Adventist baptismal vow

The Seventh-day Adventist baptismal vow is a list of 13 belief statements which a person joining the Seventh-day Adventist Church is expected to agree to. In Adventist understanding baptism, which is a public display of faith in Christ, is associated with officially joining the Adventist church, which is a part of the community of believers in Christ. The vow is explained in the church manual.cite web |title=Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual |publisher=Seventh-day Adventist Church |url= http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/church_manual/Seventh-day-Adventist-Church-Manual-17th-edition.pdf |accessdate=2006-09-22 (pages 32–35 approximately)] The number increased over time. In 2005 an alternate vow consisting of three statements was approved at the General Conference Session, and the baptizing pastor now has a choice of which set to use.cite press release |publisher=Adventist News Network |date=2005-07-08 |accessdate=2006-09-22 |title=Delegates Debate Baptismal Vows |url=http://news.adventist.org/data/2005/06/1120840514/index.html.en] They complement the 28 Fundamentals.

Standard vow

The 13 baptismal vows are:

:"1. Do you believe in God the Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit?:2. Do you accept the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of men, and believe that through faith in His shed blood men are saved from sin and its penalty?:3. Renouncing the world and its sinful ways, have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, and do you believe that God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven your sins and given you a new heart?:4: Do you accept by faith the righteousness of Christ, recognizing Him as your Intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary, and do you claim His promise to strengthen you by His indwelling Spirit, so that you may receive power to do His will?:5. Do you believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, and that it constitutes the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian?:6. Do you accept the Ten Commandments as still binding upon Christians; and is it your purpose, by the power of the indwelling Christ, to keep this law, including the fourth commandment, which requires the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord?:7. Is the soon coming of Jesus the blessed hope in your heart, and are you determined to be personally ready to meet the Lord, and to do all in your power to witness to His loving salvation, and by life and word to help others to be ready for His glorious appearing?:8. Do you accept the Biblical teaching of spiritual gifts, and do you believe that the gift of prophecy in the remnant church is one of the identifying marks of that church? :9. Do you believe in church organization, and is it your purpose to support the church by your tithes and offerings, your personal effort, and influence? :10. Do you believe that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that you are to honor God by caring for your body, avoiding the use of that which is harmful, abstaining from all unclean foods, from the use, manufacture, or sale of alcoholic beverages, the use, manufacture, or sale of tobacco in any of its forms for human consumption, and from the misuse of, or trafficking in, narcotics or other drugs?:11. Knowing and understanding the fundamental Bible principles as taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is it your purpose, by the grace of God, to order your life in harmony with these principles?:12. Do you accept the New Testament teaching of baptism by immersion, and do you desire to be so baptized as a public expression of your faith in Christ and in the forgiveness of your sins? :13. Do you believe that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the remnant church of Bible prophecy, and that people of every nation, race, and language are invited and accepted into its fellowship? Do you desire membership in this local congregation of the world church?"

After baptism, a certificate is given to the new member which states each point as an "affirmation" rather than in "question" form.

Alternative vow

An alternative baptismal vow was introduced in 2005. It originated with the South Pacific Division branch of the Biblical Research Committee. [Brown, Nathan, " [http://link.adventistconnect.org/record/2005/rec33-05_08_27.pdf#page=3 SPD backs alternative baptismal vow] ". "Record" 110:33 (August 27, 2005), p3] It consists of the following three affirmations:

":1. Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, and do you desire to live your life in a saving relationship with Him?:2. Do you accept the teachings of the Bible as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and do you pledge by God’s grace to live your life in harmony with these teachings?:3. Do you desire to be baptized as a public expression of your belief in Jesus Christ, to be accepted into the fellowship of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and to support the church and its mission as a faithful steward by your personal influence, tithes and offerings, and a life of service?"

A caution was expressed by Dr. Brian Bull on theological grounds, "who worried that placing the wording 'as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs' led to the danger of the church turning the fundamentals into a creed." Other delegates expressed concerns that the alternative vow is not detailed enough, but it was passed because of its optional nature - the choice of which vow to use is at the discretion of the pastor preparing the baptismal candidate.

See also

* 28 Fundamentals, the fundamental beliefs of the Adventist church
* Seventh-day Adventist Church
* Adult/Believer's baptism
* Creed
* Ecclesiology, the study of church community

References

* Blake, Chris, "Adding to the baptismal vows". "Record" 2000, v105 Jul 22 p12
* Willey, Wayne. " [http://spectrummagazine.org/files/archive/archive11-15/13-4willey.pdf The baptismal vow as the criterion of Adventist faith] ". "Spectrum" 13:4 (1983), p4–7
* Case, Stephen W. "What am I committing to? Simplified baptismal vows". "Insight" 1998, v29, Oct 24, p9
* Jones, Mike. [Wedding and baptismal vows] . "Gleaner" (North Pacific Union) 1977, v72 Sep 5 p15–16
* Wood, Miriam Mason, "What if I break a baptismal vow?" "Adventist Review" 1987, v164, n39, Sep 24, p16
* Jorgensen, Alfred S, "Is the baptismal vow in need of revision?" "Australasian Record" 1978, v83, Jan 30, p11

External links

* [http://jewel.andrews.edu:82/search/dBaptism+and+Church+Membership Search for "Baptism and Church Membership"] in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI)