SUBJECT: Baptism

QUESTION: Why does the Intercontinental Church of God counsel individuals prior to baptism?  It the church doing this as a means of picking and choosing whom they want in their congregation?

ANSWER:

The consulting is not about picking or choosing per se.  It is for the benefit of the person getting baptized.  They need to understand that this is one of the most important decisions they will never make.  In the Bible, in 1 Corinthians 11 we see where Jesus institutes the symbols of the bread and the wine for Passover.  This is an admonition for those in the Salvation Process or in the Calling Process.  If you currently desire baptism, it is part of the Calling Process.  Notice what Jesus says...

1 Corinthians 11:25-30
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Note:  He is giving strong admonition that individuals examine themselves to see whether they be in the faith.  He gives the warning that if they do not they could be bringing damnation to themselves not discerning the Lord's body...that is, having an understanding that the bread represents the body of Jesus which was beaten so that we might be healed---physically and ultimately, spiritually.

They are examining themselves to see if they understand that the wine is the blood of Christ which was shed for our sins.

This is very serious stuff.

Now one coming to be baptized does not yet have the Holy Spirit in them, by definition.  The Spirit of God is only drawing them to the repentance, baptism and the laying on of hands to receive that Spirit.  Therefore it is the duty of the minister to briefly sit down with the person to remind them of the monumental importance of what they are about to do...."to count the cost", as the Bible says.

The primary duty of the minister [put into the church by God] is consultation in one form or another.  This includes personal consultation, sermons, Bible studies and the like.  They are commanded of God to feed the sheep [including themselves---also sheep], in the ways of the Word of God.

Now, historically the church understands that not all who come forth to be baptized are actually being called by God.  These are false conversions and whereas these individuals are not in any kind of spiritual trouble, they can be at least a minor problem for the church, in that they will not understand spiritual things.  See 1 Corinthians 2:14 for proof of this.  One needs the Holy Spirit to understand spiritual things.

God is not the author of confusion:

1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Therefore it behooves the church and the ministry to discuss with the person seeking baptism what it is he or she is about to do.  For example, we once encountered a person who wanted to be baptized so he could avoid all the end time war, famine, pestilence and death.  No other reason.  He wanted baptism to somehow save his skin...his physical life.  This is not what baptism is about.  Had we not discussed this with the person, both he and the church would be making a huge mistake.

Luke 17:33
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

GENERAL VERSES ON COUNSELING:

Proverbs 11:14
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety.

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

Proverbs 15:22
Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellers they are established.

Proverbs 19:20-21
20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

 

Proverbs 20:18
Every purpose is established by counsel:

A PRIMARY PORTION OF SCRIPTURE REGARDING COUNSEL BEFORE BAPTISM

Luke 14:26-35
26 If any man come to me, and hate not [love less] his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross [stake], and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

34 Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?

35 It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Note:  These scriptures ARE COUNSEL to the one seeking baptism.  Do you see what these scriptures are saying?  In baptism and entering the Salvation Process, you are giving up your life as you know it.  You now belong to Christ and He must have the foremost importance in your life.  You give up all decision making for the rest of your life...except to obey or not obey God, to stay in the Salvation Process or not.  James 4 says that you don't truly get to make the decision about what city you will live and what you will do for a living.  You now belong to God and your chief focus is now your relationship with God and working the elements of the Salvation Process http://www.intercontinentalcog.org/bibleclassspecificstudies5.php

The purpose of the counsel is not to necessarily judge you or keep you from being baptized.  After all, this is your decision and you stand alone in judgment before Almighty God.  The purpose of the counsel is to bring these things above to your mind.

I, personally had three counseling sessions before I was baptized.  Reason?  So I would have time to think about what it is I was doing.  It was for MY SAKE, not the church's.

If one is truly being called and enters the Salvation Process and falls from it, he or she gets the lake of fire.  There is no second opportunity for salvation.  Everyone who has ever lived will receive one and only one opportunity. http://www.icgchurches.org/Las_Vegas_NV/Ministers_Notebook/Notebook_44.shtml

Clearly you can see the need and the biblical direction to both minister and the person seeking baptism to have counsel.

The important thing to understand is that Godly Calling is a miracle and those truly being called WILL BE BAPTIZED.  Godly calling is not left to the mind or decision of the one seeking baptism.  God does this so that no person will have excuse in judgment.  God places the person in the Salvation Process and once there they must make the decision to stay or leave.  There is no such thing as God calling someone and them not answering.