[this article is contributed by Alex Rover]
Jesus command was simple:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age. – Mat 28:16-20
In case Jesus’ commission applies to us as individuals, then we have the obligation both to teach and baptize. If it applies to the Church as a body, then we may do either so long it is in union with the Church.
Practically speaking, we could ask: “Based on this command, if my daughter came to me and expressed the wish to be baptized, could I baptize her myself?”[i] Also, am I under a personal command to teach?
If I were a Baptist, the answer to the first question would typically be “No”. Stephen M. Young, a Baptist missionary living in Brazil blogged about an experience where one student had led another to faith in Jesus and subsequently baptized her in a fountain. As he put it; “this ruffled feathers everywhere”[ii]. An excellent debate between Dave Miller and Robin Foster entitled “Is Church Oversight Essential for Baptism?” explores the pros-and-cons. Also, explore rebuttals by Foster and Miller.
If I were a Catholic, the answer to the first question may surprise you (Hint: Although uncommon, it’s yes). In fact, the Catholic Church recognizes any baptism that uses water and in which the baptized was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.[iii]
My initial position and argument is that you cannot separate the commission to teach from the commission to baptize. Either both commissions apply to the Church, or they both apply to ‘all members’ of the Church.
Denominational Divisions in the Body of Christ.
A disciple is a personal follower; an adherent; a student of a teacher. Making disciples is done on a daily basis all over the world. But where there is a student, there is a teacher also. Christ said we had to teach our students all that he had commanded us—his commandments, not ours.
When Christ’s commandments became flavored with the commands of men, divisions started to arise in the congregation. This is illustrated by the Christian denomination that does not accept the baptism of a Jehovah’s Witness, and vice-versa.
To paraphrase Paul’s words: “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to agree together to end your divisions, and to be united by the same mind and purpose. For it has come to my attention that there are quarrels among you.
Now I mean this, that each of you is saying, “I am Jehovah’s Witness”, or “I am Baptist”, or “I am with Meleti”, or “I am with Christ.” Is Christ divided? The Governing Body wasn’t crucified for you, or were they? Or were you in fact baptized in the name of the Organization?”
(Compare 1 Co 1:10-17)
Baptism in association with a Baptist body or a Jehovah’s Witnesses body or another denominational body is contrary to Scripture! Notice the expression “I am with Christ” is listed by Paul along with the others. We even see denominations who call themselves “Church of Christ” and require baptism in association with their denomination whilst rejecting other denominations also named “Church of Christ”. Just one example is the Iglesia Ni Cristo, a religion which is eerily similar to Jehovah’s Witnesses and believes they are the one true Church body. (Matthew 24:49).
As articles on Beroean Pickets have so often demonstrated, it is Christ who judges his Church. It is not up to us. Surprisingly, Jehovah’s Witnesses have recognized this requirement! That’s why Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Christ inspected and approved the organization in 1919. While they want us to take their word for it, many articles on this blog and others have demonstrated the self-deception.
So if we baptize, let us baptize in the name of the Father, in the name of the Son, and in the name of the Holy Spirit.
And if we teach, let us teach all that Christ has commanded, so that we may glorify him and not our own religious organization.
Am I Allowed to Baptize?
Earlier in the article, I proposed that in regards to the commission we cannot separate the teaching from the baptizing. Either they are both commissioned to the Church, or they are both commissioned to each individual member of the Church.
I will now propose further that both teaching and baptizing are commissioned to the Church. A reason why I think this is so, can be found in Paul saying:
“I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius [..] For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” – 1 Cor 1: 14-17
If the obligation existed in each individual member of the Church to preach and also baptize, then how could Paul state that Christ did not send him to baptize?
Also we can observe that while Paul was not commissioned to baptize, he did in fact baptize Crispus and Gaius. This indicates that even though we may not have an express individual commission to preach and baptize, it is in fact something we are “allowed” to do because it harmonizes with God’s purpose that all may hear the Good News and come to Christ.
