I have performed many baptisms in my ministry as a pastor, but never one like this:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q31nA6LCMxE[/video]
I have performed many baptisms in my ministry as a pastor, but never one like this:
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q31nA6LCMxE[/video]
Okay maybe it was an inappropriate thing to do, but come on the boy is a kid. Most kids do stupid things and only realise the significance when they get older, I know I sure have done that.
Maybe his parents should have given him a talking to afterwards, but come on, to make such a big deal about it makes me realise how people forget what it was like to be a child. Im sure every one of us has done something as stupid as that in our youth, or have we become too old and crotchety to remember…
Nice to see someone excited about following Jesus!
OK, all of you are off the mark. I happen to know the real story because this pastor is a family member. This young boy was very shy. He and his brother (the one baptized before him) both wanted to get baptized the same day. The boy was a little nervous beforehand, so the pastor tried to loosen him up by saying, “Hey, I double-dog-dare you to do a cannonball into the baptistry”, never thinking he would actually do it. The boy DID do it, and the pastor was delighted in the fact that he was able to get him past his shyness. I agree that the Lord does have a sense of humor, and I know this pastor does too, and it is a good thing!! It in no way takes away from the beauty of the baptism, or the dedication of this young man’s decision.
I confess! I laughed! and then I got thinking about how I would have reacted in that situation. The Pastor made the most of that situation. Baptism is a witness to those present and a reminder to the person being baptized of what happens when a person puts their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior. They die to sin, to the old way of life and are raised to new life in Christ. The baptism of water doesn’t save us, Jesus does that.
This was a great opportunity for everyone in that church to be a witness. The pastor was a witness to God’s love, grace, mercy and sense of humor but he also set the tone for future thrill seekers. If he would have berated the boy, or said something about the parents or just totally lost it just think some would say he should have others would say, where’s he’s sense of humor, others would use to confirm their reason for not going to church. Satan used this to cause people to say christians are all wet, but God turned it around to say I think the kid made a splash.
When growing up my dad was the pastor and in one service his peg tooth came out. No one knew it but him but he could hear himself whistling so before long he asked everyone to bow their heads to pray while the deacons came up to help him find his tooth. We all laughed and he never found the tooth but he preached anyway. Later, a man who was visiting said that impressed him. He told dad had he not preached he would not have come back but because dad went on he wanted to be part of that church. Who knows who was in the crowd that day and what impression they left with but it could make a big splash in their lives.