JW Baptism Ceremony

by nonjwalltheway 2 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  nonjwalltheway

  Does anyone have the actual language used in the JW baptism ceremony? I was interested particularly in the section where a newly baptized individual has to recognize the Watchtower as the spirit directed organization. Are there any JW manuals that I could reference as well? Thank you.
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  Matty

  Ahh.. I remember it well!

  "On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?"

  "YES!!!"

  (Convention audience titters inexplicably because they think people standing up shouting "YES!!!" is funny)

  "Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization?"

  "YES!!!" (Convention audience again titters inexplicably)
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  hurt

  I found this article. I don't remember who wrote it. But it's informative and has a few references. You could find it useful.

  Development of Baptism Questions

  This article details the changes made over the years to the dedication vows made by Jehovahs Witnesses at their Baptism and shows how the members are unknowingly dedicating themselves to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.

  While the Society has said that Christians do not dedicate themselves to an organization, it tells Witnesses that salvation does not come apart from the Watchtower organisation. For example:

  Devoted Witnesses have kept their faith in Jehovah's organisation. They know which one of all organisations on earth the Almighty God has used to give the greatest witness to his name and kingdom in all Christian history... Is there any cause for us to lose faith in Jehovah's visible organisation because of mounting difficulties in this world? Those who believe that Jehovah will never desert his faithful witnesses answer, "Absolutely not!" In demonstration of such faith, we will keep on sticking to it and working with it without slacking the hand. Our unwavering faith will be rewarded with victory and the crown of life!
  
  - MARCH 1, 1979 Watchtower (p. 18)

  In line with these sentiments, in 1985 the Society changed the baptismal vows such that new Jehovah's Witnesses dedicated themselves, not only to God as had been done for a century before, but to the Watchtower Society itself. This is evident from the baptismal vows published up through 1985:

  (1) Have you recognised yourself before Jehovah God as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?
  
  (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?
  
  - Baptismal questions from the Watchtower, AUGUST 1 1966 p. 465

  (1) Have you recognised yourself as a sinner and needing salvation from Jehovah God? And have you acknowledged that this salvation proceeds from him and through his ransomer, Christ Jesus?
  
  (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for redemption have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to Jehovah God, to do his will henceforth as that will is revealed to you through Christ Jesus and through God's Word as his holy spirit makes it plain?
  
  - Baptismal questions from the Watchtower, MAY 15 1970 p. 309

  (1) Have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognising yourself before Jehovah God as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the Father, through his Son Jesus Christ?
  
  (2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?
  
  - Baptismal questions from the Watchtower, MAY 1 1973 p. 280

  On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
  
  Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organisation?
  
  - The newest baptismal questions, from the Watchtower JUNE 1 1985

  Contrast these latest questions with the statements above, from the Watchtower.

  Finally, compare these statements to those made in the Watchtower, p. 19:

  So for the Christian, baptism following dedication establishes an intimate relationship with Jehovah God, his Son Jesus Christ, and the holy-spirit...
  
  By recognizing God's authority, we draw close to him and enter into a relationship with him... We become God's property as his slaves, bought with the price of Jesus Christ's ransom sacrifice... The apostle Paul also told first-century Christians that they belonged to Jesus Christ, not to any men who might have taken the truth to them... Baptism in the name of the Son implies recognizing this fact, accepting Jesus as "the way and the truth and the life."...
  
  At the time of dedication and baptism, therefore, we need to reflect prayerfully on what is involved in our new relationship. It requires submission to the will of God, demonstrated in the example and ransom provision of Jesus Christ, to be carried out through holy spirit as it directs all of God's servants in love and unity world-wide.

  This last is a most unusual statement in that the "faithful and discreet slave" is not mentioned as directing the work. In any case, the Society has managed to get newer members to, in effect, join a worldly club from which their membership can be terminated at any time by the Society (disfellowshipping) while at the same time convincing these newcomers that they have only dedicated themselves to their Creator.

  Edited by - hurt on 10 November 2002 13:47:34

  Edited by - hurt on 10 November 2002 13:51:31