Through some serendipitous circumstances, I've discovered that, when I was baptized nearly 28 years ago (in a broadly evangelical church, not a Reformed church), the person who baptized me was probably not a licensed or ordained minister. He was, I think, a student who was sort of "on staff;" since he was a student, the church's pastor at that time let him participate in such things.

I was unaware of this at the time.

I have no way to confirm this information - as I said, it was nearly 30 years ago and everyone involved in leadership in the church at that time has scattered to the four winds. Some of them are dead now, also.

So, my question is: assuming that he was not licensed or ordained in that particular church or its denomination - do I need to be re-baptized?

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Richard T. Zuelch, M.Div
Ruling Elder, OPC (not currently serving)
Westminster Presbyterian Church, CA (OPC)
www.alexandermaclaren.wordpress.com
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www.spurgeonswords.wordpress.com

Devout souls do not take offence at the depths and difficulties of God's Word, but are, thereby, drawn to intenser contemplation of them. - Alexander Maclaren (1826-1910)

As a credo-baptist I say no.

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"Preparing a sermon is like cooking a meal. You need pots and pans and utensils, but you don't bring them out to the table where people are eating." Derek Thomas


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As a paedobaptist I also say no.

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x

No.

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Christian
One Pilgrims Progress

Richard,

Christ is the only one that baptizes.

That said, Christ has likewise established the Church as the only institution commissioned to baptize. This is seen by the fact that the Apostles were the ones to baptize while Christ was on earth (John 4:1-2), and by the fact that they were given the commission to baptize in Matthew 28. Note that even when the Apostles baptized, it was Jesus Who was considered to have "done" the baptism; teaching that baptism is Christ's when done through His appointed ministers.

The Apostles were also considered Presbyter-Bishops of the congregations over which they presided. This is clear from Peter calling himself a "fellow elder" (1 Peter 5:1), putting himself on par with the elders in the churches he wrote to. Also, Judas' office or "bishopric" (Acts 1:20) was filled by Matthias after the casting of lots.

All that to say, Scripture only identifies certain offices as those to which baptism is given, because such men are Christ's representatives.

Who are they? I would argue:

1. Presbyters
2. Evangelists
3. Maybe Deacons

The first is easily established by the gospels and the book of Acts (Peter and Paul baptizing). The second by the fact that Philip, while also a deacon was an Evangelist as well (see Acts 21:8 where his dual office is noted), and therefore baptized. You could argue for deacons to baptize, but I take this as a function of his office as Evangelist.

Be that as it may, not every Moondoggy the Hippie can baptize, but only those ministers of Christ's Church delegated with such authority.

I would not scruple too much if you can't confirm any facts of the case. But if you have doubts (and you're probably already in process of doing this) bring it up to your Session, and see what they say. If the man was not lawfully called to the ministry as a Presbyter or Evangelist, then I would seek out baptism, since you have never received it.

Godspeed,

Adam

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Adam B., Wine Country, California, PCA

"I fear not to hold with Junius, de Politia Mosis cap. 6, that he who was punishable by death under that Judicial law, is punishable by death still; and he who was not punished by death then, is not to be punished by death now."

Ordained or not, he was acting under the color of authority. In Baptist churches, for example, those licensed to preach also do baptisms considered valid by the church. Many Baptist churches license students during their college/seminary years. While some Baptist pastors insist on doing all of the baptisms in the church, the last two congregations I have attended had the various pastors on staff baptize people in the Sunday morning service. In our current church, the youth pastor was not ordained, but was licensed, when he conducted several of his baptisms. They were considered completely in order and not a "Moondoggy" or Hippie rump baptism.

Speaking of hippie ministerial functions, I love the clip of Rev. Jim from the old Taxi program.

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Dennis E. McFadden, Ex Mainline Baptist (in Remission)
Atherton Baptist Homes, CEO
First Baptist Church of Alhambra, Member, Transformation Ministries (CA)

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A "rump baptism"? Now, there's an image...

Ahh! Rev. Jim, My all time favorite TV preacher. Good times, Good times. <sigh>

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Tom Mitchell
Opp, AL
Member of First Presbyterian Church PCA Florala, AL

O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin
Romans 7:24,25
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This is the part that bothers me. But, as I said, I can't confirm or not confirm his status at this historical distance.

I say no.

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Gavin
Member, Arlington Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Administrator, Southwest Church Planting Network (PCA)
M.Div. Student, Redeemer Seminary
Arlington, Texas

I say no also; while mayhaps your baptism was irregular, yet you have had fruits of this baptism.

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BJ Mora
Grace OPC, Modesto, CA
Reformed & Presbyterian Churches & Denominations in North America

If my memory serves me correctly, BL, you would have been baptized as an infant by a RC priest. I'm one of those people that considers it valid because it was done "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

When I was in my late 20's, I had mistakenly concluded that my infant baptism (1946), administered by a Dutch Reformed pastor, was not valid because I conjectured that he was a liberal.

I was also confused because I had applied for a staff position with Campus Crusade and one of the requirements was that you had to be baptized. I didn't know that they would accept infant baptism.

So I asked to be baptized by the pastor of the local C&MA church where I had been attending evening services. That was my bogus baptism.

I have since repented of my misunderstanding of my infant baptism when I finally understood the implications of being in the covenant, etc.

Conclusion: No. Don't do it.

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~Jay~
Husband of ENS, father of J II. | Indian Trail, NC
disabled - cancer
Communicant Member, Precentor | Presbyterian Reformed Church of Charlotte, NC | Presbyterian Reformed Church

zzzzzz ...

Irregular, but valid (and effective).

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Rae W. | Elder @ Grace Central Presbyterian Church | Columbus, OH
Online presence: blog | twitter | facebook

No

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Sterling Harmon
Presbyterian Church of Coventry (PCA)
Coventry, CT
Deacon
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