Is baptism a contract with God or with the Watchtower org? (page 2)

coffee_black

Jesus gave instructions to baptize "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit". He didn't mention the watchtower society. ..or any organization or individual. The watchtower took it upon themselves to change the instructions given directly by Jesus. They have substituted the watchtower organization for the Holy Spirit in their current baptismal vows. There is nothing in the Bible to give them that kind of authority. What do you think Jesus would say to them for usurping His authority?

Baptism is intended to be an outward symbol of dedication to God....not a loyalty oath to a publishing company.

Coffee

Doubtfully Yours

Baptism inside the WBTS is a contract with the WBTS, not God.

DY

dedpoet

Baptism is intended to be an outward symbol of dedication to God....not a loyalty oath to a publishing company.

That's the way I saw it when I got dunked. To be honest, it felt great at the time, it was what followed that sucked

VM44

Does The Watchtower maintain baptismal records in Brooklyn?

Seems to me that if they did not, then there is no proof, except for the publisher card kept at the local Kingdom Hall, that a person is a baptised member of the Jehovah's Witnesses.

--VM44

Honesty

Is baptism a contract with God or with the Watchtower org?

If you are a JW it is between you and a spirit directed organisation and is a contract that will wreak spiritual shipwreck on you eternal future. God has nothing to do with a JW baptism.

Tigerman

Please don't tell me that the WTS makes a baptism valid only if the Society okays it.

OldSoul

The Corporation has already issued criteria that must be met by any "candidates" for baptism. After my earlier post I thought, "What an odd term for ones who are going to be baptized." I never thought it was odd before, but after posting that it did seem odd. I did some research on the word.

One definition of candidate: "One that seems likely to gain a certain position or come to a certain fate."

Other definitions:

one that aspires to or is nominated or qualified for an office, membership, or award
one likely or suited to undergo or be chosen for something specified
a student in the process of meeting final requirements for a degree

Those who meet the predetermined criteria are candidates, the final criteria prior to baptism is the verbal contract with God and Corporation. Representatives of the Corporation have already been assured of compliance to Corporate standards and a representative of Corporate asks the questions that, when answered, create the verbal contract.

Respectfully,
OldSoul

Tigerman

That is absolutely beyond the realm of any sort of rational thinking . . .however, I don't know why I am surprised, it is the WTS.

Darth Yhwh

In my opinion when you’re in a cult that requires to get baptized and you do indeed get baptized, then your baptism is a symbol of your allegiance to that cult. On a related note, at what age is one of competent to make a decision to dedicate their lives to the god of a publishing company?

Is baptism a contract with God or with the Watchtower org?

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