Who then, is commissioned to baptize, or preach, or teach? Notice the following Scripture:
“So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophecy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” – Romans 12: 5-8
What was the gift of Paul? It was teaching and evangelizing. Paul did not have an exclusive right to these gifts. Neither does any member of the body or a ‘small group of anointed’ have an exclusive right to giving encouragement. Baptism is a commission to the entire Church body. So any member of the Church can baptize, as long as he or she does not baptize in their own name.
In other words, I could baptize my daughter and the baptism could be valid. But I could also choose to have another mature member of the body of Christ, perform the baptism. The goal of baptism is to enable the disciple to attain grace and peace through Christ, not to draw them after ourselves. But even if we have never personally baptized someone else, we did not disobey Christ if we did our part by contributing our gifts.
Am I Personally Under Command to Teach?
Since I’ve taken a position that the commission is to the Church, and not the individual, who then in the Church is to teach? Romans 12:5-8 pointed out that some of us have the gift of teaching and others the gift of prophesying. That these things are a gift from Christ is clear also from Ephesians:
“It was he himself who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and still others as pastors and teachers.” – Ephesians 4:11
But for what purpose? To be ministers in the Body of Christ. We are all under a command to be ministers. This means ‘attending to the needs of someone’.
“[His gifts were] for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry for the building up of the body of Christ.” – Ephesians 4:12
Depending on the gift you have received, as evangelist, pastor or teacher, charity, etc. The church as a body is under command to teach. The church members individually are under command to be ministers according to their gift.
We must have faith that our head, Christ, is in control of his body and directs the members under his control through Holy Spirit to accomplish the purpose of the body.
Until 2013, the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses believed all anointed were part of the Faithful Slave and thus could share in the gift of teaching. In practice however, teaching became the exclusive privilege of the teaching committee for the sake of unity. While under direction of anointed members of the Governing Body, the antitypical “Nethinim”– non-anointed helpers of the Governing Body[iv] – did not receive the confirmation sacrament. One has to question: How can they have the Spirit’s gift or direction if they supposedly are not even part of the Body of Christ?
What if you feel like you have not received the gift of evangelizing or other gifts? Notice the following scripture:
“Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” – 1 Co 14: 1
The Christian attitude toward evangelism, teaching or baptism is thus not one of complacency or waiting for a sign. We each express our love by the gifts we are given, and we desire these spiritual gifts because they open in us more ways to express our love for our fellow man.
The question under this subheading can thus only be answered by each of us for ourselves (Compare Mat 25:14-30). How are you using the talents the master has entrusted you with?
Conclusions
What is clear from this article is that no religious organization or man can prevent members of the Body of Christ from baptizing others.
It appears that we are not individually under command to teach and baptize, but that the command applies to the entire Body of Christ. Instead the individual members are personally commanded to be ministers according to their gifts. They are also urged to pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts.
Teaching is not the same as preaching. Our ministry could be acts of charity according to our gift. Through this display of love we may win over someone to Christ, thus effectively preaching without teaching.
Perhaps someone else in the body is more qualified as a teacher through a gift of spirit and can help the person to progress, even though another member of the Body of Christ may baptize.
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function” – Ro 12:4
Should one be declared inactive if he or she had not gone out evangelizing but instead spent 70 hours a month caring for elderly brothers and sisters in the congregation, volunteering at a center for widows and orphans and caring for the needs of your household?
“This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.” – John 15:12
Jehovah’s Witnesses place so much emphasis on field service that the other gifts are neglected and not recognized on our time slips. If we had a time slip with a single field “hours spent following the command of Christ to love one another”. Then we could fill out 730 hours each month, because with every breath we take we are Christians.
LOVE is the only individual commandment, and our ministry is to display love in the best way we can, according to our gifts, and at every opportunity.
__________________________________
[i] Assuming she is of age, loves God’s Word and demonstrates love for God in all her conduct.
[ii] From http://sbcvoices.com/who-is-authorized-to-baptize-by-stephen-m-young/
[iii] See http://www.aboutcatholics.com/beliefs/a-guide-to-catholic-baptism/
[iv] See WT April 15 1992
Yo me pregunto desde que supe que la WT no es la religión verdadera…tendrá valor para Dios mi bautismo? Yo me dediqué incondicionalmente para hacer la voluntad de Dios y de Cristo bajo la guía del espíritu Santo. No me dediqué a una organización de hombres pecadores como yo!
