The Power Of Spirituality

“The United Methodist Church is diverse in the way it offers the Sacramental Baptism; “Candidates or their parents have the choice of sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, and pastors and congregations should be prepared to honor the requests for baptism in any of these modes” (Committee 1992, p. 81). It is important for individuals to understand the meaning of each mode. Immersion symbolizes the burial and resurrection with Christ, and being born of a new water and the spirit. Pouring or sprinkling water on the head signifies pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Pastors should be able to share each mode with the candidates. The United Methodist

Ever since its inception, Christianity has been epitomised by a range of religious practices that explore the sacred beliefs that have been upheld and spread around the world. These practices thus continue to bear a significant influence over the lives of adherents and how they seek to express their faith in Christianity. One such religious practice is that of baptism which functions as a significant milestone in the life of any

My family and I got up, got ready, and drove less than a mile down Old Hickory Boulevard to Forest Hills Baptist Church, like we had always done. Except, that day I packed my swimming trunks. On August 5th of 2007, I was baptized by a minister at my church. I was eager to get started. With both of us cloaked in white, the minster and I stepped into the baptism “tub” during the worship service. Colorful rays of light were beaming through the stained glass windows, the water was warm, and my mother was standing beside of me for comfort and reassurance; I was at peace. Out of the opening, I could see the watchful eyes of the choir, worship leader, congregation, and my family; I was at peace. As part of tradition, I was getting ready to be immersed into the water; I was at peace. While in the water, an extraordinary sensation of purification swept through my body. I, for the first time in my eight years of life, had truly felt cleansed from head to toe. This feeling was a direct action of the Holy Spirit entering and presiding in my vulnerable self permanently.

The Pastor, explain to me you are now removing the old nature replacing it with the new nature in Christ. It was a very excited moment everyone that was present began to shout in loud voices with praises unto God. I was so excited as well and perhaps did not understand or completely aware of all that was happen. I did not have a mask on my face, but I had a scarf on my head, a handkerchief over my face as I was lower into the pool. Afterward we were instructed to attend spiritual discipline class I tried to attend as best I could but did end up not completing the process of the class, therefore the nutriment that I was to receive I didn?t receive it.

Summary The essay, Baptism written by Katherine Vaz, is a strictly reflective and autobiographical piece of work. Vaz focuses specifically on one of the seven sacraments acknowledged by the church, baptism. She explores the history and symbolism related this sacrament of initiation.

The importance of “baptism” scenes is very clear in a lot of literature. It symbolizes a washing away of the old, a new start. A good example of this is in the book “Fahrenheit 451” by Thomas C. Foster. This book is not only about burning, it is also about rebirth. Guy Montag is in the middle of running away from his rebellion, being hunted for reading books that he is supposed to be burning and killing a man. Montag reaches a river and jumps in to protect himself from being caught. He quickly changes his clothes so the mechanical dog’s do not find him and hides, floats, and waits in the water. As he comes to land on the other side of the river and we see him change as a person. He was stripped of his old life burning books and started a fresh

In “The River”, young Bevel’s arrogance in his newfound spirituality is the ultimate cause for his implied death. In most baptismal ceremonies, a holy man or woman must conduct the rites. People of the cloth are considered doing the work of God (or god, or gods) and, therefore, have the unique privilege of blessing laymen. Old Bevel, the preacher, satisfies this role in “The River”, asserting that, “If you ain’t come for Jesus, you ain’t come for me” (165). Young Bevel is fascinated with the baptism and is convinced that he “count[s] now” and that he “didn’t even count before” (168).

When they got to the altar their pastor asked for their family members, missionaries, deacons and other people who would like to join to come to the altar. He asked them to kneel on the altar while their church prayed for them. They nealed the whole time during their baptism, there knees started to burn on the carpet of the altar floor. Before they could get to their actual baptising there was a loud gasp throughout the church. They looked over and the mother of the church was passed

Often held as a rite of passage and entrance into the Christian church, baptism is much more than just symbolic ritual. Baptism was commanded by Jesus Christ in the Great Commission recounted in the book of Matthew. Even though we are simplistically called to be obedient by being baptized the Christian church has long debated the aspects of this ordinance. Denominations are divided on the basic meaning, types and modes of baptism even two thousand years after the founding of the Christian church. Just as the other ordinance, the Lord’s Supper, congregations find themselves at odd with tradition, biblical interpretation and even individual understanding. However, the simple message of this awe inspiring act can be explained out of the

The characteristic of little to no symbolism leads to the next foundational Quaker practice: spiritual baptism. Quakers believe that water baptism is a public way to express your decision to follow Christ and that the practice is not wrong, but also not necessary for one to be saved. Spiritual baptism derives from the Bible verse, “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire” (New International Version, Matt. 3.11). This verse was spoken by John the Baptist, a man who frequently baptized people in the Jordan River. He was describing to those listening that after the coming of Jesus, there would be a greater baptism than that which used water—a baptism of the Holy Spirit

 Standing in line for the baptism felt peculiar, from the vantage point of the soon to be baptized it looked similar to a group of children bobbing for apples in a communal line. As the probably now bacteria filled water encroached closer the main thought parading around my head was the triumph due to leaving boy scout camp for this, to become a born again Christian. Born again Christian, what an uncanny phrase I comprehended its meaning, but it still seemed a bit foreign, leading to the question of what it truly meant to be Christian. Before the train of thought could continue on its tracks I was dunked in

As Hugh was explaining the importance of baptism and what it truly is, I found myself reflecting on what I have been taught about baptism. Even though i feel that I was raised to see baptism similar to how Hugh believed it to be, there was this sense of true passion and understanding as to the real importance of baptism. That is just is not a time for you to be wash of your sins, but a time for you to realize that without baptism, salvation is almost impossible. That Jesus himself said, unless you are baptised in the the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven. I feel modern Christians have lost that true sense of what baptism is and I truly believe that this is something that needs to be readdressed in the Protestant

This work edited by Schreiner and Wright is a comprehensive study in the theology of baptism and an affirmation of the Baptist understanding of the Christian sacrament baptism. The primary assertions made in Believer’s Baptism is to argue and expound on the concept that “[baptism is] reserved for believers…in the lord Jesus Christ”. This idea is in direct opposition to the various approaches to baptism practiced by some within the Christian community. Specifically, the authors are addressing the problem of “evangelical pedobaptism…who believe that baptism brings children into the covenant community.”

In a contemporary Christian environment one of the most prominent practices to have a significant contribution to Christianity as a living religious tradition is Baptism. Baptism is of utmost importance for most Christian denominations. It has profound significance for the individual who is baptised and is also important for the Christian community as a whole. As a sacrament of initiation, Baptism calls its adherents to become missionary Disciples of Christ. It is through baptism that one’s faith journey begins and Christians are called to follow and live their lives in the light of Christ.

Spirituality and religion hold different values and truths depending on your personal beliefs. Being religious is a belief or practice that contains certain values one should follow. When looking deeper into religion you can find spirituality which is the part of religion that effects our spirit and soul, it is not tangible. “The Sacred within” is spirituality and pertains to God dwelling inside of our heart and soul. When looking at “the sacred within” there are certain senses that we can tap into so, we may obtain that sort of spirituality. Through solitude, silence, imagination, and nature, we can have a better sense of spirituality.