4

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Is it true that anyone can baptize people?
What are the requirements? Is there some kind of protocol?

Answer 5

In response to Granny Annie's answer:

Like that guy Drew, I to am a confessional Lutheran. As he stated our hymnal contains the rite for emergency Baptism, as does our Catechism.

Emergency baptism can be performed by a non-christian. Scripture makes it clear that God's word is Holy, and the Sacrament of Baptism is Holy. The grace that is worked through the Baptism is God's alone. The person administering the Sacrament is only a facilitator, and therefore weather or not they have faith has no effect on the validity of the Sacrament.

Our Lutheran Confessions state that "word and sacrament remain efficacious even when administered by evil men".

Please remember that an emergency Baptism is to be reported Immediately to the Pastor so that it can be recorded, should questions arise at a later date.

Also it is wrong to baptize someone against their will. It is also wrong to baptize a child against their parents wishes.

I hope this is helpful.

Luther's Small Catechism States:

In urgent cases, in the absence of the pastor, any Christian may administer Holy Baptism.

Take water, call the person by name, pour or sprinkle the water on the head of the person, saying:
I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

If there is time, the baptism may be preceded by the following prayer and the Lord's Prayer:

Eternal, merciful God, we pray Thee to extend Thy goodness and mercy unto this child, who now asks; open the door to him (Her) who knocks, that he (she) may enjoy the everlasting blessing of Thy heavenly washing and may come to the eternal kingdom which Thou hast prepared through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Our Father...

Your friend in Christ,

Mark

Addendum:

The RC Church does not consider Lutherans a Church, yet they accept your baptisms. They do not however accept the validity of our Eucharist???

Mark

Answer 6

The Bible tells all the disciples of Christ to preach salvation through Jesus and baptise in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. That is what makes baptism valid, not a certificate from some man-made seminary. It's the action of God in the soul, not the action of the person dipping you in the water (or sprinkling, or whatever).

Paul and Peter both speak of the Christian believer as a "royal priesthood." To those who believe in the priesthood of the believer, just as all can pray for healing, all Should be able to baptise, commemorate the Last Supper, etc. However, since only legally-recognized ministers can perform legal weddings etc, this has come to mean that "only" legally-recognised ordained ministers usually do baptisms.

Personally I think, in terms of baptism itself, it's more about God than man.

Answer 7

From a Roman Catholic or Anglican perspective (the ones I'm most familiar with), anyone can baptise in an emergency, even if they are not themselves baptised. They must pour water on the person's forehead, and say "(Name), I baptise you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit*." If the person recovers, the baptism should be reported to the local parish priest.

(*or, "Holy Ghost)

Answer 8

Holy Mother Church teaches that absolutely ANYONE can baptize in a pinch, as in when the individual is in imminent danger of dying and there is no priest or other ordained Christian minister around.

The baptizer need not be a Christian.

What you need is: water, even a few drops. The INTENTION of baptizing and the words, "I baptize you, (insert name), in the Name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Sprinkle the water, or drip it on the forehead, make the sign of the cross upon the forehead and speak the words as you do.

Job's done.

Hope this helped.

Answer 9

Well you can baptize,but the real baptize is in your heart in what you bealive on what you are. beaptize is for other religion a new life.

Answer 10

No, not anyone can do that, you have to be a comitted christian and at least belong to a ministry, in that case there is the spiritual link between you an dperson you want to baptize. By the way, there are two ways of baptism,,, baptism in water and baptism in holy spirit.