Bulletin Articles: Full Article for Record Number 1058
Delayed Baptism
by Larry Ray Hafley
Protestant denominationalism engages in an unscriptural practice when it sanctions "delayed baptism." Over a period of weeks, people will come forward to "accept Christ," and when they indicate a desire to be baptized, they are told to wait for a day which has been set aside for the "baptismal ceremony." The sincerity of some who say they "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" is questioned when their baptism is thus delayed.
This probation period before baptism is not in harmony with the New Testament. If someone thinks differently, will he send the appropriate passages which prove to the contrary?
After one has heard the truth and learns what he "must do" to be saved, his baptism must follow immediately if he is desirous of adhering to the divine pattern of the word of God (2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:13). To go outside or beyond the doctrine of Christ is to walk without God (2 Jn. 9). Hence, if you cannot read of "procrastinated baptism" in the Bible, do you dare practice it?
Note a few examples of "instant baptism" rather than the "delayed baptism" of man.
(1) "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins....Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls" (Acts 2:38, 41).
(2) "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them...when they believed Philip...they were baptized, both men and women" (Acts 8:5, 12). When they believed, they were baptized. There was no delay, no time waiting for a baptismal service some time in the future.
(3) Philip also preached Jesus to the Ethiopian treasurer, and immediately tended to his baptism. They did not even wait for a church to vote on him! Further, the jailer at Philippi heard the word of the Lord about midnight and was baptized the "same hour of the night" (Acts 8:25, 30-34).
(4) The believing, penitent, persecutor Saul, was told what he "must do" (Acts 9:6). "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). What was his response? Did he wait for a special baptismal service? Did he have to wait until "church officials" approved of his faith? No, rather, he "arose, and was baptized" (Acts 9:18).
There is a pattern in these few passages for all who would follow the will of God. Though the ways of man appear right, they are the ways of death (Prov. 14:12). Do not be led by a church ritual that cannot be found in the word of truth. Would you rather please men than obey the simple ways of God? If so, then you cannot be the servant of Christ (Gal. 1:10).
Many Protestant churches claim to cling to the Bible as their "only rule of faith and practice." Will someone in those churches find the "rule" for the "practice" of delayed baptism? If they cannot do so, will they renounce it without delay?
