Water Baptism

What is it about the name of Jesus I wondered, that when mentioned with water baptism can cause families to divide and the closest of friends to go separate ways? One thing I had noticed about myself, especially after hearing the words of this renown pastor, was that I had gotten to the point where I was feeling off ended whenever someone would mention water baptism and Jesus’ name in the same sentence. It was

at that point that I decided I needed to talk to the Lord God Himself.  I looked forward to the next opportunity when it was just the Lord and I and I could openly question him about this issue. Something I had actually avoided previously because of the apprehension I had that he would actually answer or respond in a way I didn’t want him to.  However, I knew I needed a one-on-one with the Lord in an open conversation to settle this subject once and for all. I wanted an audience with the King.

God must have known my thoughts (of course He did) because out of nowhere the opportunity had come for this conversation to take place. It was July 6th, 1995 and the smoke and smell of fireworks celebrating our country’s 219th birthday had started to fade into another Fourth of July memory. The townhouse that we were living in was very quiet due to the fact that Tina and little Howard had fallen asleep early that evening. The dark sky was illuminated by the moon and stars off in the distance. There was such quietness that my very thoughts seemed to be audible as I meditated on the doctrine of water baptism in Jesus’ name which had consumed my very being. It was time to seek the Lord and get the resolution that I so desperately desired and needed.

I took full advantage of the isolation by bending my knees and bowing my head and began to speak to the Lord. “Father,” as I mustered up the courage to continue, “I come to you as humble as I know. I do know that you are God and that you are omniscience. I know that you always hear me when I pray. I believe this with all my heart. You know the stress that I have been under as it pertains to water baptism. Quite frankly, the stress doesn’t matter to me because I just want to be saved.  I told you that I would serve you all my life if you saved me. Father, I continued, you know my heart as well as my thoughts. You know the sincerity of my intentions to always obey you. I want to simply do what is biblically right. If I have ever needed to hear from you, I need to hear from you now. It can’t be your will that I would struggle over water baptism. I have read your Word and have heard the lesson and sermons by Bishop Boswell. I have studied much, yet, here I am before you with one simple question. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost or in the name of Jesus, which is the correct way to be baptized?” 

Once again the silence had returned as I awaited His response.  Not one single interruption occurred for what seemed to be hours. I just stayed there waiting for his response. I waited patiently for the God who answers prayers, who is a present help in times of trouble. I waited for Him to give me the answer to my dilemma. Tick, tock, tick tock, tick tock went the clock as I laid prostate before Him. It seemed as if he was just watching me in silence and would not reply. As time was escaping into eternity, I began to consider ending this discourse and joining Tina in the comfort of our bed. It was at the very moment I started to get up that I felt a strange need to stay right there. I remember saying, “Lord I really need you to answer me. I can’t go another day not knowing what I should do. Lord, what would you have me to do? In Jesus’ Name I pray amen.”

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