New Community Church

Baptism...what's the big deal?

As you spend the next few minutes digesting what New Community believes about baptism, know that we are intimately aware that this is a huge emotional issue that has divided believers and denominations for centuries. Our purpose for giving you information is to give you clarity on the "how and why" we practice baptism by immersion. As you get to know us, you will realize that we are not here to attack your faith heritage or try to change your mind when it comes to this emotional issue. Many people have practiced baptism differently over the years, and I imagine they will continue to do so for years to come. We are comfortable with that and understand that the Kingdom of God is bigger than a denomination and a local church. Our hope is to educate and inform. After we do that, the decision on what you do is ultimately up to you! With that in mind, please read this history before you go through the information on the following page.

Christianity didn't invent baptism. Baptisms were taking place way before the time of Christ and were commonly practiced by people who were converting to Judaism. In order for people to convert to Judaism pre-Christ, there were five things that had to take place for their conversion to be legitimate. One of these things was a ceremonial bath...a baptism.

A ceremonial bath took place so that everyone recognized the decision that was being made. When someone went through this process...after being a disciple...or learner of Judaism, the indicator for his belief was baptism. This was the disciple's way of saying he believed in this teaching. His baptism showed everyone in his life that he gives credibility to this way or this teaching. He literally and spiritually placed his life under this teaching. Baptism was the process by which he identified himself with Judaism.

Fast forward to Christ coming...

John the Baptist, the one who prepared the way for the Christ, was baptizing people by the hundreds. He was a teacher, or Rabbi, teaching a new way. He was teaching people that the Messiah was coming. The amazing thing is that people bought into this...they heard...they learned...and they were baptized. In this culture, at this time, the way they symbolized their belief was to be ceremonially washed. By being baptized by John, the people were saying that they believed what he was teaching.

Christ enters the scene...Matthew 3

Jesus, God's Son, approaches John as he was baptizing people and asked to be baptized Himself. Why would Jesus need to be baptized? By Jesus being baptized by John, Jesus was giving credibility to John's teaching. With His actions He was identifying Himself with John and affirming his teaching as truth. He was embracing the teaching fully.

Jesus is baptized, God is well pleased with His son and Jesus begins His formal ministry to reclaim creation and restore humanity back to God.

So, baptism is our way of showing the people in our circles of influence that we buy in to the teachings of Jesus and we identify with the way of Christ. As you will see in our statement of beliefs, we feel that salvation is a process of head and heart events in the life of every believer. None of these things stand alone, but they all work together to bring us to a place of salvation and restoration and help us move through the process of being a learner of the way of Christ.

Enjoy the study. Please don't hesitate to call if you have any questions. I would love to have coffee with you to discuss your faith journey.

Click here for the Baptism Study.
Clich here for the Baptism Teaching.

Grace and Peace...

Chris Hoffman
Lead Pastor, New Community