How has your view of baptism changed?

What has been your view of baptism?

  • Total voters
    132
Status
Not open for further replies.
You will enjoy my story Andres because my daughter was baptized at your church and by your minister, one of the best ministers I have had the pleasure of knowing by the way. I was raised in an Epsicopal church only to change to a baptist church when I met my ex-wife, we dated for a coulpe of years until her old piano teacher called her to play at this new baptist church her husband starting. So of course for her, and back than I could care less about theology, I went there too.

Well I adopted their views on everything except I became, thanks to R.C. Sproul and her father, a Calvinist. I debated with her father about infant baptism up until I went into the Air Force. At the end of basic training my ex and her father brought me many books, one being Berkhof's Systematic Theology. She was pregnant a couple of months before I left to go to Texas for my basic training. When I went to techschool her father was asking about whether we would have my daughter baptized when she was born. My poor ex was caught beetween her father, a wonderful man whom I deeply respect to this day, encourging infant baptism and me discourging against it.

The break for me came when I studyed covanent theology from Berkhof and the sacraments as well. That and debating with her father convinced me that infant baptism is the biblical model for baptism. So she came to live with me, while pregnant, in tech school and we went to a wonderful OPC church in Wichita Falls Texas. Robert Lotzer, Andres' pastor and my old one in Abeline Texas, actually came up there to preach and talked with my ex and I about helping us out when we moved there, which he and and everyone in the church did. Well to make a long story short shortly after we arived my ex gave birth to Sarah our daughter. While in the proccess of joining the church Robert baptized our daughter, I still have her baptismal dress. Actually the church was admonished, I think, at Presbytery for baptizing our daghter while we were not technicaly members.

I was sitting with one of our elders at Presbytery, it was held at our church that year, and when they announced it he leaned over and laughed saying "that was because of you". On a personal note Andres I would love to send pictures of Sarah to Robert is there anyway you can arange that? I don't have his email, also tell him she is a committed christian at age 8, she has been for some time(I think he will be proud). I am sure that he and his wife would love love see her now and in between through pictures. I will talk to her mother and see which ones we want to send. Thanks in advance.
 
Began credobaptist, went paedobaptist, was ordained a Presbyterian minister, in time returned to credobaptism and pastor a Reformed Baptist church today. For me it took coming full circle to properly get all of the issues on the table to make sense of them. It was not a simple journey.
 
kodos said:
However, it wasn't a single work that convinced me, but many. I've had to now debate this issue, and teach it to others - so I am pretty confident that I can articulate the doctrine at this point, which is where you want to be. It can take a while!
Click to expand...

Yes. Thank you for your input and suggestions! I appreciate it very much. Very helpful.

The patience factor is hard to accept. There is so much to learn, so much I need to study... I wish I could know it all now!-but there is such joy and richness studying more about the Lord I love, even if it slower than I would wish. :) I want to be thorough in my studying, peeling the layers and digging deep, not just going on a whim by any means. :detective:
 
I've been Credo all my life but I'm open to change. I think the important thing is not to wrestle with positions, as much as simply looking and reading over the text and wrestling with God over it.
 
Paedobaptist by tradition (the first church I attended was paedo), latter credo by association (was attending a Baptist church) and confirmed credo after reading and studying the issue. PB has helped in the process.
 
Grew up credo (immersed about age 10 upon false/weak profession of faith), because a Christian in college, began attending a Presbyterian (PCA) Bible study and later church, soon became a committed paedo after studying the issue.
 
More than five decades as credo; been considering paedo for the last few years; leaning paedo intellectually, but have not made the unplunge yet.
 
I was raised in United UMC/PCUSA church. (believe it) So I don't know what I was. After reforming I wanted badly to be a Presbyterian but, much to my chagrin, became convinced of credobaptism.
 
I answered "paedobaptist to credobaptist" but it has been a lot more complicated than that. Maybe I should have chosen "other" although I did go from paedo to credo, albeit with a number of stops in between!

My experience has probably been closest to Robert Truelove's except that I was raised in a mainline paedobaptist church (UMC.) I suspect given one's perspective, the question may arise as to what the choice "my entire Christian life means." But since most Reformed paedobaptists would accept my sprinkling in a liberal United Methodist congregation as being Christian baptism, I think we should start there. As with brother. Truelove, it has not been an easy process for me.

Once I was converted after several years of blasphemy and dabbling in new ageish meditation, etc., I adopted baptistic views, probably because that was the view of most of my formative influences. At that time, I knew nothing about covenant theology and at best may have only been faintly aware of any conservative evangelicals who held to non-regenerative infant baptism. After leaving an independent "Sovereign Grace" congregation over unrelated doctrinal issues a few years later, I eventually adopted Reformed paedobaptist views and started attending a congregation of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church shortly before becoming a member of this board.

