Wondering about Baptist baptism..

[journey00]

When a Baptist preacher baptizes a person, before the person gets submerged in water, does the preacher actually say “I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”?

Is there a specified format and/or protocol for a Baptist baptism or is a preacher free to say whatever he wants?

Thank you very much and God bless.

 

[Zenas]

The preacher is free to say whatever he wants. However, I have seen hundreds of Baptist baptisms and only one where the Trinitarian formula was not invoked, and that baptism was done by a Baptist layman. It typically goes like this. The pastor enters the baptistry, which contains about 3 feet of water, and makes some remarks about the subject and his or her having been saved. The pastor is facing the congregation. He then beckons the candidate for baptism to come into the water, turns the candidate so that he or she is facing toward the right side of the congregation, puts his left hand over the subject’s face, raises his right hand, and says:

Jane Doe, upon your profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and in obedience to His command, I baptize you my sister in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Then he places his right hand on the subject’s back, leans the subject backward until completely submerged, and then raises him or her out of the water to a standing position. If there is another candidate for baptism, this procedure will be repeated. If not, the baptism is over and the pastor leaves the baptistry.

In case you’re curious, the pastor typically wears waders under his robe during the baptism.

 

[TraditonRules]

Why as Catholics are we so consumed by what another religion is doing, be it Jews, Protestants or Baptists. This has always puzzled me.

 

[Netty1]

Why as Catholics are we so consumed by what another religion is doing, be it Jews, Protestants or Baptists. This has always puzzled me.

For me it is two-fold. Firstly, simple human curiosity and secondly, it helps me when I’m in conversation with people following other religions to know what their practices and beliefs are. I find it hard to have a conversation without some point of reference.

 

[TraditonRules]

For me it is two-fold. Firstly, simple human curiosity and secondly, it helps me when I’m in conversation with people following other religions to know what their practices and beliefs are. I find it hard to have a conversation without some point of reference.

Agreed plus we wonder is my religion really the right one, a seed doubt thinking just maybe the other religion in correct.

 

[PRmerger]

Agreed plus we wonder is my religion really the right one, a seed doubt thinking just maybe the other religion in correct.

Any thinking person ought to always be considering, “maybe the other side is correct.”

When you do that, and have solid catechesis, you will only be confirmed and affirmed in your Catholic faith.

 

[journey00]

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate it.

 

[Calgar]

When a Baptist preacher baptizes a person, before the person gets submerged in water, does the preacher actually say “I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”?

Is there a specified format and/or protocol for a Baptist baptism or is a preacher free to say whatever he wants?

Thank you very much and God bless.

Don’t know about all the unaffiliated baptist churchs, but the SBC follows the trinitarian formula.

As to the waders? The minister usually has to preach a sermon after the baptism, so it’s quicker if he’s dry.

I’ve never seen a layperson conduct a baptism before. It’s at least a deacon.

 

[Zenas]

I’ve never seen a layperson conduct a baptism before. It’s at least a deacon.

Calgar, when I said I had seen one baptism done by a layman, it was actually a deacon. In my church the pastor decides who may administer a baptism and in this case the deacon wanted to baptize one of his own children. He made some rather sentimental remarks and then said something like, “As a witness to your belief in Christ, I baptize you.” I thought it was strange at the time and I still do.