by JH 6 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
We all know that JW's don't baptize babies, but they will baptize them when they become a little older, like 9 or 10 in some cases.
My question is the following.
If they don't baptize children because they are too young, could they refuse someone that's too old?
No it doesn't matter if someone is 109 years old, they can still get baptised as far as I understand it.
Maddie
No it doesn't matter if someone is 109 years old
But what if they are so old that they don't know what they are doing....just like a young child.
The only problem is if the older person has health problems that makes full immersion impossible. But even then they go to great lengths to baptize them.
*** g91 3/22 p. 9 Caring for the Aged—A Growing Problem ***To conclude with a case in point. One California woman, at the age of 100, was introduced to these promised blessings by a nurse in the nursing home, and at the ripe age of 102, she was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She finished her life, not in a ‘vanity of vanities’ dead end, but by fulfilling her ‘whole obligation of life,’ namely, ‘fearing the true God and keeping his commandments.’
*** w02 4/1 p. 32 Never Too Old to Learn ***"After living for 102 years," says Kseniya, "I finally understood the meaning of life. I now realize that there is nothing better than serving our wonderful, loving God, Jehovah. I am still alert and healthy. I can read without glasses and actively associate with my family."
On November 5, 2000, Kseniya was baptized.
*** w88 1/1 p. 5 Evangelizers Reap a Worldwide Harvest ***This motivated Virginia to have her own Bible study with the Witnesses. Two years later, on June 2, 1985, she was baptized at 108 years of age.
*** w94 8/15 p. 24 Ethiopia’s "Divine Teaching" Convention—A Time of Special Joy ***For instance, right in the front row, with a handmade cane, sat the oldest publisher in Ethiopia, Tulu Mekuria. Last year, at the ripe old age of 113, he was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
If they are unable to know what they are doing because of senile dementia etc then of course not. If this were the case then it would be the same as baptising a baby who had no knowledge of what was happening to them.
Maddie
could they refuse someone that's too old?
Yes, I know someone who was in their '90s who was refused. I was told it was because of the age, but unless you're there, you cant be sure that was the only reason behind it. I know he was devoted, so I dont see any other reason!
Baptizm is a sign of dedication, but the witnesses used it as acceptance of their teachings and to make sure your clean enough to be apart of their group. Baptism into a set of teachings and a corporation is not important anyway.
The question should be can God save people that are baptized into a corporation?
