Southern Baptist Rebaptism
When we think that “rebaptism” issues were only debated within Churches of Christ, perhaps we need to see things more broadly (e.g., Southern Baptists rebaptize) and historically (can you say “Donatist“?).
A blogpost entitled “Southern Baptists and Alien Immersion” was linked to my last post and it drew my interest. It illustrates that while there is potential rapprochement on baptismal theology, there is also strong and settled entrenchment on the subject.
The post quoted some results of a survey of 778 Southern Baptist pastors. 74% surveyed said their churches would not accept immersions by the Assembly of God or Free Will Baptist Churches. 87% said they would not accept immersions by Churches of Christ.
I think this is rather sad. When immersion is hinged on anything other than faith in Christ, it seems to me that it becomes an ecclesial–and consequently sectarian–power play. Baptism then serves denominational loyalty rather than serving faith in Jesus.
Alexander Campbell’s insistence that the confession of Jesus as the Christ is the only requirement for baptism seems all the more important to emphasize in our contemporary American context–not only for members of Churches of Christ but also, apparently, for pastors among Southern Baptist churches.
Whoever believes in Jesus is a candidate for baptism and whoever dismisses their baptism denies, it seems to me, the power of God’s work through faith (Colossians 2:12).
June 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
hear we go again 🙂
a little later for me bless
all
thanks john mark
June 27th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Certainly “baptism and rebaptism” is a subject that will be visited and revisted by every generation. In the fellowship of Churches of Christ the one blessing of “remission of sins” has been THE reason for being baptized and anyone baptized simply to “obey the Lord” or “follow His example” has been urged to be “rebaptized.” Sad! Some Baptist teach the reality of surrendering to the Lordship of Christ in baptism. When that is the case there is no reason to rebaptize. Many in Churches of Christ are rebaptized because they did not surrender to the Lordship of Christ the first time they were baptized.
June 28th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
by the way great conclusion john mark.
sorry bout that.
hope you are all haveing a great lords day…
🙂
October 18th, 2012 at 6:29 am
There appear to be geographical variations in Southern Baptist practice concerning rebaptism. It was very common in my native Mississippi but a good friend who is a Southern Baptist minister here in Maryland said that he found rebaptism to be puzzling and was not aware of it being practised by Maryland Southern Baptists.
December 26th, 2025 at 10:08 am
Seems to me that the big question that seems to be the sticking point in the issue when it comes to re-baptism is, Did the Church that originally baptized them constitute a Scriptural church? Did they have proper New Testament authority? I have heard very little from those who espouse receiving these baptisms, in defense of these other Churches & their baptismal authority.
A secondary question arises. In many of these instances, the reason these baptims are rejected is due to doctrines that these Churches hold that the Pastor feels would prohibit them receiving the individual on the basis of their prior baptism. In the example given in the situation, a Freewill Baptist Church believes that it is possible for a believer to lose their salvation. In the mind of many, that is seen as another gospel. (I actually feel that interpretation can be debated! If that doctrine constitutes another gospel, that is the equivalent of saying an Arminian that believes it can’t be saved until they renounce that position.) The question arises as to what particular teachings or history causes a particular Church to not be deemed a Biblical Church.
I feel that the case has been better presented for rejecting these baptisms by those who feel led to do so, than by those who feel they should be accepted.
I am not trying to make a defense for one position or the other in this post. I’m just sharing an opinion.
I would welcome any comments!