Love and Appreciation for Jehovah Lead to Baptism

Comment by Leonardo Josephus on 2020-05-03 13:47:15

Thank you Nobleman. Funny, I thought that Jesus asked people to get baptised and be taught all the things he commanded, including learning the truth about things. When we have the truth, our love for like minded ones and for him and his father will grow.
Even back in the days when I got baptised, it was the learning of truths which had drawn me closer to Jehovah. Those truths were things I could clearly see from the scriptures.
Odd, though, I do not recall any of the JW teachings, which now would stumble me, as being teachings which stopped or helped me draw closer to him. Rather, I got to know him in spite of those teachings, which I assumed I would "get" later. While I tolerated them, I never did "get" them, and now those teachings are reasons for realising that JWs are not a channel that Jesus is using.
Love to all truth seekers here., and elsewhere.

• Reply by Chet on 2020-05-03 21:49:48

  That’s similar to my experience. From early on, there were interpretations and practices with which I did not completely agree. Having two generations of Witnesses before me, I always felt that I had inherited a fairly strong understanding of the “Truth” and many of the things I found disagreeable I ascribed to the relative immaturity of many who had been baptized after a mere six-month bible study in the “Truth Book”. I had been taught from infancy and felt quite rooted.
  
  One thing I didn’t realize was that much of what I had learned from my family was somewhat dated information and dated from the latter half of the Rutherford era, into the early Knorr era. The Organization had changed, but many of the old timers still thought that they were part of the same organization they had chosen to associate with years before, but in fact the organization had changed significantly.
  
  When the older generation of my family were confronted with the fact of this change, they tended to minimize the significance of these changes, and in fact, I inherited this behavior myself as a hidden legacy of my family’s history in the “Truth”. Simply stated, I was taught (by example) to minimize and suppress my doubts.
  
  That’s the insidious thing about the Organization; they teach their acolytes to suppress doubts and to accept without question any changes which come along, even if these changes effectively cancel some of the teachings which attracted them to the Organization in the first place.
  
  Interestingly, since I quit attending meetings and began to seriously investigate matters, many of the points to which I took exception have been the very things I took exception to.

Comment by Chet on 2020-05-07 20:03:51

Interesting take on it, Just Asking. You and I are about the same age and likely shared somewhat similar experiences.

Speaking only for my own experience, it goes way back to early childhood and the way all of this was first explained to me. When I was very young, my mother told me that there was a God that made everything and I loved hearing about that. I loved looking at animals and even insects intrigued me as being artfully created. Sometime later, my mother explained Armageddon (which I never should have been told about at such an early age) and eventually explained that unless we went to meetings, God would kill us at Armageddon. To this day, I remember the reaction I felt to this, going from a happy child to a fearful child. Terms like “Armageddon” and “destroyed” made my blood run cold, which is the colloquial expression for the literal feeling we get from an Adrenaline response. For many decades after this, the burden of that fear was always upon me.

Growing up, I was told that I could never go into the Army and that I would have to go to prison if they tried to draft me. That’s a pretty big burden for an 8 year-old’s shoulders, but I also knew that my father and many of my uncles had been imprisoned during WW II.

In my teens, I developed a deeper interest in the “Truth” and began to study in earnest. I had feared Armageddon all of my life and, because I had not been actively involved in Witness activities, I thought that I’d probably die at Armageddon. As a child, I would pray for God to delay matters so that I would have a chance to at least be old enough to drive a car. I also felt worthless because of not attending meetings, and instead, staying home with my father, who had long since become inactive.

When the 1975 debacle started, I was still. In grade school, and even then, I knew that humans couldn’t day & hour. Nonetheless, the drumbeat of ‘75 was pretty strong and I feared that they might be right about the timing. 1968 was a bad year, with civil unrest of all sorts and assassinations, which certainly played into the forecasts the Witnesses had made. In my case, by 1969, I was getting a bit nervous.

A bible study was arranged and eventually i was baptized. The process was much more about procedure than about accepting Christ, etc. Forgiveness has never been the JW’s strong suit, and the talk was much more about “survival” than about grace. When I got baptized, there was a sense of urgency, because the “Big A” was breathing down our necks. I studied hard for those 80 questions and did fairly well. I be,I.e. Ed I was doing the right thing, and to this day, I believe that at heart I wanted to please God, implied death-threat or not.

But there was one more hurdle to cross. Like yourself, I drew a draft lottery that was very low, so that hurdle turned out to be a dud, but to this day, I don’t know what I would have done had things turned out differently. I had thought about moving to Canada, and surprisingly, one of my closest friends, an exemplary young JW at the time has told me that he had planned to do the same.

