Question:

Hi! Several weeks ago, I was looking at the web site. I surfed it for several hours and eventually got into the topic of baptism.

When I grew up, I was in a Christian home. My parents gave me the option of being baptized when I was 4 or 5 and then later when I was in high school. Each time, I refused, not seeing the need to dunk my head under water in front of a ton of people. Thank God, that He chose me to be His son even when I was running away from Him! Anyway, I sincerely gave me life to Christ when I was about halfway through my 10th grade year in high school. I was a new Chrisitian, and had just started my relationship with God. Over the past 2 and a half years, I've definitely grown in my faith and have come in leaps in bounds. Only by God's power have I been able to overcome the sin in my life that had plagued me for so long.

Now, I'm in college as a freshman. I really hate to say this, but I had forgotten about baptism completely. I mean, I knew what it was and everything, but I didn't view it as necessary. So that's when I came to your web site and it really got me thinking. I'm starting a new chapter in life. I've found an amazing group of Christians to fellowship with and grow with spiritually. What better way to signifiy this changing point in my life with a declaration that I'm leaving my old self behind and following Christ. The thing is, why should any of us object to baptism? In my opinion, it is like slapping God in the face. We shouldn't be arguing why we shouldn't get baptized, we should want to shout out to the whole world that we are in Christ now!

So, I came to the decision I wanted to be baptized. However, at college, in a new environment with only a few friends, I had no idea how or where to get baptized. I prayed to God and said, "Lord, I truly want to be baptized for real this time. Getting baptized before would have been a lie. Just show me who to talk to about this." Almost instantly, I had an answer to my prayer. I got in contact with one of the guys in my new Christian fellowship group. For some reason, even though we had only met a couple weeks ago, I still felt comfortable talking to this brother in Christ. I let him know that I didn't want to wait any more. I didn't want to procrastinate. I wanted to be baptized as soon as possible. The amazing thing is the day we talked to an older member in the church in the morning, I got baptized that same night. Things just fell into place. So, I actually just got baptized tonight! I wanted to thank you for planting that seed in my mind with all the topics on the web site that you answered. God's doing great things, and I can't wait to see what He's got lined up next.

Answer:

There is little I can say. You made the efforts placed in this web site worth the while. I'm thrilled that there is a new brother in Christ in the world and, like Peter, I pray that you continue to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (II Peter 3:18).

I hope the web site continues to be of use to you as you study and if I can be of further service, just write.