How Does a Baptism Work?

A Christian Initiation Ceremony

Baptism is the ceremony through which an individual becomes publicly affiliated with the Christian religion. While there are quite a few versions of baptism among the various Christian sects and denominations, all of them include a statement of faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ followed by the application of or immersion in water. Some Christian sects require that an ordained member of the clergy perform baptisms, while others allow any Christian to officiate.

Infant Baptism

Babies are baptised in many denominations, including Roman Catholic, Anglican, Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian and Methodist. Many of these Christians use the words "baptism" and "christening" as synonyms. At the front of these churches is a baptismal font, an ornate bowl on top of a stand, that is filled with water when a baptism is held. The parents and their chosen godparents present the baby at the altar. The member of the clergy gives a charge to the parents, the godparents, and the congregation about their responsibility to raise the child to know and adhere to the Christian faith and God. Then the member of the clergy cups water in his hand and sprinkles it over the child's head. This is followed by prayers and a special benediction. The baby sometimes wears a baptismal gown that has been passed down in the family, and usually a party with gifts follows the ceremony on the same day.

Adult Baptism

Members of Eastern Orthodox, Baptist, Pentecostal and other Christian denominations believe that unless the person who is being baptized has a personal, expressed belief in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, baptism is invalid. They do not practice infant baptism, nor do they believe that just sprinkling water over a person's head is sufficient. They practice baptism by immersion. Their churches may have a baptistry installed where the congregation can witness baptisms, or they may hold baptisms in a lake, swimming pool, river or ocean. They believe that this follows the model described in the New Testament where John the Baptist immersed Jesus in the Jordan River at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. At these baptismal ceremonies, the person who is being baptised usually makes a public statement, or confession, of his Christian faith. Then the person who is performing the baptism (these groups may restrict the role to a member of the clergy or they may be more inclusive) pushes him all the way under the water and then helps him surface again. The believer has affiliated with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ through baptism and is considered to have begun a new life. Throughout Christian history the issue of baptism has been divisive among Christians. It is potentially very dangerous to be baptised in cultures that prohibit converting to a new religion because it is such a public statement of faith.