Look A Body Of Water ...

It is my joy to say that I underwent water baptism this Sunday. Before I speak about it I would like to talk about what brought me to this point in my life.

It was actually the second time I have been baptised by water. I was originally baptised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses as a young teenager. When your parents are Jehovah's Witnesses typically there is subtle pressure for a young Witness to get baptised, around the age of sixteen, if not sooner. This is particularly true when the father in the family is serving as a Ministerial Servant (Deacon) or an Elder. If their children do not take a public stand of faith by baptism the congregation may view the parent as not "presiding over his household in a fine manner" and thus they may be pressured to step aside from their congregation responsibilities. There is also pressure in a peer group. It is not unusual that if one teenager in a congregation decides to get baptised that his friends will follow. Again, sometimes this segways into parental pressure. If a Witness youth puts off baptism they may begin to be viewed as "bad association" and their peers in the congregation may be discouraged from spending too much time socializing with them.

Personally, I recognized that there was an expectation for me to get baptised. A few of my friends had already taken that step and because my natural father was the Presiding Overseer of the congregation there was always the undercurrent that we, his children, had to set an example. Though, I can't say that I really felt pressure to get baptised. Since I was raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses I always assumed that at some point I would get baptised sooner or later. What really motivated my decision to do so was actually a bus trip.

Jehovah's Witnesses are often encouraged to make it a point to visit the religion's world headquarters and printing facility, called Bethel, in Brooklyn, NY. Because of this congregations sometimes will arrange bus tours to visit Brooklyn Bethel. One such occasion there was a bus trip coming up and a couple of my friends were going and I was really wanting to go too. However, the tour group organizer had set the stipulation that only baptised children would be able to go on this particular trip. This prompted me to go ahead and get baptised. Again, I always assumed that I would get baptised and this trip only provided the impetus for me to go ahead with it. At that time I had a love for God and felt that baptism was the right thing to do.

Witnesses have three large gatherings annually, called assemblies and conventions, during which there is time set aside for public baptisms. The majority of those getting baptised will be Jehovah's Witness' children along with a few converts from their "door-to-door" ministry work. Before being "approved" for baptism, a baptismal canditate will have undergone a series of meetings with congregation elders to go over a set of questions. The questions are arranged to make sure that any one getting baptised into the religion will have a general knowledge of the moral and theological teachings of the Jehovah's Witness religion. At the assembly or convention they will listen to a talk about their baptism and then will be asked to rise and publically affirm their faith by answering "yes" to two questions. Since, 1985 the questions have been as follows:

On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?

Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization?

I got baptised at a circuit assembly in St. Louis, MO that would have had an attendence of about 700. On my baptism day, I was surprised to find that my natural father was giving baptismal talk, a secret that he had kept. At the appointed time I rose and answered "yes" to the two questions not knowing what the ramifications of such would later prove to be.

It would be about fifteen years later that the second question would come back against me. At that time I was undergoing a judicial committee (religious tribunal) under the charges of apostasy. In a private discussion with a couple of congregation elders I had revealed that I didn't believe some of the religion's teachings on matters of organizational arrangement and prophecy. This set me up to the potential of being disfellowshipped (excommunicated) from the religion if I did not repent during a judicial meeting.

It was during this judicial meeting and the subsequent appeal meeting that I was continually told that by disagreeing with "God's organization" I was reputiating my baptism and the second question that I had publically said "yes" to. I tried to explain that I was just a child and that I thought my baptism was simply out of love for God and that I didn't recognize that it would legally bind me to the religion and its ever-changing beliefs and prophetic interpretations.

I was disfellowshipped and in the aftermath I really had to give thought to my baptism therein. In the eyes of the religion and those in it my baptism was into an organization - an organization I was no longer a part of and had no desire ever to be a part of again. I did some study on baptism and compared what I was seeing in Scripture and Christian history to what I had raised to believe. These studies were written up into the following blog entries:

Into Who or What are We Baptised?
Is Baptism a Symbol of Dedication?
Is the Baptism of Children Scriptural?

What I've found is that many former Witnesses in my situation have gone back and questioned their baptism - particularly if they were baptised since 1986. (Prior to 1986 the second baptismal question focused on the holy spirit but afterward it was changed to the "spirit directed organization") I was no different. I thought about it from time to time; but, I wasn't moved to be re-baptised. I reasoned that since I had since been baptised in Holy Spirit that there was no need for me to have a water baptism again. But even then I always left open the possiblity that I might sometime have a "look a body of water" moment.

(This is in reference to the Ethiopian eunuch of Acts 8:26-40. In the account this Ethiopian eunuch is in a chariot, leaving Jerusalem, and reading from Isaiah. The spirit moves Philip the evangelist to join himself to the eunuch and strike up a conversation. Upon hearing about Jesus the eunuch believes and seeing a body of water he asks, "look a body of water! What prevents me from getting baptised!" Philip agrees and baptises him in the name of Jesus.)

Recently a friend and I were looking at baptism again and she was speaking about her desire to get rebaptised in the name of Jesus. I shared my feelings about how I had received the spirit baptism and she pointed out how Cornelius and his family received the baptism of the spirit before being water baptised. This stirred my thinking and over the next few weeks I continued to get that spirit "prod" about water baptism.

