Paragraph 341.7 – No pastor shall re-baptize. The practice
of re-baptism does not conform with God’s action in baptism and is not
consistent with the Wesleyan tradition and the historic teaching of the church.
Therefore, the pastor should counsel any person seeking re-baptism to
participate in a rite of re-affirmation of baptismal vows.
From a biblical standpoint I have often thought that this
stance was incorrect. I understand it from a theological point of view in that
baptism is the work of God pouring out his grace on us. It is telling us that
we are part of God’s children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus. Baptizing a
second time would be saying that God’s grace was not sufficient the first and
so it had to be done again.
Theologically I understand that but biblically it is different,
because in the Bible there are baptisms for different purposes. And when we speak
about baptism, I believe that many, if not most of our members think first
about John’s baptism, a baptism of cleansing and repentance. Now we have tried
to teach them otherwise for centuries, but since we refer to John as the
Baptist, it is hard to get away from that.
In the Book of Acts we often have two baptisms on display,
baptism of the water and baptism of the Spirit. The only problem occurs when
the two do not happen simultaneously. In Acts 10, Cornelius and friends had
been baptized by the Holy Spirit, and Peter’s response to have them immediately
baptized with water. Then in Acts 19, at Ephesus, Paul encounters Christians
who had received John’s baptism but had not even heard of the Holy Spirit.
Immediately Paul baptized them (a second baptism) into the name of the Lord
Jesus, and laid hands on them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.
So, in the Bible there is at least one occasion when
individuals were baptized a second time. Should it then be permissible to
baptize a Christian a second tome, not into the Lord Jesus, for that has
already been done, but a baptism of repentance? Now I would think that a
biblical and theological argument could be made to allow that to happen.
However, I would not practice [it] because my covenant with my brothers and
sisters in the United Methodist Church say that I will not do that. Regardless
of my opinion, I refrain for the sake and honor of joint covenant.
But suppose a Christian comes to me and confesses that they
have been trying to commit their life more fully to the Lord. They know that
their sins have been forgiven. But they also know that they have continued to
sin. And now they feel compelled to do something to show God, and to prove to
themselves that they are committed to turning their life around; that they are
committed to leaving their sins behind them so they can face God again.
Because of my feelings on the subject, I have a dilemma on
my hands. If I do not go along with the request, I take the chance that I am
stunting spiritual growth rather than enhancing it. If I do allow the ritual, I
am breaking the covenant. I know that the Discipline instructs me to lead
toward a rite of re-affirmation of the baptismal vows. But a re-affirmation is
going through the same vows, only that the water is missing. And the water is
symbolic anyway. We are immersing these people in the Spirit of God. And I
believe that the Spirit of God will be present even if the water is not. It is
a rite of baptism but we end up calling it by a different name. To participate
in that I think of myself as a hypocrite, and actor pretending not to baptize,
when in reality I am baptizing.
If I decide to take part in a re-baptism in the midst of my
congregation, an open, public forum, I open myself for charges of violating the
Discipline. Should those charges be filed? If just resolution cannot be made,
should I go on trial for this violation of the Discipline? After all, I can
make biblical and theological arguments to support my position. I can even show
biblical precedent to support my actions. And further, I would be doing this
action to help Christians to grow closer to the Lord. Does that justify
violation of the covenant? And if I vow to continue to teach, preach, and
practice my view, in spite of this standard being listed in the Discipline, can
I remain in the United Methodist Church as an individual set apart for Word,
Order, Sacrament, and Service?
Of course if a decision is made to not file charges, to not
go to trial, then are we saying that the Discipline is meaningless? Are there
any standards, any limits on the choices and actions of an ordained member of
the United Methodist Church that cannot be tolerated? And if we do not have any
standards, how can we have a covenant together. Amos 3:3 – “How can two walk together unless they are agreed?” Either we have
standards by which we will abide, or we have no covenant at all.
Even though I might occasionally lift up disagreements that
I have with the Discipline, I agree to abide by the Discipline for the sake of
the covenant with my brothers and sisters, my church, and my Lord. And I would
hope that would be the case if I am speaking of Paragraph 341.7, or any of the
paragraphs that come before.
Rev. Chuck Sprenkle
