Many decades ago talking to some of the older ones in their 90's they have shared their experiences that when they used to get baptised they just turned up at the convention on the day and went down to be baptised. No questions....nothing....Just a desire from the heart. I remember one sister telling be a few stubbed their cigarettes out just prior to queuing for the pool.
Fast forward to today. There are now 60 questions you have to go through prior and you have to agree with all of them. Here's one of many that are completely unscriptural.
8. To avoid transmitting an infectious, potentially fatal disease to others: (a) Why should an infected person not initiate displays of affection, such as hugging and kissing? (b) Why should he not react negatively if some choose not to invite him into their home? (c) Why should a person who may have been exposed to an infectious disease voluntarily choose to have a blood test before beginning a courtship? (d) Why should a person with an infectious disease inform the coordinator of the body of elders before getting baptized? This is completely absurd and totally unscriptural and is just one of many reasons my wife never got baptised.
On the day of ones baptism into into the now JW cult you have to say a resounding 'YES' to these two questions in front of onlookers.
1. Have you repented of your sins, dedicated yourself to Jehovah, and accepted his way of salvation through Jesus Christ?
2.
Do you understand that your baptism identifies you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with Jehovah’s Organization? There is that unscriptural word again!
If we read the book of Acts there is not one singe baptism that conforms to the above.
No one was asked to dedicate there life to Jehovah (Although I would not agree this is a most noble thing)
Every single recorded baptism was in the name of Jesus
- 'With that he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. (Acts10:48)
- 'For it had not yet come upon any one of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.'(Acts 8:16)
- But when they believed Philip, who was declaring the good news of the Kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were getting baptized.i 13 Simon himself also became a believer, and after being baptized, he continued with Philip (Acts 8:12-13)
- At this I recalled the saying of the Lord, how he used to say: ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with holy spirit. If, therefore, God gave the same free gift to them that he gave to us who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I should be able to hinder God?” (Acts 11:16)
- Paul said: “John baptized with the baptism in symbol of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they got baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:4,5)
- I answered: ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said to me: ‘I am Jesus the Naz·a·reneʹ, whom you are persecuting.......And now why are you delaying? Rise, get baptized, and wash your sins away by your calling on his name.’ Acts 22:8;16
Some of these baptisms were only introduced to the teachings of Jesus for less than an hour prior to being baptised. The Ethiopian eunuch comes to mind (Acts 8:26-39) or the Gentile Jailer and his family who new absolutely nothing at all about Jesus prior (Acts 16:27-32)
How very sad it is witness the complete desecration of the simple meaning of baptism has crept in to the WT teachings, no less wrong than infant baptism in Christendom! I was baptised when I was around 18 years old. Recently in a heartfelt personal prayer to my heavenly father I told him that I renounce totally my Dedication to the 'Organisation but requested that he still accept my heartfelt desire for my immersion to stand in my acceptance of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and that I may continue to receive forgiveness of sins in his most worthy name.
&
spellings
