Indoor vs. outdoor baptismals

[Heath N. Basher]

You know it's starting to get a little old standing out in the freezing river baptizing the unsaved; it's not like we're in the sunny middle east anymore. So, I'm shopping for some tips on the benefits of moving the operation indoors, plus these new models combine fire and water. Any advice?

Brrr! and when did you bathe last boy?

John answered, saying unto [them] all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable. (Luke 3:16-17)

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This outdoor model sure looks nice:



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Or, maybe I should move it indoors:

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

[Ezekiel Bathfire]

Re: Indoor vs. outdoor baptismals

Let us look at the Old Testament:

Jer:17:13: O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

And the New:
Joh:7:38: He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

We are looking here at “Living Water”, not still stuff in a pool. Water was important in Biblical terms. Stagnant pools were worst than useless, flowing waters were clean and healthy. I can’t see anyone being Saved (except in extremis) in a swamp.

And where was Our Savior Baptized? M't:3:13: Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. The River Jordan.

The Pool at Bethesda and the pool of Siloam (John 5 and 9) make a point – pools are perhaps useful for curing people rather than baptizing them.

A Jacuzzi is a paradox – a pool of running water. So as long as it is not merely circulating water, I’d say it was OK.