perfectionism struggle & baptismQ, no believers in family, insecure giving answers, desire to learn, journal encouragement ✨️
Q: I wanna get baptized.
How can I get past the feeling of needing to be perfect before getting baptized. My family arent Christian’s and most of them laugh at me for it. Sometimes I can’t always make it to church, and I always struggle with picking up my Bible and reading it...because I feel like I’m so far behind other kids my age and when they ask me my favorite verse or something - I don’t know, because I haven’t read it all and it just makes me sad. I feel like until I’m consistent with everything I’m not gonna feel good enough. But I also feel like if I do it, then I’m gonna be stronger when it comes to holding myself back from sin, having verses and recalling Scripture as something reminding me to stop whatever it is I’m doing that I shouldnt be.
Update: I sent in a form to get baptized!! Reply says someone will reach out to me, I think they'll explain baptism more to me, and then I think they'll schedule it. I’m so nervous.
A: Baptism counseling is typically done when someone comes to the church as a newly professing believer, or has got saved while in the church and the process is seeing the pastor to ensure they understand the Gospel. They likely have pre Baptism classes that go over the basics essentials of the Faith and ensure you actually understand the Gospel... before they'll baptized you. It isnt religious requirements in Scripture. The reason is about the pastors accountability to God, and protecting the flock he shepherds. He cant just willy nilly baptize anyone who claims to be saved, especially kids (& those under 25) but adults too, since they might be false converts and not saved [causing problems in the church]. We can't know for sure if theyre saved, but by watching them at church for fruit proof over time, before baptism, they can get a good sense indicating if the person likely is saved, and maybe get an idea during that baptism interview meet up. If the pastor isnt sure, he might delay baptism and have the church leadership watch you a bit more. Paul wasnt welcomed by the church until after careful examination. It wasnt instant. And it will be on case by case basis. This is how good churches carefully handle this.
Baptism is just a visual symbolic public testimony showing what has already happened. This explains more, and discusses the important duty of the church leadership regarding baptism. Some churches connect baptism to joining the church, [other churches add you to membership "if you are already a believer" after they've assessed that you likely are saved. The latter example would be for if you change churches, due to a job relocation].
No one is perfect but Jesus. We cant and shouldn't even try to pursue perfection, since we are already imperfect as sinners. Trying to 😬 is a mindset of self righteousness and pride. Because we are sinners, that's why Jesus came...to redeem and restore us to God. God perfects us in Christ when we obey the Gospel. It's His work that saves us. His sacrifice covers us and so God sees us as perfect, since Jesux traded places with us on the Cross. (See NeedGod.com video to ensure you understand and embraced the Gospel).
Also, everyone comes to Christ at different ages. So theres no such thing as "kids my age" in this scenario, as if youre falling behind. I know folk 90 and 102 who got saved. Everyone is on a different discipleship & growth path in God's timing. That's good, cuz if only young (pre college) folk get saved, everyone else missed the opportunity. That's not how God nor salvation work. We see that clearly in reading the Gospels, even in OT. Ninevah a nation with folk at every age, all turned to God in one day. You are on your own journey following Jesus (at God's right timing) and growing in the Faith. Some get raised in Christian homes, others come to Christ after leaving home. It is why we share the Gospel with everyone, since we dont know who will be saved. We just faithfully proclaimed the Gospel of Christ; the amazing message of love, forgiveness and fellowship with God.
So don't be anxious over things that shouldn't be of concern. Focus on yourself getting discipleship at church, after salvation. The new believers/discipleship class explain more of Scripture basic truths for new believers, to help you get off to a good start. *Below can help too esp since your family aren't Christian.
Also, after discipleship class... join Sunday school/Bible studies (at the church) to grow in the knowledge of Scripture and by sermons at your Bible church, and reading it yourself daily too as a life time pursuit. (*Doing so helps you stay within "biblical orthodoxy" and matures you in the Faith to become more like Christ). 😊✨️✝️
As far as questions believers at church ask you such as your favorite verse, keep in mind you dont want pride to be what keeps you from participating. Joy bursts forth. In those interactions shortly simply say something like "Well, I am a new believer, 🤔🙂so I havent soaked up the Word yet to find one, but for sure John 3:16 for now. I am sure as I grow over the years, various verses will become my new favorite😁. And... one day God will show me a life verse😊." Or in other questions, you can give a similar like answer. In a year or two you can say "I am a newer growing believer, and I am not sure, but from what I studied, perhaps xyz, [if I understood the passage/thought in context]." And let them add onto it or move on to the next person. It is great you are going to meet ups where they discuss and engage. Such inquisitive questions challenge us as we grow and its good to write the question down, and go deep dive a bit during the week to get a better grasp and discuss it with God, like what your response would be if asked today. Even Journaling such questions is beneficial for you, and can be a study or topic you have with your future kids. Or can be used to challenge newer believers you meet later on. To bless them.
As far as reading your Bible, you're right. Knowing it and daily reading it will help you hide and treasure it in your heart, it will be a light to your path, and the Holy Spirit will bring it to your remembrance. It will help keep you from sin, and correct you if you sinned. It will remind you Jesus is your mediator and God wants us reconciled in fellowship by going to him to confess our stumblings in sin, so we can go forward (aware of that issue) conquering those as we press onward following Christ and being molded into more into the likeness if Christ. So dont let sin or guilt stop you from pursuing a right fellowship with God if you stumble. That's what Satan wants. God wants to dust you off and get you back on track. Like if you fall off a horse or bike.
The above resource has good helps in the Bible section and faq area there to help guide and bless you as you read and study the Word, so you can live well growing in the Faith. 😊✨️✝️
Hope these help.
