2
Corinthians 5:7-For we walk by faith, not by sight: ( The picture above is of
my son Dakotah Being baptized)
The past
few weeks I have been pondering over baptism and what does it mean for me .
Personally, I have had two water baptisms.
As a born
and raised JW, that is the ultimate goal of Jehovahs Witnesses and as growing up in the religion , you
always know that you are STRONGLY encouraged to do so. Especially, if you are a
child of an elder, there is no question, you will be baptized sooner or later
and actually sooner is the best . I was baptized in the Spring of 1984 , I was
14 years old.
To give
you some insight on how that Jehovahs Witnesses are programmed to be baptize ,
I will explain. In the latter months of my 13th
year of life, my parents started inquiring “Karen I think you are and should be
giving thought to baptism” I dreaded hearing that brought up . I knew better
than to say “No , I don’t think so “ So , I did what every good example of a
teen JW does , agree . My father who was an elder ( elders are like pastors
) went to the other elders and told them
that I was ready to be baptized.
Now, to
be baptized as a JW, its just not asking to be baptized as a symbol of your
faith , there is an algorithm that they follow from the Headquarters in New
York. Once you make it known you are ready to be baptized over the course of a
few months , two to three elders will meet with you personally to go over a
little over 100 questions that is in a JW book . These questions are broken up
into different categories . The questions are geared toward you knowing and
being able to answer the foundations of what JW’s believe. Some of those
questions are really hard to answer and being 14 , I remember being so nervous
, I had no clue what the answer meant but I just memorized them and gave the
answer. After being given the thumbs up that I passed the questions, the next
thing would be the actual baptism.
Jehovah
Witnesses, do not USUALLY baptize in
lakes , ponds , creeks or have a baptismal in their Kingdom Halls. Baptism is
usually done 1-3 times per year and these are at what they call assemblies,
special day assembly or conventions. These are in the present of thousands of
other JW’s.
( picture
above is what an average assembly , convention is for a Jehovah Witness,
thousands of people)
When I was 14 , my baptism on that Saturday was to be held
in Johnson City Tn at the Freedom Hall Convention Center in front of
approximately 3 thousand fellow Jehovah Witnesses from the surrounding area. I
remember getting ready that morning at 5 am , with my new dress that I had
gotten , I was not excited about the baptism, I can remember thinking I know
this means a lot to my parents and it would make them happy. When we arrived at
the Convention Center , usually the first three to five rows in front of the
stage are blocked off for the baptismal candidates. Around 10:45 that morning ,
the Elder gave the talk ( sermon) about baptism it lasted about an hour. I cant
remember anything about what he said , I was more nervous about having to be in
a bathing suit in front of all these people, I kept thinking , I hope I don’t
look fat ( although I was tooth pick) and I was thinking “Its going to take
forever for my hair to dry Im not going to have much time to go and talk to my
friends when Im done . So the moment arrived :at the end of the talk all
baptismal candidates are asked to stand . When we stood , we are asked two
questions and to this day , these are the questions you are asked and you must
answer in the affirmative YES to the questions: These are the questions and a
picture below showing you . The Elder asked :
“Therefore now with your mouth make
a public declaration of your faith by answering these two questions that I
shall ask you, and let your answers be hearable, that all those about you may
be witnesses to the declaration that you solemnly make:
The first question is: On the basis
of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated
yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
The second is: Do you understand
that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in
association with God’s spirit-directed organization? Having answered yes to
these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to undergo Christian
baptism.”
Then, all
150 of us walked in a single file line to the swimming pool in the convention
center and changed into our swimming attire . While thousands of our fellow
JW’s friends gathered around the pool area to watch our immersion.
Iwas
so nervous and was about to throw up , but I did not slip and fall, I wore a
Tshirt over my bathing suit not to expose my body and when it was over I was
never more happier . It did take me over half an hour to dry my hair and so I
only had a few minutes to talk to my friends prior to the evening service
starting . I had no idea that my baptism as a JW would end up costing me
everything I ever knew. Look at that 2nd
question again, I was making a pledge to
an organization . I wasn’t old enough to drive and legally wasn’t responsible
to drive, I wasn’t legally old enough to buy alcohol or sign permission slips
to go on a field trip at school, but I was suppose to be old enough and mature
enough to understand that making this pledge would mean that if I ever left , I
would be shunned .
Here is a
video of a JW baptism at a convention in 2012, these are the same questions I
had to answer: Its a short video and I encourage you to watch
Now.. did you also hear? According to the Jehovah's Witnesses , I was now an ordained Minister.. who knew.
Moving
forward to 1998 , when I underwent my conviction . I remember so vividly being
and working in labor and delivery where God used my friend and colleague Janice
Messer to help water the seeds that the Lord had planted in my heart so many
years ago . The first thing he used , was Janice’s lifestyle. She and her
husband Randy had been married for years and had two teens at the time. Randy
would come and see and visit Janice at the hospital and everytime he would come
they were so so happy. I just couldn’t understand that . How is it that I was
born and raised a JW who’s motto is “They are the happiest people on earth “
why is it that Im not happy, why is it that I have had not one but two failed
marriages to Jehovahs Witness men and they failed. But here stood before me ,
what the Jehovah Witnesses would call Janice and Randy ( worldy people ) and
they are so happy? I remember asking Janice that and she simply told me that
they went to church and serve Christ together. That was the beginning of my
several month conviction .
After
being saved, I wanted to be baptized . This time my baptism was so different. I
remember going to church that morning being so excited not embarrassed. The
service that morning was so powerful , the joy in our hearts as we sang and
prayed. After church we went down to Cherokee Lake where I was dunked under and
this time , I felt something , I felt NEW. I felt proud .
Three
Years ago I was able to witness one of my sons , make known his salvation and
be baptized , once again , seeing and believing what the truth and the feel of
being baptized really means.
I have
learned that walking with Christ and believing isn’t based on Sight it is based
on Faith. Faith was given to me as a Free gift from Jesus when he saved me As believers, we grow faith! We start out with the seed
of the Word. We plant it, cultivate it, guard it against the pests and elements
that try to destroy it. If we’ll do those things our faith will grow greater
all the time. In other words, if you have just a little bit of faith, use it
like a seed. Plant it in a situation with the words of your mouth. Then keep
believing and that faith will grow and work in that ground until it becomes
great enough to get the job .
done -
