Sprinkled or dunked?

[ButterflyBlood]

We were discussing this and how we were baptized briefly at a church party last night, I find it a little interesting. Would like to see a national poll.

I've been baptized twice in both ways, sprinkled as a baby and dunked as an adult.

10 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Sprinkled
	6 (60%)
	Dunked
	3 (30%)
	Both
	1 (10%)
	Have not been baptized
	0 (0%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[Fortinbras Armstrong]

1. Modes of baptism

A very early Christian document, the Didache, said

And concerning baptism, baptize this way: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have no living water, baptize into other water; and if you cannot do so in cold water, do so in warm. But if you have neither, pour out water three times upon the head into the name of Father and Son and Holy Spirit.

I suspect that when infant baptism came in, sprinkling was found to be easier on the infant. Can you see a baby being dunked, swallowing a lungful of water, and then dying? I certainly can.

[ButterflyBlood]

2. I've heard of churches dunking babies before

Most Orthodox ones do. But yeah as a baby is when I was sprinkled. I was dunked as an adult.

[47of74]

6. Actually saw it on TV one time

I believe it was a Russian Orthodox baptism. That kid did not take all that kindly to that either.

[Cairycat]

3. Baptized as a child - sprinkled

I was brought up Congregationalist. My husband was baptized as an adult in the Mennonite church where we belong. That was done by pouring. But the baptisms we've had since in this church have been by immersion, in a local lake. The current pastor favors Pentecost for the season, though her predecessor preferred Easter. Iowa tends to be a little chilly at Easter time!

I might add that Mennonites do not baptize infants. The usual age is around 14 or older.

[Rowdyboy]

4. Dunked at the age of 10 following Vacation Bible school at a rural Baptist church....then

my mom had us sprinkled as United Methodists in a much nicer church when I was 16. At 44, after 25 years being mostly unchurched I was confirmed nto the Episcopalian church where I've spent the last 14 years. Pretty much have my bases covered.

[47of74]

5. Sprinkled

I was baptized before I was a month old, as is the traditional with Catholics who are born into the church. Since I'm converting to Episcopal Church I'm not having to be baptized again since the Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist denominations all accept baptisms from other denominations in that group as valid. And since the Episcopal Church also recognizes Catholic confirmation I'll be received later this year rather than be confirmed into the church.

[arely staircase]

8. i'm converting to the Episcopal Church too.

and will also be received later this year. and it is my congregationalist dunking that they are accepting.

[arely staircase]

7. Dunked, however I now belong to a denomination that sprinkles.

eom

[Reno Master]

9. Water Baptism

WHAT IS WATER BAPTISM AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

The word “baptism” in Greek is “baptisma,” while “to baptize” in Greek is “baptizo.” It is obvious that these words have not really been translated; but rather transliterated into the English language. The Greek, “baptizo,” means “to immerse, cause to be dipped, to submerge, or to overwhelm.” To baptize anything in water literally means to put it under the water.

Christian baptism is a rite of initiation showing one’s dedication to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and to be His disciple. “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 (Mathew 28.19).”

In water baptism, the Christian identifies with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).”

Just as water baptism is a washing, it declares to the world that our sins have been washed away. “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord (Acts 22:16b).” In itself, baptism does not wash away our sins; but only inasmuch as it expresses our faith in the purifying work of the blood of Jesus, shed for us. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Colossians 1:14).”

Water baptism is a part of our salvation. “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (1 Peter 3:21a).” The actual performance of the act, done in faith, breaks the power of sin and the world over the believer’s life. Just as the people of Israel were baptized into Moses in the cloud and sea (see 1 Corinthians 10:1, 2) and were thereby delivered from the power of Egypt, so the Christian who submits himself to water baptism will be delivered from the power of this world. Satan will challenge this and test the consecration that is made at baptism, just as he did in the life of Jesus (see Matthew 4:1-10). That is why we must have our minds made up to be faithful to Jesus before we are baptized.

Water baptism is commanded. Jesus commanded it in Matthew 28:19 quoted earlier. Peter commanded it. “And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord (Acts 10:48a).” Paul baptized believers (see Acts 19:1-5), and he himself was commanded to be baptized in Acts 22:16b quoted earlier.

To be baptized one must humble oneself. As Jesus dedicated himself “thus to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15),” so must we when we are baptized in water. We make a covenant with God to submit ourselves to obey the Holy Spirit to the point of death to the deeds and lusts of the flesh and all that is old, to let the past be buried, and to be resurrected “to fulfill all righteousness” in the power of the Holy Spirit in the new life given by God.


WHO IS WATER BAPTISM FOR?

Baptism is for those who have repented of their dead works and believe with all their heart in the Lord Jesus Christ’s vicarious and expiatory sacrifice for sin. We see this both from the example and teaching of the New Covenant.

“Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may’ (Acts 8:36, 37b).” Baptism is not for those who half-heartedly believe the gospel.

“He who believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16a).” No promise is made to those who are baptized without believing. Many are “baptized” as babies, by immersion, in the Orthodox Tradition, or by sprinkling, in the Catholic, Anglican, and Reformed traditions. However, there is no example in the New Covenant of babies being baptized. A baby, as yet without understanding, cannot repent or believe the gospel.

If you have never been baptized in water as a believer and you do not want to be, it shows that you are either ignorant of the meaning of water baptism, or that you do not wish to humble yourself and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.

If you wish to be a disciple of Christ Jesus and have never been baptized as such, now is the time for you to do it.

[refrescanos]

10. 2 ways

...I' had it done. Sprinkled as a baby, dunked as an adult. Sprinkling I don't remember. Dunking was very emotionally moving....