Baptism should be a completely voluntary act. I have seen Witness youth baptized at very young ages and I’ve seen pressure applied to Witness parents if their children didn’t get baptized early enough in life to suit the elders, or possibly the gossip-mongers in the congregation. Getting baptized out of fear of any external factor, be it conscription or destruction by a God that they mischaracterize as an indiscriminate killer, is no better reason for taking that step.

When I was baptized, I was adequately informed about Christ as my savior and I feel that my baptism is legitimate and valid, being baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. However, I assure you that if the Jehovah’s Witnesses had been up front about how their Organization functioned, I probably would have never gone anywhere near them. From my baptism until my final step away from congregation activity, it was a non-stop barrage of gossip and congregation politics. What a waste of effort!

Comment by Fani on 2020-05-08 01:22:43

Je voudrais partager l'experience de mon baptême parce qu'elle est différente de celles exprimées ci-dessous.
Je me suis fait baptiser a 15 ans. Aujourd'hui j'ai 64 ans.
Je ne me suis pas sentie obligée ni poussée à prendre le baptême. J'aimais Dieu et voulais le lui dire. Ce fut ma décision et je fus très heureuse de la prendre. Je reconnaissais le Christ comme modèle même si, c'est vrai, je n'avais pas compris toute l'Autorité que lui avait donnée son Père.

Je n'avais pas conscience de ce qu'était l'organisation. Les membres du Collège Central etait pour moi des inconnus dont je ne m'occupais pas. Je ne l'ai pas fait pour les hommes. Je ne l'ai pas fait pour faire plaisir à mes parents. C'est vrai on nous parlait de 1975 mais pour moi ce ne fut pas un mobile. Dans notre congrégation le surveillant president, intelligent, ne mettait pas l'accent sur cette date. Que rien ne soit arrivé vers cette date m'arrangeait car j'avais peur du Jour de Dieu. Ca n'a pas modifié ma foi.
Mais je comprends la déception de beaucoup car en effet, les publications ne manquaient pas de marteler que les années 70 marqueraient un tournant. Et oui l'autorité abusive des hommes est manifeste et je comprends que certains se soient sentis obligés.

Pour ma part, J'étais ignorante de beaucoup de choses mais ce qui m'importe c'est que j'aimais Dieu et que je voulais suivre ce qui etait juste.
Bien sûr, je me suis trompée dans la définition de la "Vérité". Mais est ce que les 1ers chrétiens qui se faisaient baptiser de suite apres avoir accepté le Christ avait tout compris ? Non. (exemple Apollos)
Ce qui importe c'est de reconnaître Dieu comme notre Père et Christ comme notre Sauveur et notre Enseignant. C'était mon cas. Mon baptême est valide.

Plus tard (vers 17 ans) j'ai eu mes premiers doutes sur certains enseignements. A ce moment là, je ne me suis pas autorisée ce questionnement que j'ai recouvert comme j'ai pu car j'avais l'impression de trahir mon amour pour Dieu.
Ce fut difficile parfois. Des périodes de crise ont jalonné ma vie spirituelle en raison de mes incompréhensions, mais ne voulant pas abandonner Dieu, je ne voyais pas d'issue. Aucune autre religion ne m'attirait. Donc j'ai composé tant bien que mal avec la mienne.

Je n'avais pas la maturité spirituelle (alors que je me croyais spirituelle) pour discerner par moi même le bien et le mal. En fait je pensais ne pas en avoir le droit. Et pourtant hébreux 5 : 14 dit "Mais la nourriture solide est pour les gens mûrs, pour ceux dont les facultés de discernement sont exercées, par l’usage, à distinguer et le bien et le mal". Ce n'est pas l'apanage du Collège Central, c'est accessible à tous les chrétiens.

Je vous remercie tous d'être là. Vous m'avez beaucoup aidé à clarifier les choses après le choc reçu par mon excommunication pour avoir dit que je n'étais pas d'accord avec certains enseignements. (il y a 1 an 1/2)
Le thème "et maintenant où aller" d'Eric m'a particulièrement aidée à prendre conscience que notre bateau, c'est notre foi, pas une organisation.
Merci à tous.
Nicole

• Reply by Chet on 2020-05-08 02:11:24

  In looking back, I see two things that are very similar to your experience. One is, that while the pressures of the Organization had an effect upon my feeling somewhat rushed about getting baptized, my motives were correct and I feel that my baptism was valid. It was at a Witness assembly, but by their own words, I was baptized as a non-denominational Christian.
  
