Actscelerate.com

Baptizing non members

Hey, DOC Posts: 61 **7/26/16 10:19 am**

How do you guys feel about baptizing someone that is not a member or doesn't even attends your church?

Friendly Face Posts: 496 **7/26/16 10:46 am**

The question seems to imply a requirement for them to be a member in order to baptize. Is there a Biblical requirement for that? I would think the issue is whether they have accepted Jesus. Does the Church have a higher standard than Jesus? If Jesus saved them, how could a person not baptize?

I'm sorry I am upset with your question, I guess it goes back to my COGOP history where the "advice to members" seemed to take precedent over what the Bible said. As I recall, the Bible didn't say anything about men wearing shorts, but the COGOP (at that time) certainly took that as a sure sign of sin. It just sticks in my craw when Churches have extra Biblical requirements of holiness, or whatever the requirement may be.

If I were a pastor, I would be afraid NOT to baptize someone who indicated they were saved. That's just me.

Re: Baptizing non members

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **7/26/16 10:58 am**

Great answers

Hey, DOC Posts: 61 **7/26/16 1:12 pm**

I only ask because something happened at my former church this past weekend. A woman in town called 4 churches to see if anyone would baptize her 89 yr old grandmother and the ladies son who had just gotten saved and read in the word that they needed to be baptized. She got responses from, well they will need to attend at least twice, to plain no. She then called New Life church and spoke to Pastor Tony Ward. His response was yes and name the time. I hear it was an awesome event, the brother is confined to a wheel chair and Pastor Tony had to get creative but they were both baptized. It made the Cowlitz County News FB page. AB Vaughn Mathews commented, " Church without walls." I'm so happy to hear that you guys would do the same. Build the kingdom not churches.

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1449 **7/26/16 2:20 pm**

Methocostal stated:

"I'm sorry I am upset with your question, I guess it goes back to my COGOP history where the "advice to members" seemed to take precedent over what the Bible said. As I recall, the Bible didn't say anything about men wearing shorts, but the COGOP (at that time) certainly took that as a sure sign of sin. It just sticks in my craw when Churches have extra Biblical requirements of holiness, or whatever the requirement may be."

Some on this forum say the same thing about COG.

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 16646 **7/26/16 4:33 pm**

Do they confess Jesus as Lord and Savior?

If yes, baptize.
If no, preach again.
_________________
Whether you like it or not, learn to love it, because its the best thing going today!

Re: Great answers

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **7/26/16 11:48 pm**

Re: Baptizing non members

Acts-dicted Posts: 9027 **7/27/16 6:46 am**

Bradfreeman

Hey, DOC Posts: 61 **7/27/16 12:07 pm**

I edited my post for spelling errors. I fully support what Pastor Tony did. These folks fully understood what it was to be saved by grace and faith in Jesus Christ. I was simply asking what others here thought, trying to understand why anyone would refuse to baptize these two people. It wasn't reported as to which other churches were contacted but I'm sure that they have seen the report in the news that Pastor Tony did baptize them and just how much it meant to them. I'm very happy to see the responses here because it gives me hope in a denomination that I have seen, in the past, be more inward focused than outward. My intent was never to start an argument but to get others point of view. Had someone said that they agreed with not baptizing them then I would have asked for scriptural support of that decision.
I loved the response of not adding requirements that the Bible doesn't require. I grew up in a legalistic church and watched too many people run off because they didn't fit the mold. Keep up the great work of our Lord and let's take it to the streets.

Re: Great answers

Friendly Face Posts: 496 **7/28/16 1:36 pm**

That is fantastic. Obviously, I misunderstood the intent of your question. It sounded like you were thinking one had to be a member or regular attender. I think you were being more hypothetical.

Re: Bradfreeman

Friendly Face Posts: 496 **7/28/16 1:38 pm**

Preach it bro Smile

Watcher

Friendly Face Posts: 496 **7/28/16 1:40 pm**

You did get my blood boiling on my initial read, especially when I thought you were a pastor and wouldn't baptize someone. Smile

My bad!

At least I partly succeeded in being somewhat diplomatic when I thought you were a legalistic narrow minded preacher! I guess I may be growing in grace after all.

Years ago when I was on Acts and posted under a different name (as well as my true name at times), I would have probably been less cordial in my original response. That's why I took myself off Acts for several years as I let it get under my skin.

Re: Baptizing non members

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **7/28/16 1:57 pm**

Nothing taken personal

Hey, DOC Posts: 61 **7/29/16 4:11 pm**

because I knew where I was coming from. I guess I'm really bad at trying to write from a neutral point of view. I have to confess that there was a time that I was very narrow minded but God took my wife and I through a time of real teaching and self examination and I know that we are all sinners saved by a loving gracious God. I'm so glad I had this opportunity to converse with all of you and to see that things are changing. I now love people share the goo news and let God do the work.