Hello, im a single mum, ex JW, ive never lost my faith in God and Jesus, my son 15 and also has faith in God and Jesus, He has never been a JW as i left the religion just after he was born, im not much of a teacher and i really struggle, I worry because my son is not baptized as we do not belong to any church, will he still be saved if he is not baptised? should i baptize him myself? feeling a bit lost 🙁
Rosie.
You can baptize him yourself of course, if he wants to be baptized. But baptism in itself doesn’t result in salvation. Does your son have or want a relationship with God?
Baptism command of Jesus? One of the most famous texts of the Bible include the so-called Mission (or ‘ great Commission ‘), as we find in Mattëus 28:19 …. , Therefore, makes all the Nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you “. The Apostles have never baptized according to Matthew 28:19 Who knows his or her Bible and think about the Bible verse above, tripping over the baptismal formula. Because even though the command is perfectly clear, we find… Read more »
I was a Jehovah’s Witness for 42 years. I finally decided to do research on my own, and looked up all scriptures related to baptism. I came to the conclusion that we are to be baptized in the name of Jesus only. So I looked for a religious group that did that. I went, was baptized, and received the Holy Spirit after coming up out of the water. The next day, I woke up and felt no shame or guilt that I had experienced for years as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. I am so glad I left JW. When I… Read more »
“In my research I found that the Catholic encyclopedia has an article in which they admitted to changing Matt 28:19 in the fourth century.”
Hello, where can I find this – because I am very interested!
Thanks in advance.
I could never figure out the “Nethinim” thing. I mean, helpers are taken from the “other sheep” rather than from other anointed ones, other members of the body of Christ. I would conclude that many have been around for a number of years. .
You are correct that there is little mention of an earthly hope in Greek scripture but that does not rule it out. Hebrew scripture does not mention heavenly hope but Christ came from and
went back there. It took disciples a while to figure it was their hope.
You should not rule out earthly hope in this end time. be open to revealing. dont close your mind and fail to listen and hear like G.B.
ccleansed earth ones would live through end and go into
Hi, Anointed,
I believe the Christian hope is not discussed in this article. Perhaps you intended it as reply to another post.
Good article Alex. Thanks As far as the preaching being a command, I remember reading an article a year ago or so, where the writer made the observation that rather than GO being a command, it was more like Jesus was letting them know that they were “entitled” to go forward and represent him. His take on it was that since Jesus also told them at the same time that he was going to be with them until the conclusion of system of things, they should feel secure in the preaching. Hence the word “Go, followed by the word “therefore”.… Read more »
Hi yobec,
the article included a reference to the parable of the talents. The talents could be seen as the gifts of the spirit in each of us. Each of us is surely ‘entitled’ to go forward and use those talents, and surely Jesus wanted us to feel secure in that job as well. However, let there be no doubt that our Master will reward us according to how we have used our gifts.
I agree that the Master will reward us according to how we have used our gifts. What I have a hard time with is that we are under command to use these gifts. Paul explained that unless it is done with love it amounts to nil. Most organized religion today are quick to remind their flocks that they are under command to do this or to do that and chief amongst these are the G.B. Jesus also said ” you must love…” is that a command ? On the surface one would think so, after all he says “you must”… Read more »
Yobec, that is a good point. In my view these are not commands but minimum requiirements. As to love must come from the heart not from the mind.
Luke 13: 6-9 also comes to mind in relation to your comment: 6 Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was once a man who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard. He went looking for figs on it but found none. 7 So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, for three years I have been coming here looking for figs on this fig tree, and I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it go on using up the soil?’ 8 But the gardener answered, ‘Leave it alone, sir, just one more year; I will dig around… Read more »
‘The first one came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.” “Well done, my good servant!” his master replied. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.” ‘The second came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.” His master answered, “You take charge of five cities.”
Luke 19:16-19 (NIV)
I particularly liked this point you made Alex… “We are all under a command to be ministers. This means ‘attending to the needs of someone’. ” Puts a whole different perspective on being a Christian. I always felt a closeness to my brothers and sisters who were kind and loving, offering practical assistance and words of encouragement vs those that “had to get their time in”. James 2:16. Proverbs 17:17.
