“What does God’s Word say about conduct during a baptismal service?”

April 2020 – Grace & Truth Magazine

QUESTION: What does God’s Word say about conduct during a baptismal service – whether on the part of the one being baptized or on the part of those watching the baptism?

ANSWER:God’s Word says nothing directly about our conduct during a baptismal service. In fact, it says nothing about a baptismal service as such. Most, if not all, of the Christian baptisms Scripture tells us about were held out of doors, not in buildings. A baptism ordinarily led to the beginning of a church in that area. Churches are made up of people, not of bricks; and baptism centers on Christ – identification with Christ, the holy Son of God.

In one sense a baptism has some similarities to a funeral. The person being baptized is, in figure, taking his place with Christ in death. In being put under the water he is confessing that he deserved to die, but thankfully Christ has died for him. His “old man,” he says, is crucified with Christ. Thus far, in a sense, we have a funeral – a solemn occasion! Being brought up out of the water signifies being resurrected with Christ to live to God, walking in newness of life. While this is a joyful confession, the new life it symbolizes will not be an easy thing day by day, for the nature of the “old man” is still present and will, as much as he can, resist living for God in newness of life.

A baptismal service is thus a very solemn occasion while also being a very joyful celebration. As far as conduct is concerned, while family and friends welcome the occasion and would certainly want to encourage the one being baptized, it is well to keep in mind that holiness is always appropriate in the things of God. It is certainly not wrong to commemorate the occasion by taking a picture, but this should be done in a way that would not detract from the solemnity of this happy occasion.

Scripture does not present being baptized as gaining a victory or winning a prize. Clapping or cheering or any other noisy celebration is inappropriate at such a time. A baptismal service is a good time to present the gospel, so that any unsaved person present is once again confronted with God’s claims and demands and His tremendous offer of full and free salvation. It is often needful too to briefly explain from God’s Word what baptism is, and what it is not, for many churches teach and many people have an entirely erroneous conception of what baptism is.

Answered by Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.