| Author | Message | ||
| Treasurehntr Registered user Username: Treasurehntr Post Number: 104 Registered: 7-2007 |
Does it count? Mainstream Christianity would probably give a reserved yes. My gut tells me no. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 12666 Registered: 12-2003  |
Treasurehntr, many former Adventists are baptized again as Christians. In fact, at the FAF weekend last February, Mark Martin actually advised, in one of his presentations, that those who have been baptized into a false gospel like Adventism should be baptized as believers. I'll share again a video clip of our older son's baptism into Christ four years ago. He was baptized at age 11 as an SDA, then as a believer about 13 years later. Here it is: http://www.formeradventist.com/stories/Resources/roysbaptism.mov Colleen | ||
| Jonvil Registered user Username: Jonvil Post Number: 585 Registered: 4-2007 |
Good question, I've never 'felt' a need to be re-baptized. | ||
| Rossbondreturns Registered user Username: Rossbondreturns Post Number: 177 Registered: 10-2009  |
I did feel the need to be rebaptized. So I talked it over with my pastor at the time up in Oregon and i gave my reasons. Foremost being baptized into the church and not Christ. And he agreed to rebaptize me. How different both were...one this solemn game of 20 questions followed by polite clapping...and the other in an inflatable pool...outside...with praise music and raucous applause, clapping and cheering. I truly felt like part of the family of God. | ||
| 1john2v27nlt Registered user Username: 1john2v27nlt Post Number: 301 Registered: 5-2009 |
I felt a need to be rebaptized in my 30s before I ever left SDAism. I was baptized because it was simply what everyone in 6th grade church school did & was expected to do. I was compliant. When I was rebaptized it was because I consciously surrendered to Jesus - it was not about doctrine. By then I understood salvation by grace in Him alone. Unlike many people here I dropped my membership 20 years ago over lifestyle issues, and because I needed to get what I said I believed & what I did to match. I did not believe one had to be a member of the sda church to be saved, & I was not going to 'Look' like one. Nonetheless I still identified myself as sda. I did not seriously question the doctrines til many years later. J9 | ||
| Thegoldenway Registered user Username: Thegoldenway Post Number: 8 Registered: 5-2011 |
Hummmm....baptism. YES. As a matter of fact, my husband and I just got baptized into the TRUE GOSPEL yesterday. It was great!! I sensed that I really needed to be re-baptized because I needed to put that SDA life in the grave and start a new life in Christ... in the new covenant. It's nice having that dividing point in time between living in a perverted gospel and coming to life in the true gospel. This baptism for me was also a public renouncing of the SDA system and of all the vows that I had to agree to before being baptized into the SDA church. Now all that is finished for me. "I'm a new creation in Christ, old things have passed away, behold all things have become new." God leads us all differently. We all have our own unique experiences and needs. I know for me getting rebaptized was something I needed to do. | ||
| Ric_b Registered user Username: Ric_b Post Number: 1065 Registered: 7-2004  |
I think that is a question best left between God and each believer. But there is a more important issue than the false gospel concern that Mark Martin raised. The god of SDAism is not the Triune God of Scripture and Christianity. Because of SDAism's rejection of the Trinity doctrine, I believe that former SDAs should give the question serious consideration in prayer. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 12672 Registered: 12-2003 |
Yup--I agree completely. The issue of the Adventist Trinity is serious; it's deeply and subtly twisted, and their god is not the Trinity of the Bible. Colleen | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 786 Registered: 5-2002  |
I would say that the Adventist "gods" are not the God of the Bible. Adventism worships three gods: a father, a son, and a holy spirit. SDA teaches that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are "three co-existent persons", distinct and different from each of the other two, but united in principle and purpose - like a family of three people (father + mother + child). The Triune God of the Bible is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit = One God. Adventism does not worship Him but instead worships three idol gods of its own making. | ||
| Treasurehntr Registered user Username: Treasurehntr Post Number: 105 Registered: 7-2007 |
