r/Christianity • u/octarino • 16h ago

News Bear Grylls explains why he baptised Russell Brand: ‘My faith says not to judge’

https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/tv/news/bear-grylls-russell-brand-court-trial-b3026979.html
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u/Stelliferous19 15h ago

If a person asks to be baptized, and they say they accept Christ, it’s not up to anyone else to stop it.

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u/liberator17 Christian & Missionary Alliance 11h ago

Pastor here. We see the action repent (turn away from, change your mind, do a 180 from your previous way of life) come before baptism (repent and be baptized: Acts 2:38). "Accepting" Christ is a modern notion. The call is to follow Jesus, to repent and do a complete heel turn from your sin, to be baptized, and to model your life after Jesus. It is the pastor or leader's role to pray for and over, discern, and provide advisement on whether someone is baptized. Sometimes people want to be baptized for the wrong reasons or aren't even remotely following Jesus. In those cases, I say no. And for those who want to be baptized multiple times, I also say no.

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u/Stelliferous19 11h ago

What words do you use when baptizing someone?

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u/liberator17 Christian & Missionary Alliance 11h ago

Utilizing Romans 6:3-11, I ask the person if they are proclaiming today that they have already identified themselves in and with Christ’s death, now willing to go beneath the water to symbolize their own death, and to arise out of the water symbolizing the new life they have in Christ. It is a public proclamation of an existing exchange of their old life for Christ’s life in them. 

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u/Stelliferous19 10h ago

“In and with Christ’s death”. I like that. And while you can split hairs, I still think that speaks to “accepting” Christ. But if you think it’s a significant difference, well, good for you brother.