Coming Back New by Dan King
Is this your first visit to On the Horizon? You're invited to subscribe to the RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
My special Guest Blogger on the Horizon today is Dan King of BibleDude.net, an online Bible study resource. Dan works with a young adults ministry in Sarasota, Florida. His goal is “to challenge the way you think about the world around you as you look at it with God-goggles on. Comfortable Christianity is a dangerous place to be, as the world around us is trying to chew up the Church and spit it out.”
Coming Back New
by Dan King
I must have asked myself if I was sure about this somewhere around a million times. Am I actually going to go through with this? Why do I need to do this anyway? Isn’t my salvation enough?
After my salvation experience about a year and a half earlier, I did notice some great changes in my life. However there was always the sense that I could always go back to my old way of life if this Christianity thing turned out to not be what I thought it was. After all, I was a liar with an immoral heart and a hypocrite. I never did open myself up completely to those close to me. I was a Christian now, but wondered why I still struggled with things. I even started serving as a helper with the youth group, and often found myself talking to young men telling them that they shouldn’t be doing the very things that I know that I struggled with in my own mind and heart.
I was told that the water baptism was about a bunch of different things, and it all made sense. But most importantly my Jesus told us to do it, and to me that was enough. However, I still struggled with the idea of going through with it. Now I understand why. I didn’t want to let go of the past. I enjoyed my past. I had fun, and if I were to do this whole baptism thing, then I knew that it was done.
I don’t know about everyone else, but to me the act of water baptism was about laying it all down. I had to take the old me and lay it all down before Christ and let Him know that all of the good ol’ “fun” stuff is not what I wanted out of life anymore. I wanted Him. I was dying to the world that day, and quite frankly, that scared me. I didn’t truly know what life would be like on “the other side” for me. That’s the next thing…
The “new” life. For me water baptism is also about a “resurrection,” just like my Jesus did. After He beat death and rose from the grave, I always imagine that he came back greater and stronger and even more confident. I doubt that the Son of God lacked in these areas to begin with, but the other side of resurrection had to be pretty special. And, that’s where I was about to go. I didn’t know what to expect, but I did know that it had to be a special place.
Finally, it was all too public. Why did we have to do it at a public beach? In front of all of those people? Now I know why. I needed my life to make a statement to the world. I had to make the statement that I was leaving it, and coming back different. People had to see me go down, and come back up.
So the day came, and I walked out into that water and waited for my turn. I was excited, but still unsure. When my turn came, with a pastor on each side of me praying, they laid me back into the water. There I was, completely submersed. I know that I was only down there for a second or two, but it also seemed like an eternity. As the water swirled over my face I remember opening my eyes and looking up. I saw the sun shining down through the water on me, and I remember thinking that God was out there somewhere smiling over me.
When I came back up, I came back up as the “new” me. All I could do was to stretch my hands up to the sky and praise His Name. And as I looked up to the sky, I was suddenly reminded of how cloudy it was outside that day. Then I just smiled, and took my first step forward knowing that God had smiled upon me that day, and that my life would never be the same again. Amen.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for sharing the meaning of this experience. I’ve learned about something I’ve watched from afar.
SandyCarlson’s last blog post..Blog Your Blessings Sunday: Light
Thanks Sandy! It was something incredible just to experience it. When writing it, it seemed to me like it just happened yesterday, but it was actually about eight years ago. It was one of the biggest moments in my life!
Dan
What a wonderful description of a baptism. I was baptized as an infant, but never really thought of it. Great post for BYBS.
CyberCelt’s last blog post..Blog Your Blessing: Gentle & Forgotten Art of Blessings
Thanks! Water baptism is a wonderful experience. I know there are lots of differences in the church as to when baptism should be done, but even if you have already been baptized, I recommend seeking it out as an adult as well. I know several adults who have done it several times. For example, one friend that I have recently went to Israel and while there, got baptized in the Jordan River, near the historical location of John the Baptist’s ministry. How cool would THAT be?!
BYBS?
Thanks!
Dan
Dan: Thanks so much for being a Guest Blogger on the Horizon. Your article is extremely thought-provoking.
We will have to agree to disagree on this point: “[E]ven if you have already been baptized, I recommend seeking it out as an adult as well.”
I could never do that. I was baptized as an infant and believe in the Apostles’ Creed which declares that there is “one baptism for the remission of sin.” To get re-baptized would not only be redundant for me, but would, in my opinion, dishonor my parents who lived out their obligation to raise me in the Christian faith and made sure that I was taught the principles of Christianity, a prime example being their having me baptized when just a few months old and making sure that I participated in confirmation. In the church in which I was raised, confirmation is, in fact, the rite of “Affirmation of Baptism.” So I reaffirmed my baptism as a young adult.
Were I to get baptized again, I don’t know how I would intellectually reconcile that with the paths I have already walked, primarily those mentioned above.
So no, adult re-baptism is not for everyone. But it is certainly an option for those who feel called to it.
Hopeful Spirit,
Fair enough! I respect your reasons, and the traditions that you follow. I was raised sort-of Catholic, and spent some time in a Catholic school, and am somewhat familiar with the confirmation and beliefs that are practiced there. I also respect them a great deal, but unfortunately, I was not serious about my faith at all at that time of my life.
I came to realize my faith more as an adult in a non-denominational environment, where it is more commonly taught that adult baptism is the way to go. For me regardless of when baptism ’should’ be done, I did feel very strong about getting baptized after making my salvation decision, and it was a beautiful experience.
It is not my intent to offend anyone like you or with the same beliefs as you. I like to focus more on what we have in common than the difference that could separate us.
I will say that the experience is pretty amazing, and I still recommend it. Jesus also told us that we need to pick up our cross daily. For me, my faith is new every day. Every morning I must wake up and die to my flesh. I am saved, but I am still a sinner. No matter how good my intentions are, I am still flawed, and can use a little more identification with Christ in my life. I have been baptized as an adult once. But personally do not see the harm in doing it again.
Without getting too theological here, I guess that I would compare it to a prayer for salvation (which I also know is handled differently in different places). If I pray for salvation with others who are praying for the first time, then I don’t believe that this is any disrespect or negative statement about my first salvation experience. I see the same thing with baptism. If I had the opportunity to identify with Christ in that way again, especially if it were somewhere cool like the Jordan River, then I would probably do it. If it had to be for the “remission” of sin, then I still would not be out of line while I am still a sinner.
I do certainly agree that experiences like this are certainly quite sacred events. And if doing it does not sit well with someone, then I absolutely respect that right. Something like this should not be done without prayerful consideration anyway. Follow the lead of the Holy Spirit on this. IF you (any reader) do feel led to do it, then I do pray that God would meet you there and make it as meaning ful an experience as it was for me here.
God bless,
Dan
Sounds like a great experience. I am considering getting baptised myself. Needs some more thought and reflection first though.
Jenny’s last blog post..Die Person Adolf Hitler (3 DVDs)
Truly it is a wonderful period every Baptist experiences. Your article gave a lot of meaning for my time (Business Hours).Amen.
Cheap HDTV’s last blog post..Sony BRAVIA KDL-V40A12U Review
Really good description about baptism.
Leave a Comment