 | The Reverend Amy Baumgartner is the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, 525 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS. Amy was ordained at First Presbyterian Church of Wichita, Kansas in June 2008. She earned a Masters of Divinity from Denver Seminary. Before attending seminary, Amy graduated from Ball State University with a degree in Landscape Architecture and worked several years for an architectural firm in Indianapolis, Indiana. You may contact Rev. Baumgartner by email AssociatePastor@firstpresbywichita.org, or by phone at (316) 263-0248. |
Religion
2013-02-01 09:51:04
Questions on baptism
Q-Must a person be baptized in order to be saved? If a person who is already baptized in a Christian church, changes to another church, is it necessary for him/her to be re-baptized? If one is not sure whether she/he was baptized, should she/he be baptized again?
A-Different streams ofChristianity approach baptism with slight variations. The following articulates a Reformed Christian perspective. We believe that baptism is a sacrament that unites us with Jesus Christ and makes us members of God’s family. At baptism, one receives the promise of God’s love and this promise helps those baptized to find new life with God and the church. We believe that baptism only needs to be done once; however, it is a source of strength throughout one’s life, reminding us of God’s love.
The sacrament of baptism reminds us that Jesus paid for our sins with his life that people may live according to God’s will. At baptism, the Holy Spirit marks us as God’s own and helps us to accept God’s forgiveness through repentance. We are regularly encouraged to remember our baptism that we might follow God more fully.
Unlike some streams of Christianity, Reformed Christians do not believe that one must be baptized in order to be saved. Baptism is on outward sign of an internal change. While some denominations focus on the individual’s choice to be baptized, the reformed tradition highlights God’s role in calling people. Baptism acknowledges that God is at work in our lives even before we realize. Thus, parents are encouraged to bring their children for baptism on the basis of their own faith, with the hope that the child will grow in faith, love and service to God.
No matter when or where you were baptized, baptism celebrates the start of new life with Jesus Christ. And by being baptized, you have taken a step on a life-changing journey that began in the mind of God even before you were born.
