Christians - where do you stand on Baptism?

[harrisey]

I've been a christian for 20 years. I was christened as an infant but came to faith myself at the age of 16 adn joined the church at 18. But as I have always gon to churches that do infant baptism, the question about whether i shoud be baptised as a believer never came up. Neither dh or I agree wih infant baptism and our 3 children have not been baptised. But it never seemed to be a big deal.
We have recently moved house and have chosen to go to our local Baptist church - not baecause of their stance on Baptism but because we like the style of worship, the preaching, fantastic ministry team, the childrens work is excellent etc ... I went to the evening service tonight and 3 people were being baptised. It was an amazing service and they said that it was one of the few instructions that Christ gave to his disciples "..go into all the world and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name ..." etc. And Jesus himself was baptised.
Totally confused. Would fell a bit weird to be dunked after all this time. I dont really feel any 'need' to do it, but it does seem to be an instruction.... It is something that both dh and I have thought about on and off for a number of years.
Have any of you been naptised as an adult? Or chosen not to be for any reason? Just wondered what youthought about it.

Hiya,

Just wanted to add that I was Baptized as a baby. My parents are not particulary believers or followers of Christianity. Anyway, I came to Christ 3 years ago. I started to attend a Baptist Church. After being there for a few months I got Baptized.
It is my opinion that only you can choose your own path. No one else can choose it for you. God is a God of free will. And as such it takes a committment between you and God. Your parents obviously did what they did for you in love, and I am not belittling that in the slightest.
But it does say in the Bible "Believe and be Baptised..." Stating that you should be a believer first.
I am so glad that I got Baptised again, It was an amazing experience.
For what it's worth I have 3 children of my own and non of them have been baptised. They have been prayed for in the church, but the decision to be baptised must come from themselves, not me.

I am so glad that you made the decison to be Baptised again. It's such a wonderful feeling. I had face ache after mine from smiling so much...!!

I became a Christian at age 17 3/4 and was baptised within a few months. If Jesus instructed us to believe and be baptised I think we should do just that. It is an instruction, not an "if you feel like it". It is to symbolise the washing away of the old sinful wo/man and coming up a clean, new one. It is a testimony to believers and non believers alike, (perhaps your family who attend the service) a declaration of your beliefs. I too was baptised (or Christened) as a baby. It means nothing. Most parents did it whether they believed or not, they had no intention to instruct you in the ways of Christ... Jesus wasn´t baptised as a baby nor did he/John the Baptist baptise babies. I think that sums it up really.

PS.. to perhaps demonstrate what a powerful "event" it is.. I know of someone who was at the baptism of a grown man who in his life had done some things he was not proud of. Not your average "dodgy" past.. he was well into things you or I would drop not consider.

When he became a Christian he was a different person and totally reflected the love of God and always witnessed to God´s greatness. He was, though, very ashamed of all the tatoos he had on his person as some were rather "extreme" and he felt insulted God and he hated them for this.

On his baptism day he went down into the water covered in his tatoos.. when he came up, the ones which were particularly offensive had gone.

Baptism is a powerful declaration of your faith.

Many religions will not disown members (and people of their family) for becoming a Christian but they do once they have been baptised!

I knwo I started this thread a lolng time ago, but thought you might like to know the outcome!

Thsi morning (or I suppose yesterday morning by now - I am still so hyped I cant sleep!!!) both me and dh were baptised by immersion on profession of faith. We also dedicated our 3 children to the Lord.

I've written more about it on the 'Christian Prayer Request Thread' if you are interested.

Thanks so much for all your input!!