  Secondly, I harbored reservations about certain aspects of the “Truth” from my earliest days of activity. Truthfully, very little has changed in the last 50 years, with regards to my beliefs. From the standpoint of who I was back then, the biggest difference would be that I now share in the bread and wine of communion.
  
  I can’t honestly say that I rejected the JW teaching regarding the “Annointed”, but it did raise some questions in my mind, even back then. I am at peace with my beliefs, at this point.

  • Reply by Leonardo Josephus on 2020-05-08 05:39:21

    I only started studying coming up to 1974, and was baptised in that year. By the time I had stopped smoking, baptism was put to me as "What have you got to lose ?". It simply seemed the right thing to do, to reject my baptism as an infant in the Catholic faith, and do it, as I thought, properly to God.
    I understood that JWs were interested in truth back then. I know better now.

    • Reply by Elpida on 2020-05-12 20:00:16

      I find myself not believing in religions anymore. When I was a Catholic, I believed it was the true religion. When I studied with the JWs, I believed they were right. The Catholics do not use the bible so I have nothing to c compare there but once I started researching what I was learning through the Witnesses, my mind and what they were teaching just seem to contradict each other. I blamed myself for that.
      
      As time went on, I realized the only thing that doesn't change is Jehovah's Word and that of His Son. The only book I know of that isn't dated and out of style. No religion can say that as human leaders change, Jehovah stays the same and I find comfort in that.

      • Reply by Chet on 2020-05-12 21:40:12

        I’m pretty much in the same place. My trust is in Jehovah, not any group of men. I’ve studied the Bible and worked to take God’s word as it is written and reject the interpretations imposed upon God’s word by manmade organizations. As I’ve done this, I’ve been rewarded by finding and if I don’t try to attach symbolic meaning to things which are literal, the scriptures display a wonderful simplicity and consistency.
        
        We also have a tool which is unique to our time, in that search engines and online bibles make for wonderful research. You can start by remembering a phrase from one verse, then cross reference and judge for yourself what the Bible says.

Comment by Chet on 2020-05-03 14:02:40

As is almost always the case, this article starts off with a degree of plausibility and then sharply veers into yet another screed about how we must obey the Organization.

Back in the ‘80s, there was a Saturday Night Live skit where Eddie Murphy brought to life a character based upon the Gumby toy. His characterization of Gumby was caustic and cynical. At some point in the skit, he would declare “damnit, I’m Gumby”, as if his stature and fame alone made him worthy of deferential treatment and respect. Of course the shtick was that Gumby is a toy or a harmless cartoon character that is portrayed as good natured. A backstage look at this fictional character as petty and self indulgent made for great humor.

What stuck with me though, was the phrase “damnit, I’m Gumby”. For years now, the JW Organization has been doing something similar. They insist that they are God’s unique channel of communication and if questioned about this, they fall back on their self-declared position as the Faithful and Discreet Slave. Let me reiterate that; if you question their authority, they fall back on the argument that they are the Faithful and Discreet Slave, which is entirely circular. They have a fanciful story about Christ returning and making an inspection, at which time they were chosen for this role, but their evidence is based entirely upon their own interpretation. They claim to be in charge and you must listen to them because they are in charge, based upon their claim to be in charge which means we have to listen to them ... It goes on Ad Nauseum from there and rarely can they put pen to paper without reminding their readers of their assumed authority. In the final analysis, it comes down to “damnit, we’re the Faithful and Discreet Slave”.

The subject of baptism is probably directed mostly to Witness youth. Long before my time, young Witnesses knew that if they wanted to sew wild oats, they had better do it while unbaptized and out of the reach of the Witness’ internal judicial system. So, predictably, some kids delayed baptism. Witness literature tackled the problem head on and reminded readers that, baptized or not, we still are responsible for our actions.

They were right about that, but their words had a perverse effect. I began to see younger and younger children among the baptismal candidates. One thing I remember from when I was preparing to be baptized, is that Witnesses believed in baptizing only people that were informed and of a reasonable age to understand the ramifications of their decision. I would maintain that a pre-pubescent child cannot possibly comprehend the challenges of committing to chastity. Beyond that, they cannot possibly understand that life changes from time to time and they may want to leave the Organization at some point in life without being shunned by their family.