About 3 years ago I relocated and was faced with finding a new church to join, I reconsidered the issue after a more thorough study of the Scriptures and a more thorough study of Baptist writings this time around. I adopted the Baptist views with more conviction this time and with less regard to what implications there were for which church to attend. (The change was made when we were in the middle of joining a PCA congregation.) At this point I suspect my previous acceptance of covenantal infant baptism had a lot to do with frustration over a perceived lack of sound Baptist churches in the area. Once I finally grasped the argument for covenant infant baptism and the Presbyterian argument for the meaning and mode of baptism (thanks to Jay Adams, mainly, with a nod to William the Baptist) I bought in.

With my change back to Baptist views, I'm sure some have thought "he was always really a Baptist deep down" even though I used to denounce and ridicule Baptists. (I had pretty much always done that with more mainstream (and especially Southern) Baptists, even while holding baptistic views.) I wonder if that's why the Presbyterians in my life did very little to try to dissuade me. There was 1000x more resistance on the Puritanboard, even though what I posted here was the same note I sent to those pastors. That there wouldn't have been much said on the part of the church we were planning to join is more understandable, since there was less of a relationship there and we were not members. But the church I had joined two years earlier and where we had been married just 3 months prior did nothing whatsoever to try to dissuade me. It was as if I was of no concern because I moved away, even though I had been implored to join a couple of years earlier even though I had some disagreements with them at that time. But I digress. And I'm sure the same can be said of some Baptist congregations, even some that are relatively sound.

With the last change on this issue (and some other issues as well) I've forfeited some ministry opportunities and at least one possibility of being in leadership. It doesn't seem that I can ever do anything the easy way! But I have to admit that I probably wasn't ready for that responsibility at that time. The choice to become Presbyterian was in many respects more agonizing, but I lost more with the switch back to Baptist views.

As to the poll results, I do think the numbers are skewed in favor of the paedobaptists in large part because there are relatively few evangelical paedobaptist churches today compared to 100 years ago. (I'm thinking specifically of the USA.) The various reasons for that development are beyond the scope of this thread.
 
Grew up Roman Catholic, but will set that aside for the purpose of this poll...

Upon leaving the RCC in my youth, my family began attending various baptist and arminian-bapstist-type churches. And thus, was actually re-baptized at that time (something which I now regret, but was doing what I was told was right, in my youth). In college I was leading a bible study on Romans and my eyes were opened to the truth of reformed theology. At that time I was attending a church that was the equivalent of a Reformed Baptist, but didn't even realize that until later. So, in any case I moved along with a reformed, but credo-baptist, viewpoint for several years.

As I spent more and more time in theological studies I grew to a deeper understanding of covenant theology, not just reformed theology. It was upon this that I began looking more seriously at the merits of paedobaptism and became wholly convinced of them.
 
Other: Raised Credo, then at age 21 began attending a PCA church (and dating a Presbyterian!). That was the turning point in my life where I could no longer believe doctrines simply because my parents had taught me that way; I had to research it for myself. For a while, I strongly leaned toward a Paedo position, but am now firmly Credo.
 
Credobaptist to Paedobaptist ... and very recently.

Just had my first born son baptized last Lord's Day. Blessed time and thankful to God for His covenant blessings.
 
A quote from Symington

"Our object should not be to have scripture on our side but to be on the side of scripture; and however dear any sentiment may have become by being long entertained, so soon as it is seen to be contrary to the Bible, we must be prepared to abandon it without hesitation."

William Symington

It is why I abandoned roman Catholicism and renounced it totally with no hesitation when I discovered the truth.

When I first became a Presbyterian in 2007 I wrote and stated to the elders that I renounced my roman Catholicism and her pope and all her teachings that were contrary to the true Gospel of Christ.

In time I came to believe the roman catholic church as a false church and a harlot of Satan himself. I did not consider my roman catholic baptism as valid. I also became a very staunch Protestant and a solid Reformed Protestant.

For a while in 2008 2009 I believed that the Reformed Baptists were truly Protestant and more purely and authentically Protestant than even Presbyterians. I also thought I liked the Baptist use of the word ordinance rather than sacrament because it more clearly defines what Baptism and the Lords Supper really are. They were ordained by God to be a sign of our accepting Jesus Christ alone as our savior. They are not a means of grace and salvation in themselves as roman Catholicism teaches. Furthermore the Baptist position signifies that they are not necessary for salvation as papists teach but are a symbol of our salvation through Christ Jesus.