Yes I liked that one as well alex. There’s much more to being a minister than banging on doors. What does it mean to be a christian. 70 hours a month. No true worship is described in such verses. As. James 1 v 27. Micah 6 v 8 john 13 v 34 35. John 4 v 24. Those verses are very specific about what god wants from us. But the brothers don’t sem to have much time to practice those things. Sadly misguided in my opinion. Kev
Today in the car I was thinking that to an extent it’s acknowledged that Bethelites serve Jehovah full time. Why does their ministry count as full-time when cleaning restrooms in Bethel, but our time cleaning the KH restroom wouldn’t count?
Seems like we measure with two scales.
The whole concept of counting time is unscriptural it tells me what this religion is all about . They have the same rules as any buisness . For goodness sake how can christian service be measured like that . They have christian service like a career by thier own admisssion . Just wrong
Hey thanks alex brilliant article . There were a few things there that i had not thought of before . I think one of the problems the JWs have is that its far to regulated the leaders have to affirm control over alnost everything . I do agree with your conclusions . On baptism and teaching . Im not sure wether it matters who baptises a person . As long as we follow jesus express commands as regards the procedure . JWs have a problem there .As regards making disciples and teaching . I personally dont think this should be… Read more »
An article worth reading by all JW elders. The New Testament baptisms were not arranged for special occasions like Assemblies and Conventions as we (jw) have them. Those who qualified I.e. had faith in Jesus were baptized right away.There was no need to wait for a special occasion. Phillip baptized the Ethiopian,The jailer who was about to do away with himself and many other examples. Can the elder of a congregation baptize individuals who “qualify” without waiting for a special occasion? In theory ,Yes, but in practice , No. All have to be prepared for the special occasion for organizational… Read more »
I think they would invoke the idea that God is an God of order and as such the orderly manner we baptize reflect that we are his followers 😉
Really enjoyed reading your article. While I myself do not yet have children, or have been placed in a position where I could lead a person to the Christ, my mind often raced with this question.
I also especially enjoyed you showing some different voices in the debate, you really learn a lot from considering different positions next to your own.
Jehovah’s Witnesses do not baptize in (or “into” as the Interlinear has it) “the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit”, we simply, at least for decades, have baptized into an Organization.
Hence the accusation sometimes leveled at us that we are “not Christian”.
If we really wish to do as Christ commanded, we need to teach what being baptised into the “names” really means, and make sure that any baptism performed does so.
Perhaps this article is interesting as it relates to your comment: http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2010204
Though I would highly prefer we used the baptismal formula at baptism, it’s far more important that we understand the meaning of it. JW fail to appreciate the role of Jesus as their personal mediator and the Holy Spirit as it teaches us in our journey toward sanctification.
Thanks for sharing. I know this is not the place to review the WOL article but one thing is striking. Under the section In the name of the Son, at the end of the last paragraph it reads: can you see from the above that recognizing the Son is the reasonable and appreciative thing for you to do
Using words such as reasonable and appreciative is in fact damaging. It should have words like Critical, or Essential as it leads to eternal life.and He is the onl way to gt to the Father.
Thanks Alex, thought provoking indeed and a topic each Christian should consider, in particular if one is a member of a religious organisation. In the past I was always struggling with this command in Matthew 28. As a JW you are told / taught that this command is for all Christians and the organisation takes this command very serious. At the same time, the agreement or covenant that Jesus established with this Apostles regarding his Kingdom did not seem to apply to me. I never understood the difference as in both cases, Jesus was only with the apostles. when he… Read more »
I also find it interesting, menrov, that “teaching them” comes after baptism, not before.
I second the “thought provoking” sentiment. Thanks.
Bobcat
If we had a time slip with a single field “hours spent following the command of Christ to love one another”. Then we could fill out 730 hours each month, because with every breath we take we are Christians.
Thanks Alex – the whole article was very thought provoking (and I completely agree with all you wrote), but I thought the above was indeed a profound expression for us all to reflect on.
I had the same, strong reaction to that thought. If we can focus on having love for one another then our “service” to God–and others–would overflow with goodness.
Thanks for the effort in writing that post.