I want to get baptized...but how and why should it happen?

by Joliette 33 Replies latest jw friends

  • Joliette
    Joliette

    ...and not saying that I HAVE TO get baptized as a Jehovah's Witness. I was an unbaptized publisher, but I had to step down because of some confessions I made to the elders about two years ago. (Yes, sexual confessions, I told them that I wasnt a virgin). I studied with a sister, but she stopped our study, citing a scripture, saying

    that I was still drinking baby's milk, and that it was time for me to start eating meat. (oh, by the way, it took everything in me not to bust out laughing).

    I asked my mom how would she feel if I got baptized as a methodist or a baptist, at a chruch, etc? She said she wouldnt come to my baptism because those are false religions.

    I want to get baptized, (I believe in Jesus's purpose for us) but I'm kinda hung up on the fact of WHAT COMES AFTER THAT. And I dont want to be fake, phoney, etc. I hate the idea of handing out watchtowers or awakes, I think its all about $money$, and its following what the WTBTS interruptions of the bible is, etc, so basically its all about them and their control. Although the scriptures do talk about a faithful and discreet slave/faithful and wise servant, I dont think the faithful and discreet slave (the GB) is suppose to be a multi-billion dollar corporation..

    I do feel like its the right thing to get baptized, etc. (I'm 27 years old by the way. not married, no children, african-american female). And I'm starting to get funny vibes from people (especially elders) at the hall. But everyone else is so wonderful and they really believe (well most of them) thats its 'the truth.' <---(I can't stand typing that, as if everyone else is false). Its harder and harder for me to go to the meetings, knowing everything that I know. Like I said in a previous post, I feel like Judas Iscariot. I know all about the child abuse cover-ups, the U.N. Scandals, abuse of tax laws, the invisible (yet visible) clergy class, 1975, the secrets about the Governing Body, Ray Franz, finding out that the WTBTS makes $951 million dollars a year TAX FREE!!! etc. I'm doing my research, in the dawn of my research, and finding out so more, especially from visiting websites like that, etc.

    My kingdom hall is right down the street from my house, five mintues away (literally). Thats why I feel so gulity. My parents go to the kingdom hall across the way from my hall. And my other two brothers have left the hall. They no longer attend meetings. But they still believe in it.

    What would you guys do in my situation? I like this lutheran chruch down the street from my house. I wouldnt mind atteded services sometimes. I've been to a penecostal chruch, very intresting watching people talk in tongues. I've been to a baptist chruch too. I thought Jehovah was gonna strike me down, but nothing has happened yet.

  • mouthy
    mouthy

    I got baptised in the Baptist Church & very happy I did!!! I was a baptised JW for 21/2 yrs ( 25 with them all told)
    You will be "outed" by the JW's. But if Baptism is what you feel you want to do in the Lutheren Church go for it.
    I dont think they "dunk" just splash.( I THINK as I have many Lutheran friends thats what they tell me)

    My opinion is dunking is what Jesus did ,if it is good enough for HIM it was good enough for ME

  • yknot
    yknot

    I can attest to the Baptist willing to dunk you the following Sunday after walking down the aisle in acceptance of Christ....

    The Baptist don't fully subscribe to the nicene creed so Arians (non-trinitarians) while miniscule minority do exist within their congregation

    Lutherans are nice people and many are very liberal in their beliefs. Ditto for the Episcs, Presby and Methodist.

    Then again technically you and a friend can dunk you in your bathtub or a river/lake if you near one!

    It is a symbolic gesture only afterall....

  • Soldier77
    Soldier77
    technically you and a friend can dunk you in your bathtub or a river/lake if you near one!
    It is a symbolic gesture only afterall....

    This. It's symbolic. If you want to make it special, have them say a prayer, or you say a prayer and do the dunking.

  • Joliette
    Joliette

    Thank you guys! I want to get baptized but its like signing your life away if you want to get baptized if your a dub (lol). No wonder I have relatiives in there 50's who never got baptized. Its like your signing your life away.

    ...and I forgot to add: I want to it to be private.

  • Chalam
    Chalam

    I've been to a penecostal chruch, very intresting watching people talk in tongues. I've been to a baptist chruch too.

    Mark 16:15-17 (New International Version © 2010)

    15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues

    So who are the believers? Those at the kingdom hall or the pentecostal & baptist churches?

    Make Jesus Lord and get baptised with the latter :) You'll be baptised into Christ, not a man made organisation.

    Blessings in Christ,

    Stephen

  • yknot
    yknot

    My daughter knows that due to the legal obligation crap from the WTS I won't allow her to get dunked as a minor but she has been planning her baptism since 8....

    She is going to be dunked in the River Jordan....

    Personally I think going down to the river and getting dunked is nice but I live in the South and we are all spoonfed revival baptism memorabilia..

  • Joliette
    Joliette

    Thanks you Chalam.

    Thats what I try to tell my parents but they dont understand. I try to tell them that the WTBTS is nothing but a money making corporation, paper pushers, etc. My father says that the brothers dont make any money, except for voluntary donations, and there supported off of that, the P.O's, D.O's, the Bethel Heavies, and GB's, etc. But if you were smart enough to catch on (and my father is a pretty smart person) You'd be able to catch on to the fact that most witness are SUPPOSE to donate at the kingdom hall, assemblies, etc. And do you know truly how those donations are being spent, and what there being spent on?

    I know its none of our business technically, but when they get on their soapbox and talk about how other religions abuse money, ask for money, and they straight up shit on the catholic chruch, talk about researching, looking into things more deeper, examing things, etc, why do they expect people who are JW's (amongst the rank and file) not to do the same thing. And if they do so, there apostates? Get that stuff outta here! Thats not what Jesus is about!

  • mrsjones5
    mrsjones5

    I don't talk about religion with my parents anymore. I got baptised at a church in Indiana that I loved attending about 4 years ago. Didn't care if my parents didn't approve, it was none of their business.

  • Joliette
    Joliette

    Mrs. Jones: So true, but I would like for my parents to be there when I get baptized. But I really want to do it for me. Its like a marriage to me.

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