To expand on the interpretation of all the church procedures, let’s dive just a little deeper into baptism. Every once in a while, we hold this joyous ceremony called baptism, which whether we feel it or not, is a crucial and touching moment where a person’s life, future, and destiny transform. The baggage, the sinful ways, the old wounds, the bondage, and the second death are forever severed, allowing that person to spend the rest of his or her life realizing the new freedom and growing into the new potential as the child of God. But enough preaching to the choir.
As far as interpretation goes, it’s helpful to know in advance the standardized questions that the pastor typically asks the baptized. They usually go like this:
Question 1: “Do you believe that Jesus died for your sins on the cross and was resurrected after three days?”
Question 2: “Are you willing to accept Jesus as the Lord of your life and follow Him all your life?”
Question 3: “Not only so, are you willing to be equipped and share the gospel to the people around you?”
The participants (hopefully) will say yes to these questions, after which the Pastor will conduct the ceremony by declaring:
“As [name] has testified before God and everyone, I will baptize [him/her/them] in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, so that you may die, be buried, and be resurrected with the Lord.”
Afterward, the Pastor will say a prayer that will be tailored to the baptized, for which we proceed as usual.