Why Not?

Maybe you come from a tradition that practiced baptism differently than here at The Bridge. Maybe it's the one thing about our church that you’re not comfortable with. I get it. That used to be me.

But after extensive study on the history and debate surrounding baptism in Christian circles, there’s one thing I’ve learned that scholars and church historians agree on. Jesus’ earliest disciples, and the first century church, practiced baptism the way we do today. That’s not a matter of debate. Whether your background is Catholic, Lutheran (like me) or Reformed, Wesleyan, or Eastern Orthodox, they all agree that the early church baptized its first converts by immersing them in water when they professed faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection. That’s how they did it every time and without exception in the New Testament. There’s no debate on that.

Christians do debate the reason for change to different modes of baptism and how early that transition took place. And I think those debates are healthy. But there isn’t a serious debate about how baptism was originally practiced. That’s pretty settled.

So if you come from a tradition that practices baptism in a different way, I get it, and that’s ok. But here’s my genuine question for you: Why not just go ahead and get baptized the way Jesus did, and the way His earliest followers practiced it? Why not? The Bible doesn’t prohibit a person from getting baptized again.

When I was in Israel, I stood on the shores of the Jordan River near where Jesus was baptized and thought, “I’ve already been baptized (sprinkled as a baby and immersed as a believer), but this is where Jesus was baptized! Why not?” So, after baptizing about a hundred people, I had two of the other pastors baptize me. It was a special moment to be baptized in the same river Jesus was.

We know Jesus was baptized by immersion as an adult, and we know that the early Christians were also baptized by immersion as adults (or at least old enough to make the decision for themselves). So even if you come from a different background and tradition that is meaningful to you, why not go ahead and experience the very special ceremony of being baptized the way your Savior was?

Why not?

This is your opportunity, and this may be a day you will remember for the rest of your life. If you believe Jesus died for you and rose again, and you are trusting Him to forgive you, just do it. Go ahead and get baptized the way Jesus was.

You won’t regret it.