I was baptized at 17 and certainly could not have foreseen the full ramifications of my baptism, but there’s a twist to this. When I was baptized the Witnesses conspicuously stated that our baptism was as non-denominational Christian. I was never a “member” of the JWs, by their wording. At that time we were a collection of individuals whom were in agreement with the Watchtower teachings and cooperated with them, but we weren’t technically members.

Appointments, as I understood them at that time, were appointments to be representatives of the Society. The congregations didn’t really have much “authority”, but the judicial committee could disfellowship or place on probation. This committee was made up of the Presiding Overseer, the Service Overseer and one other, perhaps the Assistant Presiding Overseer (I don’t clearly remember if such a position actually existed), but the Committee was a fixed group of brothers, before the Elder Arrangement. In those days, Committee actions were rare and usually quite upsetting to the congregation. I remember my mother coming home in tears after someone was DF’d.

With the advent of the Elder Arrangement, a lot changed. Judicial actions became much more frequent, and even the least credible complaints were “investigated” by zealous elders, many hoping to make a name for themselves by “keeping the congregation clean”, whatever that means. Inquisitions became much more common and those with little political clout could find themselves on the defensive, repeatedly. Sincere brothers with exemplary conduct could be held out of positions by the wildest of unfounded accusations and disfellowshipping was weaponized.

How can a young Witness ever begin to comprehend the political labyrinth they are joining themselves to, when they are baptized into the Witness Organization? I was baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and the name of Jehovah’s Witnesses was never mentioned in the baptismal questions answered publicly at the assembly. I am entirely within my rights to claim that I have never been a “member” of this organization, but a youngster baptized today is making a lifetime contract with an organization that has changed both doctrine and policy at will, and fully expects all associated members to remain in step with the current whims published in their literature. Even at 17, I would have known better than to have fallen for that, but OTOH, how can someone claim to enter into a binding contract with a minor?

If someone leaves out important information when presenting a contract, that is known as a “material omission”. For example, the doctor that performed cataract surgery on me asked that I sign a form acknowledging his financial interest in the surgical center used for the procedure. To have not done so, would be to risk a claim of material omission.

Does the Witness Organization present a clear and complete picture of the obligation taken by persons wishing to be baptized? Can minor children, pressured by family and peers, be said to be making a fully informed decision when they are baptized? Does the Watchtower’s explanation of their judicial procedures accurately convey the way that such matters are handled within the congregations? Comparing the Ethiopian Eunuch’s baptism to what happens in today’s Witnesses is stretching matters a great deal. As is so often the case, this Watchtower article simply reinforces the assumed hegemony on the Organization and molds some bible accounts to fit their agenda.

• Reply by Psalmbee on 2020-05-03 21:15:59

  Hi Chet,
  
  I been reading some of your posts, sounds like you got a good handle on how the org. operates.
  
  
  
  Psalmbee

  • Reply by Chet on 2020-05-03 23:12:46

    Thanks Psalmbee.

Comment by anonymous on 2020-05-03 18:12:32

Unfortunately the most important Bible verse gets left out, verse 37.

“As they went on their way, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

Verse 37 - Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.””

The prerequisite to his getting baptised was confessing his belief in Jesus as God’s son, the chosen Messiah.

“that if you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved, for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be ashamed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is generous toward all who call upon Him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:9-14‬

Our confessing with our mouth that Jesus is our Lord and saviour is what brings salvation. The arbitrary insertion of the divine name in NWT changes the meaning of the passage. Just thought I would share with everyone
‭‭

• Reply by Lipi Tong on 2020-05-04 07:44:12

  Thank you Anonymous! I didn't remark this verse till now, apparently most Bibles omit it.
  https://biblehub.com/commentaries/acts/8-37.htm

