What Hinders Baptism?

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea. 

                                                                                     (Acts 8:35-40 KJV)

I remember a very awesome neighbor of a congregation I served years ago. He has long since been gone from this world. 

As I was sitting in my office in this very remote church building, I heard a 4-wheel ATV pull into the parking lot. I went out to greet this man whom I had never met as he had never attended worship there and had recently moved into the neighborhood. He said he wanted to reaffirm his baptism and become a member of that congregation. By listening to him, I found out that a couple of our council members had been evangelizing in the local tavern and he was anxious to commit to serving God as a member of our congregation.

I asked him when he wanted to do this. He said this Sunday. I smiled and let him know that it wouldn't happen that fast. I had to get council approval. Then there was the service and bulletin to be prepared with the secretary.  

What about this eunuch? Why didn't he have to wait to be baptized? Where were all the constitutional administrative rules and regulations then?

There were none. Nothing hindered the eunuch's baptism. Philip shared the Good News of Jesus the Christ. The eunuch professed his faith in Jesus the Christ and he was baptized. That was it!

It only took a couple of weeks to jump through the hoops before he reaffirmed his faith in the presence of the congregation. He did indeed faithfully serve the congregation and community until his death as he said he would.

For someone to believe and to receive the Sacrament of Baptism or affirm their faith if they were baptized as a youngster not fully realizing what it meant to be a member of the Body of Christ they must hear the Good News of Jesus. This Good News comes not just from the pastors lips; but, from the lips of every believing member of the Body of Christ. It is shared every where we go. On the side of the road as Philip did and even in taverns as my council members did.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

                                                                                (Matt 28:18-20 KJV)

God's Peace - Pr. J.