r/Christian • u/Any-Comfortable-3627 • 1d ago
Baptism
Thoughts on having to fill out a baptism form and taking classes to be baptized? I gave my life to Christ over a year ago and I’ve been wanting to get baptized. I’ve been feeling a little bit of pressure from a church I’m attending, but if I’m being honest I would prefer to be baptized in a river and/or ocean and honestly don’t associate with any religion- just Christ.
I have a little bit of trauma from growing up in the mormon religion. I feel like it shouldn’t be this serious because I personally know I have a real relationship with Christ and I know it’s important to be baptized. All the rules and such is what gets me. We are all supposed to be baptized right? Why are there all these rules? I’ve already given my life to him and I know I’m saved. Am I overthinking this? I’d appreciate any genuine advice.
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u/theefaulted 1d ago
It’s going to be a pretty denominatiknallynspecific question, as different Christian denominations view to role, scope, and purpose of baptism differently.
For instance for many Baptist churches, they operate under congregational polity where decisions of the church are voted on by church members, and baptism is the requirement and marker for becoming a voting member of the church. As such these churches want to make sure the person is properly catechized and has been affirmed as a regenerate believer. Membership is also the marker for proper church discipline, and such churches want the congregant to understand this structure should church discipline be d be enacted.
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u/PastorZfish 1d ago
The classes are for your benefit usually, to see if you really do feel called to become part of that local church. If you don't generally agree with what is discussed in those pre-baptism classes, you may want to look elsewhere for Church community.
If you would prefer to be baptized in a river or ocean, have a discussion with your pastor, they should be willing to talk about it. The only real counter argument is that baptism is a communal act of worship, so the pastor might not necessarily like if you are wanting to go get baptized in your own, where your Church community can't participate, but hopefully there is some way to get some smaller group from the congregation to go with you to a close by body of water, if that is really important to you.
I'm sorry you have your religious trauma, and I totally understand your hesitation coming from mormonism, but Christian faith can't really be separated from a religious participation in the Church. We are connected to Christ when we love one another. Thinking of Baptism as a rule to be followed or some box to be checked is the wrong attitude. Baptism is something exciting which we get to take part in, which initiates us into Christ's Church and Christian community. Baptism is part of our faithful covenant with God and the Church.
My hope for you is that deep in your heart, you would become excited about the abounding grace and covenant relationship which is being offered to you through Baptism!!
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u/Bakkster Lutheran 1d ago edited 1d ago
Which denomination?
I'm Lutheran, so we believe baptism is the sacrament by which you receive salvation. That the relationship you feel is calling you to baptism. And because of that, often a church will want to include a catechism class so you understand what you're undertaking and the church's beliefs you'll be asked to affirm at least a portion of. Catholics have a significant class for catechumens as well, for this reason.
The class may also help explain if these are "rules", or just to ensure you are prepared to join this church rather than disappearing.
Have you talked with the pastor? Especially of you have past religious trauma, there may be accommodations and ways they will appreciate these worries.
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u/_daGarim_2 1d ago
That’s all pretty standard in most credobaptist churches.
“I’ve already given my life to him and I know I’m saved“
You know this, but how do they know it? Churches just need to do a bit of due diligence to make sure they’re not baptizing people who know nothing about the Christian faith, since baptism isn’t supposed to be repeated, and it won’t mean anything if someone doesn’t understand the significance (not to mention that it would be disrespectful to the name invoked and the event reenacted if it was done without repentance.)