Jehovah's Witnesses: Who Can Baptize?

by Cold Steel 26 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • bats in the belfry
    bats in the belfry

    The 'stranger' class defined:

    The Watchwower 1943, December 15, page 378

    And, of course, with the definition of that class go its rights and duties:

    The Watchwower 1944, November 15, page 346

  • freydo
    freydo

    And the point is?

    And does this have anything to do with Passover?

    Russell was flawed and it's gone bad to worse with dubs.

    He could have chosen to keep the SABBATH, and the DIVINE NAMES.

    BUT INSTEAD FOLLOWED THE ERROR OF THE CHURCHES

    WHO WORSHIP THE SUN.

    HELLO WTBT$$$

  • Cold Steel
    Cold Steel

    Thanks for the replies, but I'm still in the dark regarding the actual mechanics of how things are done.

    So let's say you're a Dub in good standing. Your son, Bill, has been reading and he wants to be baptized. Now what?

    What usually happens? Do YOU baptize Bill or does the church appoint an elder to do it?

    You want to do the baptism yourself. Is there a problem? Is it unusual?

    What are the words one uses? [Name], I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen?

    Suppose you're on a camping trip. You and Bill have had a chat and you ascertain that he's ready for baptism. So you and Bill go into a nearby lake and you baptize him. You get back home, call an elder friend and tell him what you did. Is there a problem?

  • DATA-DOG
    DATA-DOG

    1943? That was Rutherford or his cronies. The purpose was to set up a subservient class on the earth for Rutherford to be the boss of.

    So lets see Jw's... If my daughter wanted to be baptized she would tell me and her mother. Then we are required to tell the Elders. Then they will meet with her and go over ALL the questions. She will answer as best she can using her short-term memory, and get baptized at the next convention. Then she will be a sworn follower of the Governing Body, but still be the same kid with same maturity level. The only difference is she will live in fear of falling short and use her youth to peddle magazines. Around 40 she may realize she was mislead. Too late, her 4 children and Elder husband will consume her time and she will have no education or support. She will die a little more inside each day. Her only hope is to remain blissfully ignorant and hope for the new world.

  • freydo
    freydo

    According to dub organizationalism you have to start reporting time pounding on doors and regularly attending meetings . Then you have to sit down with elders and answer 80-90 questions. Then you are not baptized in the Name of the Messiah, but answer two more questions having to do with your affilliation with the dubs.

    Forget the Bible!

  • blondie
    blondie

    *** w73 8/1 pp. 479-480 Questions From Readers ***

    During the second world war, in some concentration camps in Germany where only women were imprisoned, there were cases where a dedicated sister performed a baptism. Thus, one sister relates that after she came to a knowledge of the truth in a concentration camp and dedicated herself to Jehovah she was then baptized by a sister. Would this baptism be valid?—Germany.

    An examination of the Bible shows no evidence of women doing baptizing. But it does record examples of dedicated men baptizing others. (Matt. 3:13-17; John 4:2; Acts 8:38) We are not authorized by God’s Word to declare that a baptism performed by a sister is acceptable; therefore, in the case mentioned, the sister should be baptized by a dedicated brother in accord with the requirements of the Bible.

    However, this does not mean that the dedication made by the sister in the concentration camp was not a valid one. The very fact that she is still serving Jehovah years after her release from the camp shows that she understood what she was doing and had truly made a dedication. Hence, the date of her dedication can be recorded by her as originally.

    If a person learns the truth when in a prison or any place where there are no dedicated males present or available to perform a baptism and the person wishes to make a dedication to Jehovah, what can be done? Romans 10:10 says: “With the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.” A believing woman can go to Jehovah in prayer and make a dedication. She can then make public declaration of her faith and can go on record before dedicated sisters who may be present that she has ‘exercised faith in her heart’ and that she is awaiting the first opportunity to be baptized by a brother. Jehovah looks upon the heart (Prov. 17:3; 21:2), and surely the heart condition of such a woman would lead to salvation. In the case of Cornelius and his household, there was evidently heavenly recognition of the heart condition, for holy spirit fell upon them before baptism. Six circumcised brothers from Joppa had accompanied Peter on that occasion and could raise no objection when Peter commanded these first Gentile believers who had received holy spirit to be baptized.—Acts 10:44-48.

    Similarly, a man may learn the truth and make a valid dedication when imprisoned, and even though there are dedicated brothers present, yet he is prevented from being baptized because the necessary body of water is not available. (John 3:23; Acts 8:36) He too can follow the procedure outlined above.

    So there is a way open for both men and women who do not have access to baptism, either because circumstances do not allow for it or because a dedicated male is not present. But by making a valid dedication and going on record publicly before any other dedicated ones present he or she is now recognized as dedicated. But it does not appear Scripturally proper for a sister to try to perform a baptism.

    In connection with baptism, it may also be noted that a baptism may be performed by a dedicated male even though no other human witnesses are present. There are Scriptural precedents in the cases of Jesus and of the Ethiopian eunuch to show this. And since prayer is properly offered prior to the immersion, there are always heavenly witnesses.

    It should always be kept in mind that of highest importance is the carrying out of one’s dedication after it has been made.

    *** yb96 p. 190 Venezuela ***

    (Incidentally, the seven who had been baptized by Sister Goas were rebaptized in 1946 by a brother, in harmony with the Bible pattern that shows baptisms being performed only by males who were in an approved relationship with Jehovah.)

  • DATA-DOG
    DATA-DOG

    Blondi, awesome point!

    " However, this does not mean that the dedication made by the sister in the concentration camp was not a valid one. "

    How do i un-bold this crap??? Oh, well drinking right now.. I said the exact thing when I read that!!! There is no scriptural authorization either way! Who did the baptizing in the bible? John the Baptist, a dude. Whoever baptized the Ethiopian enuch, can't remember cause i'm drinking!!!!!!! Who else? What about after Pentacost 33? We have no idea, who is to say that women did not baptize others!? THEY HAVE NO AUTHORIZATION TO SAY THAT SISTERS BAPTISM WAS NOT VALID!! A-HOLES!!!

    Thank you for finding that information. I am glad you care enough to go through the trouble. It helps re-affirm that us strugglers are not crazy or wrong, and it helps the lurkers. Bless you.

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