Anyone else ever done this at their baptism?

by ThomasCovenant 5 Replies latest jw experiences

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  ThomasCovenant

  Hello

  There was a brother brought up in the Borg who realized that to marry his girlfriend (daughter of an elder) he would need to get baptized.

  Went through the motions of the questions etc and then at the local circuit assembly it was time for those seated at the front ready for baptism to stand and answer the two questions put to them from the platform.

  Only problem was, this brother was not sitting at the front but was stood at the back. As the questions were being asked to the twenty or so standing the local elders were in a bit of a panic looking around for the new brother. He was already standing as there were no seats at the back. He did this deliberately as he didn't want to stand up for all to see him at the front and did not want to make a fuss but he answered both questions with a 'yes'. The net result was he wasn't permitted to get baptised.

  His arguement was that the public declaration of dedication is the actual standing in your swim wear and getting dunked in a pool. It's not the standing at the front of a hall and answering out loud.

  He tried to argue the case with the elders that he had

  1) stood, albeit at the back and not the front

  2) answered affirmatively to the two questions

  3) was ready to don his trunks and submerge under the waters in full view of any who wanted to attend the pool area.

  4) that points 1-3 are the outward show of a dedication that has already taken place between himself and Big J.

  While this was taking place the baptism of the other twenty or so was complete and it was too late to proceed with anything further.

  The brother then realized that as he was getting married very soon he would attend the next weeks assembly in a different circuit where no- one knew him and get baptized there. This time he stood at the very very very front and said yes and got baptized. Six months later, wedding.

  Mission accomplished and point probably not made as congregation just thought he was a troublemaker.

  Good thing was though that as he was baptised in a different circuit with only his girlfriend coming along to watch he could always later deny he had ever gotten baptised.

  Thanks

  Thomas Covenant
• 

  jambon1

  The more you hear the more you realise that some elders act like Pharisees. Legalistic and sooooooo utterly sad and boring!
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  freetosee

  W ow, I think he did well, just not in the right watchtowery spirit… good for him, I hope he is out by now.

  fts
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  Backed away

  Not me, at the ripe old age of understanding of 14, I was scared to death but right up front standing, answering and waiting to be dunked like a doughnut.it's a shame he was treated that way and denied based on something so trivial.

  ( when I read your post question, I first thought you were asking if anyone pee'd in the pool, HA! )
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  Nellie

  I got baptized at the ripe old age of 13. My mother was NOT a witness, but she accompanied me to the assembly - actually it was a one day assembly and the baptism took place the day before. So there I am sitting with my mother, the sister who studied with me, etc. Since there wasn't a full assembly, we didn't have a separate place to sit. And then they asked us to stand - at the same time my mother decided to start talking to me. Being the ever obedient daughter, I was paying more attention to my mother than the brother giving the talk and all I caught was him asking something about "Satan." So when he asked the question, I immediately yelled out "No!" Everyone else around me LOOKED and I changed my answer to "Yes."

  Still don't know what I thought he said - or what I answered to - hey is this my loophole - should my baptism be nullified?
• 

  freetosee

  ( when I read your post question, I first thought you were asking if anyone pee'd in the pool, HA! )

  LOL!

  Nellies story is funny too!