Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.

-Domino Harvey

As preposterous as it may seem, I have been thinking of not go through the ritual of baptism-in-water! Yes, I do think it is a typical Christian religious ritual. And if somebody thinks that, that does not make me a Christian, I have nothing further to say.

I believe baptism-in-water does not make one Christian in its true sense. I want to be baptized in its true sense, that is, by the Holy Spirit. I think one who is baptized in the spirit may not need to be baptized by water at all! And the ones, who are baptized by water, may never really have been baptized with what Christ promised and talked about. As much as I detest the divisions of religion, to me baptism-in-water is bound in Christian religious circles, where as baptism-in-spirit is beyond any religious boundaries and is available for anyone who truly understands it, seeks it and possibly deserves it.

John preached baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4). Jesus never indicated in the bible that we ‘need’ to be baptized in water, although he got himself baptised-in-water in his cultural setting of that time. In fact he was (probably) the first one to be baptized in spirit, giving a new meaning and setting a benchmark of baptism at this point of history. I believe he now wants us to achieve that standard. Matthew 3:11 says,”I baptize you with water for repentance….He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire”. One may argue that baptism provides a setting to proclaim your faith in Christ. But if that is what it is intended for, I can proclaim my faith in front of a crowd of ten times in numbers, than what may have appeared at my baptism-in-water ritual!

I do not discourage anyone from being baptized in water, one may choose to go through it as he or she would like. But I do urge one to seek the true baptism. I want to belong to Christ, but I do not wish to do things according to Christian culture, simply because it is foreign to me. I was brought up in a highly ritualistic Hindu religion which I found meaningless and empty. At the same time I wish to retain my culture and I beleive in its values and traditions. So if I am giving up a ton of rituals which Christ forbids in my culture, then I am also reluctant to embrace anything that appears ritualistic in a seemngly foriegn culture, since rituals do not reflect the conditions of the heart.

The last reason is that baptism-in-water is often misused as a measure of achievement when evangilising and often proselytizing. Success is often recorded on the number of baptized people. Success should be celebrated through the baptism of heart, soul and the character of the person, baptized-in-spirit, something which the most embellished baptism-in-water ritual cannot provide.

Looking for constructive opinions and comments ....

Christianty is reasonable in classroom, but a scam in reality!? (meaning) I should Say what I Live and Live what I Say

....Anonymous

How you do define the word NEWS. Most people would know, it acronyms for North East West South. Consider Fox news or BBC, why is it important to keep track of whats going on around me? Its funny how what we call as current affairs is technically past events, some occurring essentially few seconds ago, what we would call LIVE, and then some occurring a few hours to few days to even months and years ago! But in any case, it is a bunch of needful and needless information. What we do is conveniently filter in what would seemingly affect our thoughts, actions, speech, sentiments or even our lives. News about Presidential elections drives our expectations and aspirations for our country. News about our home team winning instills pride and happiness amongst peers. News about some tragedy tears our hearts and possibly influences us to correct ourselves from falling in to similar tragedies. Imagine how glued and attentive we would be to news, if we had a dear one on a troubled air flight. Each piece of coming information will fuel our hopes and will be precious than anything else.  And then there are news which we consciously or subconsciously filter out, because it does not directly affect our lives, but probably affects us indirectly, which we just fail to judge or perceive.

I think Gospel is NEWS in that sense, a good one indeed, about something which happened 2000 years ago and is still on the way of reaching people. Still on the way for 2000 freaking years! It may reach and affect peoples’ lives immideately or slowly. Or many will conviniently filter it out thinking it does not affect them directly. Many will just not care. Many may hear but not listen. But the News will not stop. Simply because it has been ‘broadcasted’ by God himself! Hence it will leap over all national and cultural barriers. It will influence and challenge the traditional and ritualistic mindsets of many generations. The only biggest barrier it will have at the end of all, is the willingness of man to finally accept it. And that often depends on how effectively and correctly the News is delivered; and with what motivation? Is the news with motives of religious propaganda; Or is it about that fascinating story of the person of Christ, whose intent was to start a system of godly discipleship, between Him and His followers.  Does the news puts the person in fear of drastically changing his or her lifestyle, culture or traditions; or does the News lets the person know that this so called Christ loves him for what he is and where he is, and that through Christ alone he will raise to a never-before-reached closeness to God???

Any thoughts are welcome