What
Does Vineyard Believe About Baptism
What Does Vineyard Believe About Baptism?
The first story we read in the gospels about Jesus as an adult is His
baptism. The last thing Jesus said to His disciples before ascending into
heaven was that they should go throughout the world making disciples and
baptizing them. Baptism is obviously a very important activity in the New
Testament.
Baptism is also a subject that Christians don't all agree about. Here at Vineyard, we view it as a secondary issue, allowing some room for disagreement between sincere believers. We have, nonetheless, tried to be faithful to the Bible and faithful to what the church has done historically. Here is how we would answer some of the most frequently asked questions about baptism:
Why should I be baptized?
- You don't need to be baptized to be saved. The New Testament teaches
that a person is saved by repentance from sin and faith in Christ.
“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus
Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:38) In Luke 23, the thief on the cross
recognized who Jesus was, reached out to Him, and Jesus promised him
salvation. That dying thief had no opportunity to be baptized.
- You do need to be baptized to be obedient to Jesus. We are commanded
to be baptized as a part of being His disciple. “Therefore, go and
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Mt. 28:19) Thus, we don't get
baptized when we “feel like it,” or when we “get around to it”
or when we are “led to it by the Lord.” Baptism is one of only two
ordinances or rituals that Jesus commands us to observe for all time.
The other is The Lord's Table, or what is often called communion.
- Baptism is a public profession of your faith. Baptism is done before
a group of people who witness your confession of faith in Jesus
Christ. Baptism is not the only way we profess to be a Christian, but
it is an important way.
- Baptism symbolizes your cleansing from sin. Baptism throughout the
New Testament indicated that a person had “repented” or turned
away from sin. The apostles often referred to the fact that believers
were washed from sin. Peter stated that the water in baptism
symbolized not the cleansing of the body from dirt, but the cleansing
of the conscience. (1 Peter 3:21)
- Baptism symbolizes your union with Jesus in His death, burial and
resurrection. When you become a Christian, you die to sin and your old
way of life and you begin a whole new life. Romans 6:8 states, “Now
if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”
The very act of baptism (being immersed in the water and coming up out
of the water) is a picture of what happens to you spiritually.
How should I be baptized?
Trinity Vineyard believes that people should be baptized by immersion as
opposed to sprinkling or pouring. The term “baptize” literally means
to immerse. This was how people in the Bible were baptized. Also,
immersion best symbolizes what happens spiritually when you become a
Christian.
When should I be baptized?
You should be baptized as soon as possible after you have personally
trusted Christ for salvation and been “born again”. Remember, you are
not baptized in order to become a Christian. You are baptized because you
are a Christian. We should not put off baptism, since it is a command of
Jesus. Vineyard holds baptisms upon request.
What if I was baptized as an infant?
Among orthodox Christians there are different perspectives on infant
baptism. Some denominations and traditions (such as Episcopal,
Presbyterian and Catholic) baptize infants while others (such as most
Baptists) do not. Perhaps you were baptized as an infant. How should you
view that baptism? You certainly want to show respect to your parents and
their viewpoints, as well as be grateful to God for any spiritual
influence they had in your life. However, our understanding of what the
Bible teaches is that baptism is an action that follows conversion. So, if
you have not been baptized since you have made a decision for Christ, we
would recommend that you get baptized.
Should I be re-baptized if I was baptized
at another church?
As long as you were born again when you were baptized, and as long as the
other church was a Christian church, then you should not be re-baptized.
If however, your baptism was merely a church ritual done prior to your
conversion or if the church was outside of the mainstream of Christianity
, then we would encourage you to be validly baptized for the first time.
Can my children be baptized?
Absolutely, as long as they thoroughly understand what they are doing.
What should I do if I want to be baptized
at Vineyard?
Speak with Martha to find out when the next baptism is
scheduled. We would encourage you to invite friends and relatives, since
it is a wonderful opportunity to bear witness to Jesus.