Comment by marielle on 2020-05-04 10:11:07

Bonjour à tous,
Lorsque je me suis fait baptiser, j’avais 16 ans, c’était en 1971.
J’étais très heureuse ce jour-là, car je voulais sincèrement m’approcher de Dieu et faire sa volonté.
Nous devions répondre à l’époque, à 80 questions contenues dans le livre « Ta parole est une lampe pour mon pied ».
Mais déjà, j’avais hésité à me faire baptiser, non pas par manque de foi, mais par souci d’honnêteté.
Pourquoi ?
Parce que, même si à l’époque les questions du baptême se résumaient à 2 questions qui n’incluaient pas
« Comprenez-vous qu’en vous vouant à Dieu et en vous faisant baptiser VOUS VOUS IDENTIFIEZ A DES TÉMOINS DE JÉHOVAH ET VOUS VOUS UNISSEZ À L’ORGANISATION DIVINE, QUI EST DIRIGÉE PAR L’ESPRIT SAINT »,
IL NOUS FALLAIT TOUT DE MÊME, SIGNER LA DÉCLARATION DU BAPTÊME CHRÉTIEN à la fin du livre,
qui stipulait : « Je désire vivre en plein accord avec sa volonté, telle QU’IL L’A RÉVÉLÉ À SES SERVITEURS ». Même si c’est le Psaume qui est cité, je savais que les serviteurs de Jéhovah étaient « l’organisation ».
Ce qui m’étonnait par-dessus tout, c’est que ni Jéhovah ni Jésus, n’avaient donné d’indications pour que l’on reconnaisse un éventuel courant qui émergerait de Pennsylvanie ou du continent nord-américain, au point de devoir le suivre.
J’étais en désaccord avec les 7 temps (2520 ans) sur la base de Luc 21 : 24.
Je m’en étais ouverte à une sœur et amie, (qui est d’ailleurs restée missionnaire toute sa vie) qui m’a expliqué comment faire ce calcul.
Le calcul ne me posait pas de problème. À aucun moment, elle ne pouvait comprendre que je remettais en question l’interprétation que l’organisation donnait de ces temps des gentils en Luc 21 : 24 qui pour moi, débutaient à partir de la destruction de Jérusalem en 70.
Des questions me taraudaient, surtout les 144 000 oints de l’esclave fidèle et avisé, et le Mémorial.
Bref, j’étais jeune, et je me disais que j’avais encore beaucoup à apprendre, et que je comprendrai plus tard.
Il fallait sans tarder prendre position pour Dieu, d’autant que la fin était très proche.
Toutes mes questions sont restés sans réponse, j’ai fait avec, à cause du « merde, je suis Gumby» comme dirait Chet.
Jusqu’à ce que cela devienne insupportable !

Mon mari (aujourd’hui décédé) et moi avons quitté l’organisation depuis plusieurs années.
Aujourd’hui à la retraite, j’ai le temps de lire et je trouve effectivement, que le leitmotiv lancinant est l’obéissance au collège central, (même quand il se trompe). Cela m’a sauté aux yeux, moi qui ne lisait plus trop les publications.

Mais je relève toujours leur double langage pour se « dorer le blason ».
En témoigne la dernière brochure sur l’éducation, où ils se font le chantre de la liberté de conscience.
C’est insupportable !
P 25
« LES TÉMOINS DE JÉHOVAH ATTACHENT UNE GRANDE IMPORTANCE A LA CONSCIENCE CHRÉTIENNE INDIVIDUELLE (Romains, chapitre 14). La Convention des droits de l’enfant, adoptée par l’assemblée générale des Nations unies en 1989, reconnaît à l’enfant le droit à « LA LIBERTÉ DE PENSER, DE CONSCIENCE ET DE RELIGION », ET LE DROIT D’EXPRIMER LIBREMENT SON OPINION SUR TOUTE QUESTION L’INTÉRESSANT, LES OPINIONS DE L’ENFANT ÉTANT DÛMENT PRISES EN CONSIDÉRATION.
…VOUS ÊTES CERTAINEMENT ATTACHÉS COMME NOUS AU PRINCIPE DE LA LIBERTÉ DE CONSCIENCE ».
Mais de qui se moquent-ils ?

Ils veulent que l’on reconnaisse leur liberté de penser, et d’opinion religieuse, devant la cour européenne des droits de l’homme et les tribunaux internationaux, à grand renfort d’avocats, SANS JAMAIS NE DONNER CETTE LIBERTÉ À L’ENSEMBLE DES FRÈRES ET SŒURS QUI COMPOSENT LA CONGRÉGATION MONDIALE.
C’EST UN COMBLE !
La RÈGLE D’OR ? CONNAÎT PAS !

C’est pourquoi, encore une fois, ils manquent complètement de transparence et d’honnêteté, quand ils demandent aux nouveaux baptisés d’être unis à L’ORGANISATION DIVINE, dirigée par l’esprit saint.
ILS DEVRAIENT PRÉCISER EN TOUTE CLARTÉ, CE QUE CELA SIGNIFIE.
QUE LES NOUVEAUX BAPTISÉS S’ENGAGENT À SUIVRE LE COLLÈGE CENTRAL DANS TOUT CE QU’IL DIT, MÊME QUAND IL SE TROMPE, ET CONTRE SA PROPRE CONSCIENCE, SA PROPRE RÉFLEXION OU PENSÉE, SOUS RÉSERVE D’EXCOMMUNICATION.

