Baptism: immersion or pouring? - 14 October 2011 |
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Someone asked me a while ago why at Emmanuel we baptise people by pouring, rather than by immersion. Here’s an edited version of one or two things I said in reply. Not the last word, but perhaps a small step towards the first.
I can understand that the practice of baptism by sprinkling or pouring might be a surprise to you, especially if you have been accustomed to baptism by immersion. It’s easy to see where the imagery of immersion comes from in the Bible. For example, Colossians 2:20; 3:3 teach that we have “died” with Christ, and Romans 6:4 says we have been “buried” with Christ by baptism. This “death” and “burial” might helpfully be symbolised by the act of being submerged in the waters of baptism.
On the other hand, the Bible also teaches that the blessing of God is poured out from above. The Spirit of God, in particular, is “poured out” from above. “The Spirit is poured upon us from on high” says Isaiah 32:15, and Jesus tells his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they are “clothed with power from on high” (Luke 24:49) – a promise fulfilled with pouring out (Acts 2:17) of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Spirit’s blessing is associated with baptism in Scripture (e.g. 1 Cor 12:13), and in Titus 3:5-6 this spiritual washing of regeneration and renewal is said to be “poured out”.
Even the fact that first-century baptisms sometimes took place in rivers doesn’t necessarily mean that the believers were immersed – it’s perfectly possible to stand in a river up to your waist and have water poured over your head.
With all this in mind, I can easily see how some Bible-believing Christians feel that the proper mode of baptism is immersion, while others (like myself) would say that pouring or sprinkling reflects the Bible’s teaching at least as well, if not better.
Perhaps the most important point to remember is that differences of opinion on this issue shouldn’t be a source of division among Bible-believing Christians. I certainly work closely in lots of contexts with Christians who believe in baptism by immersion, and I’m glad that they are happy to work with me.
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Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Minister's Blog