Can anyone baptize someone?

[JOHN BUTLER]

This brings me to an interesting question then.

Can anyone baptise anyone else ?  If not then it brings  us back to the Clergy Class once more. 

So, does a person need to be part of an Organisation to be able to baptise others ? 

If we go back to Russell or Rutherford, whichever one of them it was that said an Organisation was not needed, then did they baptise others, even though they were not part of an Organisation ?

And another question. What makes a person a Minister of God's word ?  Or a person able to baptise others ? 

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

ANYONE who knows the TRUTH about God, his Christ, and his Kingdom can administer a valid Baptism to one who knows those same things.

THEORETICALLY, it would be valid for a five year old baptized person to baptize an eight year old, but then again, theoretically, a tomato is a fruit and a strawberry is a vegetable ... but wisdom is when you do NOT find tomatoes in your fruit cocktail.

So....um.... who was it that Baptized John the Baptist ?

Several years ago we had many photos of humanoid robots at some of the South American Bethels .... If we are baptizing 5 to 10 year olds without biblical precedent, authorization of Biblical example , perhaps the dedicated Bethel Robots (?)

 

[Evacuated]

Maybe the question needs refining to can anyone who is not a baptised Christian perform another's Christian baptism?

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

6 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

ANYONE who knows the TRUTH about God, his Christ, and his Kingdom can administer a valid Baptism to one who knows those same things.

That is my opinion, and I am sticking with it.

I can envision scenarios that, although rare ... make it the only common sense answer.

And all TRUE theology has to make good, basic common sense.

[Witness]

It is true that baptism is symbolic of the spiritual washing of our spiritual selves;  cleansing us of our past path in sin.  1 Pet 3:21; Acts 22:16   It signifies a new commitment, “pledge of a good conscience”, to leave sin behind through the application of the Word of God. John 17:17

Those that Jesus directed to baptize were the anointed “priests”/teachers of our High Priest, Christ.  Matt 28:19,20; Mal 2:7; 1 Pet 2:5,9 

The elder body who claims to “represent” God’s anointed priests, which must not be “challenged”,  perform a baptism that spuriously signifies a commitment to an organization and the word of the GB; setting unknowing ones on a path of new sin. 

 

  What a depressing thought.

 

[Space Merchant]

23 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

Can anyone baptise anyone else ?

Only those who are spiritually upright and capable. Those who are the stewards, in this sense, are the ones who can baptize someone. Normally such folk are or have been already baptized themselves.

23 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

If not then it brings  us back to the Clergy Class once more. 

Read Galatians and Acts.

23 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

So, does a person need to be part of an Organisation to be able to baptise others ? 

Anyone who is made a disciple, is baptized to follow and apply the teachings of the teacher, profess it, in turn make disciples themselves, which was the case if you understood the origin of the baptism and what was played out in the first century churches.

23 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

If we go back to Russell or Rutherford, whichever one of them it was that said an Organisation was not needed, then did they baptise others, even though they were not part of an Organisation ?

As is with the ancient folk, Paul being an example, anyone who is baptized follows the teachings of the teacher, Christ Jesus.

23 hours ago, JOHN BUTLER said:

And another question. What makes a person a Minister of God's word ?  Or a person able to baptise others ? 

One who is a minister of God, a servant and or slave of God, doing things and professing God's Spoken Word.

Look at what was addressed for the first question.

That being said, I suggest you look into the history and origin of the baptism, I recommend, as I believe I told you before, Mr. Benner, who is a Hebrew Professor.

[Space Merchant]

@James Thomas Rook Jr. Do you prefer immersion or sprinkles, Rook?

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

3 hours ago, Space Merchant said:

@James Thomas Rook Jr. Do you prefer immersion or sprinkles, Rook?

I prefer immersion for cereal, and sprinkles for bran muffins.