Baptizo

Baptizo is a Greek word that is transliterated into baptize and means "immerse." It comes from the Greek word bapto, which means to dip. Baptisma is a Greek word that is transliterated into our word baptism; it means "immersion." Baptizien is another Greek word that is used in the New Testament texts, and it is transliterated into baptizing, which means "immersing." Thus baptism is a plunging or dunking of the subject beneath the waters.

And boy was I dunked, plunged,and immersed under water yesterday......I was BAPTIZED!!!! I'm a little embarrassed that I waited so long to do this since I have considered my self a follower of Christ for some time now. I guess at first I thought since I was baptized as a baby that there was no need to do it again. Then my pastor delivered a sermon that was about baptizing and that to be considered baptized by biblical standards that meant a submersion in water. Well my little baby head was just sprinkled with water and so I really felt a calling to be baptized again as an adult. Through a choice of my own. I am not saying that the baptism as a baby did not count, I am just saying I felt the need in my heart to have it done as the bible says. Well.......here enters fear, embarrassment, vanity. The voice of the enemy if you ask me. Oh my goodness this means I will actually have to be put under the water and that means it will mess up my hair and that means my make up will run all over my face and that will mean people will be watching. Eh.....never mind! The sprinkling of water over my little head will just have to do.

So I put it off. La di da de da......... Fast forward to another sermon my pastor preached on baptism. I am not sure how much time passed in between but it was quite some time. This time he talked about how Jesus was baptized and that he was the only person to ever live that never sinned, yet he was baptized. And he commanded people as followers of him to do the same. He talked about how as Christ followers being baptized is a sign to all that we have dedicated our life to following him. It was an outward sign to all that we are Christians. Just as a wedding ring is a sign to all that you are married. He also talked about those that choose not to do it for vain reasons or for those that say, Oh it's not important. He said.....what will you say before GOD when he asks why you were not baptized? Oh, I didn't want to get my hair wet or Oh because I was embarrassed. Okay, okay , okay. I get it now. I then knew I would face my fear of being embarrassed because GOD calls us to do this. So I did! I was quite nervous and A LOT embarrassed but I did it. With people watching and everything but I am so glad that I did.