As my knowledge of Protestantism expanded I became a Reformed Protestant because I believe Reformed Protestantism is the most purely and authentically Protestant. We are against heresy and popery as a corrupt and evil institution and as Protestants we promote the truth of the true church and Gospel founded by Jesus Christ 2000 years ago. Reformed Protestantism is a return to the true church. Even the roman church taught me that Presbyterians and Baptists were the furthest from Rome in their theology and teachings , worship and sacrament, ordinances. I am a Reformed Protestant because we are further from the corruptions of Rome than any other branch of Protestantism.

In the summer of 2009 I started to attend a reformed Baptist church. On Reformation Sunday 2009 I was baptized by immersion in the Baptist church. However after a few months I began exploring again and I returned To the Presbyterian fold. I was received into my current Presbyterian church by re affirmation of faith on October 24th 2010.I am and want to be purely most Protestant in my expression of the Christian faith.

I do now believe in Paedo baptism and believe it was more my belief that my Roman catholic baptism was not valid.

I feel my journey and conversion to Protestantism has been on going and is now complete. I was baptized in the ordinance of Baptism as a reformed Baptist and as a Protestant. I am now a Presbyterian.

In faith,
Dudley


__________________
 
I switched from Roman Catholic to Episcopal to Baptist shortly after I was saved. I still count myself as being originally a PB since I spent almost a year in the RC, and in the Episcopal church. At first when I became a Baptist, I saw PB as a flagrant violation of scripture. However, after reading some good treatments of the subject; I no longer think that way. Now I accept PBer's as complying with scripture as they understand it. For myself I didn't find the arguments for PB as convincing as the CB arguments, and since I see neither command nor example in the scripture for PB; I remain CB.
 
Studied infant baptism and I am still not convinced. I will be a baptist forever :).
 
Marrow Man said:
Grew up credo (immersed about age 10 upon false/weak profession of faith), because a Christian in college, began attending a Presbyterian (PCA) Bible study and later church, soon became a committed paedo after studying the issue.
Click to expand...

You should just consider the age 10 baptism to be a paedo baptism and you'll be good to go!

:scholar:
 
Born in a traditional baptist church, raised credo, baptized credo, but now in the process of accepting covenant theology. I understand the paedo position, and respect it, though i can't say that I fully affirm it.... yet.... But I would like to find more resources on paedo baptism.
By the way, i answered other.
 
Grew up paedo, was baptized as an infant, changed to credo in college, was baptized subsequently as a believer. If I were to change again, I'd probably go all the way and become a paedo-baptist-and-Lord's-Supper guy, which probably wouldn't make many people happy. But, I'm convinced on credo, and will happily stay where I am.
 
Credo to Paedo...
Was raised in and Baptized in an independent fundamentalist baptist church that taught decisional regeneration & full immersion upon confession of faith in the sign of a cross symbolizing death burial and resurrection. Had a "false profession of faith" leaning on my own works, and carried fire insurance in my back pocket all the while living in sin.

Was married, met my wife, and about the time of the birth of our first child, I was brought to a saving faith in Christ Alone by a sermon preached by Spurgeon 144 years prior...(that I found on the internet.) My wife followed suit, embracing the doctrines of grace. We eventually made our way to the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in the US. (Now FPCNA.) Which allowed for grace and charity of views in Baptism. (Allowes both Credo & Pado positions.) I witnessed several paedobaptisms in the church and began to study the issue out over a ~10 year period of time.

The question was once asked if the charitable positions could last together in the same denomination, to which I began to look at the level of charity, and possible definitions thereof that were required to maintain the position held in the denom. It was at this point that I thought that those who held to credobaptism were, for all intents and purposes, forced to accept and treat the children of believers in the Church, as legitimately baptized in the eyes of the Denomination, where as those who held to paedobaptism had to accept that credo parents of unbaptized children were NOT living in outright sin by withholding the sacrament from their children in the eyes of the presbytery.

I first read an excellent argument by John Knox in which he spoke against the 'rebaptism' of the anabaptists. It was so convincing that for years I wrestled with the issue. <- still a credo at this point.

I began to question mode as soon as I heard the arguments:
1. The death/burial/resurrection immersion creating the 'cross' formation was a western 'semantic anachronism,' or 'reverse etymology,' based on a modern application of the "idea" of burial. "Under the ground" vs. "In" a tomb as Christ was buried in a tomb, not in a casket under the earth.
2. Reference of "Coming Up Out of the water" are interpreted by some as stepping up out of the water instead of coming up from "underneath" the water.
3. Even some baptists would allow for "alternate" modes when total submersion was not an option, (such as confined to wheelchair.) To which I thought to myself I could not "in good conscience" deny the validity of the baptism of that Christian.
4. There were more specifics spoken of in regards to "head covering" than "mode" of baptism in the new testament.