So just Sunday I was happy to get baptised with my friends - of course they are more than friends and are really my only family. We went out to the country and after traveling down rock roads we found a spot a deep spot in a creek and took the plunge. It was a beautiful, wonderful experience. In looking at the pictures I doubt we could have bigger smiles.

Later that night Rebekah was questioning me about my feelings. She knew that up until a month ago that I wasn't really considering baptism. She asked if I felt different, more complete. I said mostly I just felt happy and at peace. But, I think there was something more to it for me.

I think about those in the first century that had been baptised by John the baptist; but, later got baptised in the name of Jesus. Was my first baptism a symbol of something? Yes - love for God, a dedication to him, and as much repentance as a child can manifest. However, in the Scripture baptism in all about Jesus and honestly I didn't even consider him in my original baptism. But this baptism was completely about him and my death and life in him. My first baptism was into a religious organization and my second into the Son of God. And in this way it feel likes a "rite of passage". I feel that just as my first water baptism was into a religion my second baptism was out of it. In truth, although I've been officially out of the Jehovah's Witnesses religion for over a year there was something that changed when I went under that water. I feel like that former life is finally behind me and I'm happy for the future.





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I wasn't the only one to get baptised that day! My friends' account are here and here.

Fruitage of the Spirit - Part 5 "Patience"

This month the Spiritual quality that we will consider is patience. The Greek word for patience is makrothymia and it literally means "longness of spirit". This quality encompasses being slow to anger and purposeful endurance and forbearance while suffering. A person who is patient can be considered as being steadfast - reliable, faithful, and true to the end.

Almighty God is the ultimate example of patience and forbearance. The Old Testament scriptures continually refer to God as one who is "slow to anger". (Exodus 34:6; Joel 2:13) Paul refers to Him as the "God of endurance" (Romans 15:5)

From the time of the fall of Adam forward mankind was under a death sentence. Yet the patience of God was made manifest by his redemptive plan for humanity. Peter encourages us to "regard the patience of our Lord as salvation" (2 Peter 3:15) God is not quick to anger to destroy anyone but allows time for repentance. (2 Peter 3:9,10) Similarly Paul writes, "Or do you have contempt for the wealth of his kindness, forbearance, and patience, and yet do not know that God's kindness leads you to repentance?" (Romans 2:4)

As Christians we need to be conforming ourselves to the Word of God, the teachings of Jesus. Thus we are not allowed to defend ourselves as Jesus commands, "Do not resist an evil person" (Matthew 5:39) When confronted with adversarial individuals the natural, fleshly reaction is self-defense. Even if we are not prone to physical violence our tendency may be to verbally stand up for ourselves. It is at times like this that we need to seek the spirit and manifest supernatural patience. James encourages us, "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience." (James 5:10)

The biggest opportunity to show patience is in the face of suffering, adversity and persecution. In this, Jesus is such an amazing example of patient endurance. He embodied patience under severe trials. In prophetically writing about him the prophet Isaiah said, "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth." (Isa 53:7)

From a fleshly perspective such a seemingly complacent attitude may be viewed as a sign of weakness but according to God's word it is actually greater than physical strength. "Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city." (Proverbs 16:32, NIV) Jesus proved this to be true. When he was crucified in weakness he triumphed over the enemy. Of him it is said, "Disarming the rulers and authorities, he made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross." (Col 2:15)

Patience is an identifying mark of Christians as God's servants. (2 Cor 6:4-6) As the "elect of God" we are required to clothe ourselves with patience. (Col 3:12) Patient endurance is a vital component of our salvation. (Mat 24:13) When we experience suffering we can rejoice knowing that our suffering, produces endurance along with character and hope. (Romans 5:3,4) The author of the epistle to the Hebrews encourages them to endure in the faith while suffering instead of shrinking back. It is through such faithful patience that we preserve our souls. (Hebrews 10:32-39) In Revelation Jesus himself commends his congregation for their "steadfast endurance" (Rev 2:2,19) This patience is not something that comes naturally from within the fallen flesh but rather it is a gift from God for it is he who is able to "direct [our] hearts … toward the endurance of Christ." (2 Thess 3:5)

Patience does not just come into play when dealing with those that we might consider as enemies but also with our brother and sisters in Christ. Within the congregation patience is required in our "putting up with one another." (Eph 4:2) We all are works in progress and at different points in our spiritual walk and within the Christian family there are both mature and young. So again we are urged by Paul, "be patient toward all." (1 Th 5:14) Because God is patient with us we are required to be patient with one another. (Romans 15:5)

In dealing with his disciples, whom he considered as friends, Jesus manifested such patience. His apostles were often slow to understand the lessons that Jesus was trying to impart and they were quick to break into squabbles and arguments. The Lord patiently dealt with them and the outcome was positive. These ones became good examples in imitation of Jesus and the foundation of his congregation. (Eph 2:20)

A key element then in patience is hope. Whether we are enduring on behalf of friends or foes we do so with the hope of a change in the situation. And this hope is not just for our personal relief. Just as God is patient with us in hope that we will change our hope is that even an enemy will turn around and seek repentance. We also hope in our own salvation that is promised to those who endure to the end.