Post by elionberger on Sept 14, 2012 7:38:57 GMT 2
Hello one and all . . . I have a very serious question. I have been praying about and it and I trust God will reveal the answer to me in his own time. I feel compelled to ask your opinions on this matter as I'm sure it will help me to come closer to God's will. God is a great teacher and doesn't just "give" us the answers but makes us "learn" the answer.
So, with out much further ado, my question is about baptism. I was baptised as an infant by a Lutheran pastor in El Paso, Texas at my parents house. The story I have been told is that the pastor used the water from the sink and using his hand, blessed me three times with the water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. At this same time, my Dad was baptised for the first time in his life.
This has always been very important to me. My Dad and I have been very close with our faith and, at times, we have even fought over our opinions about the Faith. Just recently, I told him about my conversion to Orthodoxy and he was very interested in learning more about Orthodoxy. As of now, he attends a "non-denominational" church in America called the "Restoration" Church which claims to be worshipping "as the apostle did". Anyways, he was very intrigued about what I had to say about Orthodoxy and he wants to learn more. He may even go to the Greek Orthodox Church that is near his (our) house in Colorado. God Willing . . . Please keep him and my Mother in your prayers as they continue their search for the "true Christianity".
Back to my question . . . My spiritual father, Father Daniel Na, here in Korea, has told me that I will not need to re-baptised. I will only need to be chrismated. Also, His Eminence Met. Ambrosios of Korea says the same. I told them I as baptised in the Lutheran church in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Something, though, keeps haunting me and pops up in my thoughts during prayers, liturgy, and generally throughout my days. Do I really need to baptised, formally in to the Orthodox church? I am so serious about this that I can feel the thirst inside me for it . . . I want to make sure on all levels that I do everything right and I do have faith in God that the Spirit will lead me in the right direction and reveal what God wants for me. He always has . . .
Like I said before, God wants me "learn" this answer so I go to my baptism/chrismation fully understanding what it means physically and spiritually on all levels. What are your opinions on this . . and please, pray before you type out your response . . as I'm sure you all do.
I continue to keep you all in my prayers . . . God Bless all of you,
+In Christ
-Erik
So, with out much further ado, my question is about baptism. I was baptised as an infant by a Lutheran pastor in El Paso, Texas at my parents house. The story I have been told is that the pastor used the water from the sink and using his hand, blessed me three times with the water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. At this same time, my Dad was baptised for the first time in his life.
This has always been very important to me. My Dad and I have been very close with our faith and, at times, we have even fought over our opinions about the Faith. Just recently, I told him about my conversion to Orthodoxy and he was very interested in learning more about Orthodoxy. As of now, he attends a "non-denominational" church in America called the "Restoration" Church which claims to be worshipping "as the apostle did". Anyways, he was very intrigued about what I had to say about Orthodoxy and he wants to learn more. He may even go to the Greek Orthodox Church that is near his (our) house in Colorado. God Willing . . . Please keep him and my Mother in your prayers as they continue their search for the "true Christianity".
Back to my question . . . My spiritual father, Father Daniel Na, here in Korea, has told me that I will not need to re-baptised. I will only need to be chrismated. Also, His Eminence Met. Ambrosios of Korea says the same. I told them I as baptised in the Lutheran church in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Something, though, keeps haunting me and pops up in my thoughts during prayers, liturgy, and generally throughout my days. Do I really need to baptised, formally in to the Orthodox church? I am so serious about this that I can feel the thirst inside me for it . . . I want to make sure on all levels that I do everything right and I do have faith in God that the Spirit will lead me in the right direction and reveal what God wants for me. He always has . . .
Like I said before, God wants me "learn" this answer so I go to my baptism/chrismation fully understanding what it means physically and spiritually on all levels. What are your opinions on this . . and please, pray before you type out your response . . as I'm sure you all do.
I continue to keep you all in my prayers . . . God Bless all of you,
+In Christ
-Erik