Mes amis, restons attachés à notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ, la Vigne dont nous voulons être les sarments.

• Reply by Chet on 2020-05-04 21:44:44

  Very well spoken, Marielle. Like yourself, I had some doubts, but with the drumbeat of 1975 ringing in my ears, I felt that getting baptized was essential and I felt that I had no other option, with regard to choosing a denomination.

Comment by Beroeans Creed on 2020-05-04 10:29:02

Thank Nobleman for the great review and many excellent points!

I decided to get Baptized and Born again when I was 16 in a Baptist Church (my parents never church goers) and the scripture cited was Matt. 19 “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” I did attend this church, but the day I decided to get Baptized and told the pastor he did not quiz me on scripture or church doctrine etc. the following Church service I was baptized.
Then that was nullified by the organization when I was again Baptized in the early 70’s citing the same scripture but of course not making the claim of being Born Again. This process took 6 months of Bible study even though I was ready in just 1month, 3 sessions of going over the questions with an Elder, then I had to wait for the next assembly, all in all almost 10 months!
So the question is, which of my baptism’s was the closest to what we find in scripture and most likely the one that Jehovah and Jesus view as valid?

• Reply by Frankie on 2020-05-05 18:19:49

  Hi BC,
  
  IMO, it doesn't matter whether an organization nullifies your baptism or not. Baptism is a matter of you and Jehovah. God wanted you to be saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
  
  In addition to what Anonymous mentioned (confession of Jesus as the Son of God), another important thing is needed - repentance.
  
  At Pentecost, Peter said what people should do if they were to be saved: "Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38, NIV).
  No man can nullify the Holy Spirit in you, by which you become a child of God. You don't need to be baptized again.
  
  Love to you and all here. Frankie.

  • Reply by anonymous on 2020-05-06 00:58:44

    I see he was speaking to the men of Israel in that circumstance. More specifically they needed to repent of killing Jesus.
    
    ““Therefore, let all the house of Israel assuredly know that God has made this Jesus, whom you have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When they heard this, they were stung in the heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
    ‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:36-38‬ ‭

    • Reply by Frankie on 2020-05-07 18:01:23

      Yes, but not only that. The original requirement for repentance has already been declared by John (Matt. 3: 2), and in this sense Peter spoke of repentance in general as a condition for accepting Jesus Christ. My comment responded to BC's question about Christian baptism. And the repentance is the first necessary step for baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (Matt. 4:17; Luke 24:47; Acts 3: 19-20; 20:21; 26:20).

Comment by Elpida on 2020-05-10 09:38:11

I was baptized a Roman Catholic (RC) when I was born and going to RC school where the first lesson of every day was Catechism, Church doctrine. I learned nothing about the bible. When I was a teenager, I was confirmed in a ceremony where you agree to follow the teachings of the Church. When I would ask a question, I was told to just believe when I didn’t understand the Trinity.

Later on I decided to read the bible from cover to cover by reading it each morning but did not much understand what I was reading. However, enough to know that what I had been taught was not what the bible said. For that I am indebted to the Jehovah’s Witnesses through studying with them and attending their meetings. I honestly believed they were right.

I still continue my bible reading every morning until I get to the end of the bible and I start over. The more I understood the more I questioned why God would choose only a certain people to be His chosen which if you are impartial, then anyone should have a chance to get to know Him.

Through what I have learned and now also becoming acquainted with Beroean Pickets through a friend of mine, I realized that I was not alone in my way of thinking. Religion gives a leaning towards a certain belief system and therefore baptism in that sense only means you belong to that religion and its doctrine.

What's to prevent me from spreading Jehovah God's Word without being baptized?

• Reply by Leonardo Josephus on 2020-05-12 17:38:13

  Lydia, it is good to have you here. I was brought up RC, and I understand how JW teachings sound in relation to how little of the Bible you may have known. Rather than jump to conclusions, what is your position now ? Are you still studying with Witnesses ? How do you view their teachings ? What direction are you heading in ? These are important, because none of us are here to undermine another's faith. Nevertheless we are all keen to share what is true.
  Welcome.

Comment by Are You Ready to Get Baptized? - Beroean Pickets - JW.org Reviewer on 2020-05-10 11:22:13

[…] Also consider the example of the Ethiopian Eunuch which we discussed in last week’s review in Acts 8:26-40: https://beroeans.net/2020/05/03/love-and-appreciation-for-jehovah-lead-to-baptism/ […]