In a Fox News (internet) story from August 30, writer Todd Starnes reported:
“The National Park Service began enforcing a policy recently that required churches to obtain special use permits in order to baptize in public waters. As part of the same permit process, the NPS also mandated that churches give the Park Service 48 hours advance notice of pending baptisms.” (story link here)
Missouri Baptists complained vociferously about the restrictions, as it impacted their practice (for generations) of baptizing in area rivers.
The politics of the matter may be disturbing, as it is one of many restrictions on religious liberty that seem to be trending in our society today. But, more disturbing is the explanation given by the writer about the reason Baptists are up in arms about the required 48 hours advanced notice.
But as any Baptist or Pentecostal in good standing knows – that’s a problem.
“If the Holy Spirit is working on Sunday morning, you’re going to baptize Sunday afternoon,” Dennis Purcell told The Salem News. “You may not know ahead of time.”
Many Christians believe that the Bible commands new followers of Christ to be baptized immediately after their conversion. It’s a public expression and celebration of their new-found faith in Christ. (story link here)
The article does not clearly identify the source for the contention that “Many Christians believe that the Bible commands new followers of Christ to be baptized immediately after their conversion.” However, it is largely inaccurate. Most denominations do indeed contend that conversion precedes baptism. However, while they might in certain circumstances baptize soon after, many times they wait days, weeks or even months to schedule baptisms.
It is interesting how the quote about what Christians believe diverges so clearly from what the Bible actually teaches. When you read the book of Acts, you find baptism to be the act of a contrite and sorrowful heart, not a celebration.
- The Jews on the day of Pentecost were cut to the heart after their faith. They were not told to be baptized to celebrate their new found faith, they were told to be baptized to have their sins remitted, (Acts 2:38).
- Saul of Tarsus’ sorrow at the point of faith was so profound that he traveled to Damascus, and fasted for three days (Acts 9:9) until Annanias told him to be baptized to “wash away your sins” (cf. Acts 22:16).
- The Ethiopian Eunuch heard the gospel of Christ preached to him by the evangelist Philip. When they came to water, he requested baptism, and didn’t begin his celebration until after he came up out of the water! (cf. Acts 8:39).
In reality, the reason why penitent believers in the New Testament were baptized in the “same hour of night” (cf. Acts 16:33) is that they were not born again until they came up out of the waters of baptism (cf. John 3:3-5; Romans 6:4).
There is no logical reason for immediate baptism unless, as the scriptures teach, baptism is “for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). If it is a public expression or celebration of a fait accompli, it can be scheduled at any point convenient to those involved. This is just another example illogical denominational dogma.
By the way, local uproar led to a reversal of the restrictions, and Missouri Baptists remain free to practice their unscriptural “celebrations” without interference.