After years of wrestling with "mode" of baptism, I once again began to study "subject" of baptism. Some dear friends of mine in the congregation who were paedobaptists were very influential, along with postings on the PB that I read. I read through several books on the subject pro/con.

Rev. Winzer sent this to me:
The best systematic and clear exposition of baptism which I have read was written by Thomas M'Crie (pronounced McCree), the son of the historian of John Knox.
Click to expand...
He sent me a link to "Lectures on Christian baptism." I found a link to a "scanned copy" that was a bit more "readable" for me on the internet archive here Lectures on Christian baptism (1850) that was most convincing.

After much prayer, the Lord opened my eyes to Christian Paedobaptism to the point I could no longer deny it, nor could I leave my "multiple young children" at that point unbaptized.

Once I fully embraced the doctrine of Paedobaptism (which I obviously see as the 'clear' teaching of scripture) All of my children then, and those whom I have had sense have been baptized.

As a note: the book Lectures on Christian baptism (1850) was so convincing not only to myself, but also to my wife, that I have decided to republish it with updated "American English" spellings, contemporary formatting, original footnotes, and otherwise unaltered, as the only copies available at this time are either digital or very poor OCR scans with multiple errors and poor formatting. This is rather time consuming work - typing out, reading/re-reading/and having my wife read and re-read to check for error, but it is surprisingly very enjoyable and rather fulfilling work non the less.
 
Pilgrim Standard said:
1. The death/burial/resurrection immersion creating the 'cross' formation was a western 'semantic anachronism,' or 'reverse etymology,' based on a modern application of the "idea" of burial. "Under the ground" vs. "In" a tomb as Christ was buried in a tomb, not in a casket under the earth.
Click to expand...

Not to sound unkind, but that is utter nonsense (excepting the part about the "Cross formation"). If you're interested, here is some historical info on this subject.
 
Phil D. said:
Pilgrim Standard said:
1. The death/burial/resurrection immersion creating the 'cross' formation was a western 'semantic anachronism,' or 'reverse etymology,' based on a modern application of the "idea" of burial. "Under the ground" vs. "In" a tomb as Christ was buried in a tomb, not in a casket under the earth.
Click to expand...

Not to sound unkind, but that is utter nonsense (excepting the part about the "Cross formation"). If you're interested, here is some historical info on this subject.
Click to expand...

I don't take it as unkind at all brother. I appreciate the PDF file as well. Note that these (arguments) were reasons that I began to question mode. I suppose I should have been more clear in stating they are "Not the end all means of coming tofull paedobaptism." I understand the arguments from historical context dealing with immersion. But simply because there are instances of persons associating physical immersion as a mode in baptism with "burial" in Christ in ages past does not make the mode in question necessary from scripture. Looking at Alcuin of York (735–804) English stating "[Those who do not practice triple immersion] neglect to imitate in baptism the three days‘ burial of our Savior..." I find this an unscriptural emphasis placing "Preference" above Scriptural mandate. Also noted that since some historical persons regard Baptism to mean "to dip," I feel no obligation to force an interpretation of others upon scripture either.

Being that this is going off topic I would invite you to create a new post in regard to the document you have provided, so as we do not derail the OP, and I would not be tempted to go on an on about the document.

Actually I encourage you to do so very much. I am certain there could be some very interesting dialog, provided we maintain Christian Spirits.

---------- Post added at 03:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:14 PM ----------


In the Spirit of keeping with this thread... I am curious as to how you came to the position of "Other" being in the PCA?
 
I subscribe to the WCF and when I joined the PB, I made note that I disagreed with the Paedobaptist position, but within the last year I have came to a position that I would happily baptise infants, but I would also like to see the person grow in maturity in the knowledge of God's grace and want to be immersed as a sign of obedience. I am a Baptist at heart, but if I were a pastor I would be more than willing to baptise your infant. This is my compromise as a peacemaker.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

T
  • Locked
  • Poll
Has Your Understanding of Baptism Changed?
2 3 4
Replies
92
Views
7K
cmt72
cmt72
dsanch1120
Those who changed views on baptism, what changed your mind?
Replies
16
Views
2K
beloved7
B
The Original Secession
Cunningham's View of Baptism/History
Replies
8
Views
864
RamistThomist
RamistThomist
jwright82
  • Locked
A strong view of Baptism.
2
Replies
59
Views
7K
Cato
C
Jake
  • Locked
Your baptism
2
Replies
34
Views
7K
Bill The Baptist
Bill The Baptist
Back
Top