Well, I guess it's obvious. I have a baptism conundrum. EVERY point made here is valid. I, like all of you was baptized into a system of behavior that would get me into heaven. Uh, only if I could maintain obedience. EVERY doctrinal point made here is extremely valid! I thought I knew the Trinity, I did not. I thought I knew Grace, I did not. I thought I understood the importance of the Atonement, I did not. I thought I understood Prophecy, I did not. In fact, like many Adventists, I kind of replaced Salvation with Prophecy while keeping them separate. I was also really good at giving the canned answers I was expected to give. My understanding is still flawed but I'm really ok with that. I know that God is with me and he grants me grace as needed. I just feel really impressed that my SDA baptism was just an empty ritual. God is calling me to make a genuine commitment. Well, I prayed for an answer, I shouldn't be surprised I got an answer. I'm reminded of the simplicity of the Gospel. Paul and his jailer, the thief on the cross and other biblical testimonies. Could an SDA have explained it in such simple beauty without the 13 weeks of the Revelation Seminar. I think not. | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 787 Registered: 5-2002 |
I hear ya Treasurehuntr. I wanna wash that woman right outta my hair. | ||
| Starlabs Registered user Username: Starlabs Post Number: 1 Registered: 5-2011 |
I too was baptized at an early age in the SDA church but because it was such an early age, I don't think my knowledge of doctrinal issues played much of a factor. Sure the church had us study the fundamental beliefs but I just don't know if I understood them all that well at baptism. I honestly just don't remember what all I knew at my baptism. I did understand that Jesus was my Savior. Beyond knowing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior which is Jesus, is there really too much more you need to know for baptism? I have been out for awhile now but I'm still learning all the time. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 9228 Registered: 3-2004  |
Welcome to FAF Starlabs. Diana L | ||
| Starlabs Registered user Username: Starlabs Post Number: 2 Registered: 5-2011 |
Thank-you, Diana. | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 26 Registered: 2-2011 |
~WELCOME~ Starlabs~ GOD Bless~ ~*~mj~*~ | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 12676 Registered: 12-2003 |
Welcome, Starlabs! It's good to have you here! Colleen | ||
| Lucybugg Registered user Username: Lucybugg Post Number: 288 Registered: 2-2007 |
I gave my heart to the Lord in a Baptist church when I was 10 years old. I was there with my father. This prompted my mother's return to the adventist church after years of non-attendance. I was baptized by the adventist church that same year, but it was because I wanted to be baptized because I loved the Lord. | ||
| Starlabs Registered user Username: Starlabs Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2011 |
Thanks, mj and Colleen. | ||
| Philharris Registered user Username: Philharris Post Number: 2470 Registered: 5-2007  |
Welcome Starlabs, Sounds like you were like many of us who joined the adventist denomination at a young age. As for myself, my SDA grandmother led me and my brother to the Lord at a very young age without any of the 'adventist package'. Baptism and all that goes with it came later.... PS I work in a plant with robots I am curious if you are associated with automation because your user name suggests that to me? Fearless Phil | ||
| Starlabs Registered user Username: Starlabs Post Number: 4 Registered: 5-2011 |
Thank-you, Phil. My name is Starla. I'm actually becoming a pharmacist and I have a beautiful lab dog so hence the labs in my username for those two reasons. Yeah, my parents and grandparents did teach me about Jesus dying on the cross for me. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 1934 Registered: 7-2007 |
Welcome Starlabs!  | ||
| Nowisee Registered user Username: Nowisee Post Number: 866 Registered: 5-2009 |
Hi, Starlabs! It is such an encouragement to see God calling people into His truth! | ||
| Starlabs Registered user Username: Starlabs Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2011 |
Thank-you, Asurprise and Nowisee. | ||
| Free2dance Registered user Username: Free2dance Post Number: 347 Registered: 2-2010 |
I have a desire for re-baptism, even though as an SDA I told the pastor I was being baptised into Christ and not the church. I still signed the belief statement and I didn't know the real Christ. Eph. says that it isn't until we hear the word of TRUTH and believe that we are born again. I had not yet heard that truth. I don't think it is fair to say that all people baptised in the SDA church aren't born again, but I am pretty sure I wasn't. Recently I read the online SDA church manual, revised in November of 2010. In it, they subtly encouraged the re-baptism of converts from other Christian churches into Adventism. Even they recognize it as a different gospel and a different baptism. Scripture tells us there is ONE baptism, ONE gospel, ONE truth. It also tells us that there will be those who teach a different gospel and a different Jesus. I feel like my baptism wasn't the right ONE. For that reason, I feel like I need to do it. I find myself dragging my feet a bit though (which I realize is disobedience) and Im not sure why. It's a pretty public deal at our church. I need to get over that... |
