Teenager Advice

Wagurl

What advice do you have for a teenager that is being raised as a witness but not baptized? Everyone is pressuring her to get baptized how to avoid that till they are 18 and they are 16? How to stay sane in a household of religion you don´t believe in. My parents are super into the religion my grandmother is one of the ¨144,000¨ I am told. No sports or associating with people outside of public school unless academic reasons. I will go to a four-year college my parents are supportive because they both went to college. ANY advice to tell me would be great!

Finkelstein

How to stay sane in a household of religion you don´t believe in.

Best advise smile and fake it until your financially capable of moving out on your own.$$$

Until such a time, don't make any opposing comments about the religion or doctrines, be evasive .

stillin

I always thought it was a potent point that at that age, a teenager is not legally viewed as old enough to enter a binding contract, or vote, or buy alcoholic drinks, or lots of other things. Yet, they are being pressured to get baptized and placed into a lifelong commitment, based only on their love and respect (read:pressure) for their parents.

As a parent, I asked my older son to hold off on his baptism. He wanted to carry the microphones. If he had been baptized, my wife would have curtailed our association with him by now because, surely, he would have been DF'd. Now, if he wants to, he can truly dedicate himself and be baptized, as an adult. As a person with his thinking processes in full working order. Think that will ever happen?

john.prestor

Yeah, I would tell you to play along unless you absolutely can't take that... and if you can't I get it, trust me. I played along for a couple years as a teenager in a fundamentalist Baptist church until I gradually let my family know that I didn't believe anymore. Got into some pretty heated arguments, people worrying about my eternal salvation and that kind of thing. But Baptists don't shun, so I don't know what would happen in your circumstances. Find outlets, find privacy, find ways to express yourself. That's the best way to survive until you get to college... and make sure you dorm, do not live at home.

Brighton

Two options: go along and lie low or get into tons of trouble. I think the 1st option is the best because it is the least amount of stress. If you lay low, and can skate around baptism, perfect. If you can't, then getting into trouble will distract them and lower their expectations that you'll get baptized soon. Once you are 18 and out of the house, then you are home free. If they are supporting you through college, then you'll need to keep your private life private until you are not dependent on them any more.

3rdgen

You could respectfully ask them if they would sign for you to marry someone you love right now? If not, why not?

Help them to reason that marriage is less permanent than Baptism and considered by the society as the MOST important decision in a persons' life. Let them know you don't feel comfortable just yet.

After all, the Bible never says how old a person should be to marry but it says "past the bloom of youth" Likewise, the Bible doesn't say how old to be baptized either except that "The Greatest Man who Ever Lived" waited until he was 30. Only MEN have urged young baptism not the Scriptures.

I hope this helps.

DesirousOfChange

While it would be foolish for your to "make waves", you can ask "sincere" questions about issues that confuse you.

ASK means just that: ASK. DO NOT give your "apostate" opinion or source. You can question things that your peers at school have challenged when you "witnessed" to them.

Good luck!

Tameria2001

As others above mentioned, if certain individuals in the congregation are really pushing the matter of baptism, just have her tell them that getting baptized is a serious and life long decision and that they are not ready to make that decision just yet, and leave it at that.

smiddy3

Wagurl

Whatever you/she does do not be pressured by anyone into doing something your not ready for .Tactfully point out that you will make your own decision when you are ready to do so and not before .

Whatever you do it has to be a heartfelt decision you make and not one that is made under pressure from anybody else family included .

I wish you well in how you handle it

Nathan Natas

Jesus got baptized when he was 33 and he was P E R F E C T.

What scriptural support is there to support the baptism of minors? The same as the support for the baptism of infants: NONE.

They will say "but The End is so close..." well, it is so close for those babies too; should we baptize them?

Teenager Advice

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