Adventist Baptismal Vow

The Seventh-day Adventist baptismal vow is a list of 13 belief statements which a person joining the Seventh-day Adventist Church is given and accepts at believer's baptism. In Adventist understanding, baptism (a public display of faith in Christ), is associated with officially joining the Adventist church, which is a part of the community of believers in Christ. The vow is explained in the church manual.[1] In 2005 an alternate vow consisting of three statements was approved at the General Conference Session, and the baptizing pastor now has a choice of which set to use.[2] They complement the 28 Fundamentals.

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Baptismal vows
1. Do you believe in God the Father, in His Son Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit?
2. Do you believe and receive the death of Jesus Christ on Calvary as the atoning sacrifice for the sins of the world, and believe that through faith in His shed blood we are saved from sin and its penalty?
3. Renouncing the world and its sinful ways, have you received Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, and do you believe that God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven your sins and given you a new heart?
4. Do you accept by faith the righteousness of Christ, recognizing Him as your Intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary, and do you claim His promise to strengthen you by His indwelling Spirit, so that you may receive power to do His will?
5. Do you believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, and that it constitutes the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian?
6. Do you accept the Ten Commandments as still binding upon Christians; and is it your purpose, by the power of the indwelling Christ, to keep the law of God, including the fourth commandment, which calls us to keep the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord?
7. Is the soon coming of Jesus the blessed hope in your heart, and are you determined to be personally ready to meet the Lord, and to do all in your power to witness to His loving salvation, and by life and word to help others to be ready for His glorious appearing?
8. Do you believe the Biblical teaching of spiritual gifts, and do you believe that the gift of prophecy is one of the identifying marks of the remnant church?
9. By God's grace do you purpose in your heart to biblically support the church by your tithes and offerings, your personal effort, and influence?
10. Do you believe that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that you are to honor God by caring for your body, avoiding the use of that which is harmful? To abstain from all unclean foods, and from the use of all alcoholic beverages, tobacco, narcotics or any other type of drugs?
11. Knowing and understanding the fundamental Bible principles as taught in the Scriptures, is it your purpose, by the grace of God, to order your life in harmony with these principles?
12. Do you accept the New Testament teaching of baptism by immersion, and do you desire to be so baptized as a public expression of your faith in Christ and in the forgiveness of your sins?
13. Do you believe that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is the remnant church of Bible prophecy, Rev. 12:17, and that people of every nation, race, and language are invited and accepted into its fellowship? Do you desire to be a member of this local assembly of the world church?


[3]

Alternative vow

An alternative baptismal vow was introduced in 2005. It originated with the South Pacific Division branch of the Biblical Research Committee.[4] It consists of the following three affirmations:

1. Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord,
2. Do you accept the teachings of the Bible as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and do you pledge by God’s grace to live your life in harmony with these teachings?
3. Do you desire to be baptized as a public expression of your belief in Jesus Christ, to be accepted into the fellowship of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and to support the church and its mission as a faithful steward by your personal influence, tithes and offerings, and a life of service?[2]

A caution was expressed by Dr. Brian Bull on theological grounds, where he states "who worried that placing the wording 'as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs' led to the danger of the church turning the fundamentals into a creed."[2] Other delegates expressed concerns that the alternative vow is not detailed enough, but it was passed because of its optional nature. The choice of which vow to use is at the discretion of the pastor preparing the baptismal candidate.[2]

History of baptismal confession in the Christian church

One of the earliest mention of a public confession is found in 1 Timothy 6:12. "Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." The practice of baptismal confession finds its historical roots in the creeds of the Christian Church. The Apostles Creed provides an ancient example of such a creed. In an effort to show the value of various traditions, Tertullian describes the baptismal vow as practiced in his day: "When we are going to enter the water, but a little before, in the presence of the congregation and under the hand of the president, we solemnly profess that we disown the devil, and his pomp, and his angels."[5] Public confession at baptism has been practiced throughout the history of the Christian Church. Infant baptism often included another person vowing for the infant to be faithful to Christ.

History of the baptismal vow in the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Adventists practice believers baptism rather than infant baptism. Believers at their baptism pledge or vow to follow Jesus. The pioneer Adventist leaders came from a variety of denominational traditions. Ellen G. White's had a Methodist background, while James White's was from the Christian Connexion. Prior to the establishment of the Seventh-day Adventist church, Millerite Adventists stated a vow at the time of their baptism.[6] Though the exact wording is not recorded, Seventh-day Adventists continued the Christian practice of the baptismal vow.[7][8]

In the March, 1920 edition of The Church Officer's Gazette, R. A. Underwood presents eleven questions for the examining of persons to be baptized and received into the church.[9] His list, though numbering the same, is different than the 1941 list. Unlike that list, Underwood includes two questions regarding the Bible, a question on tithe, and one on the preservation of the body for service. His also has a question on the importance of a private prayer life.

The first official actions regarding a Baptismal Vow in the Seventh-day Adventist Church took place in the early 1940s.[10] At the Sixteenth meeting, June 5, 1941, of the General Conference Session, Oliver Montgomery moved that a committee be appointed to report to the next Autumn Council on the adoption of a uniform baptismal covenant for the world church. He said that there were many different lists of questions used and printed in different parts of the world. The motion was carried.[11] The committee was appointed June 8 of the same year [12] and reported to the Autumn Council, October 27, 1941.[13] The Council adopted the report. This included a list of twenty-seven fundamental beliefs and eleven questions for the baptismal vow. The questions regarding spiritual gifts and the body temple were not included in this 1941 list.

Vice-President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, William Henry Branson, reported in February, 1942, Ministry magazine the church's reason for adopting a uniform baptismal vow.[14] The church was growing. The work of Adventists had extended into all parts of the world. Adventist members came from about 800 language groups and workers needed guidance in presenting church doctrines to those in their language. Branson said that there was an alarming lack of uniformity in these matters. Ministers were establishing their own tests of fellowship. He writes that the tests applied by one are different from those applied by another. One person required incoming members to promise full participation in church missionary activities. Another would prepare a set of questions that deal with minute details of what the new members are to eat, drink, and wear. They set up entry requirements which the church had never set up. He said that, "many points of Bible instruction on Christian experience, missionary activity, support of Christian education, etc., are to be taught prospective candidates, but obviously many of these matters do not constitute tests of fellowship that are to be applied to those who request baptism and membership." [14] These matters should be taught persuasively but then left to each person's individual conscience. He stated that "not all that we as a people believe and teach has been incorporated into what is known among us as tests of fellowship, which tests must be satisfactorily passed by those who apply for membership in our church." [14]

Oliver Montgomery, in the March, 1942, edition of Ministry, explained some of the committee's thinking. Similar to Branson's explanation, Montgomery distinguished between the many teachings valued by Seventh-day Adventist and those teachings which are considered tests of fellowship. Montgomery also explains why the many counsels of Ellen G. White, believed by Adventists to have the Biblical gift of prophecy, were not included in the Baptismal Vow. Montgomery states that "we have made no reference to the instruction given this people through the Spirit of prophecy in regard to many evils to be avoided and the right principles to be followed. On this point may I state that as a denomination, we hold to the fundamental Protestant principle of 'the Bible, and the Bible only" as our rule of faith and conduct. Every doctrine, every principle of faith, every truth of the gospel, every standard of righteousness, is found in the word of God. The Spirit of prophecy sheds wonderful light on the word of God. It magnifies the Word, and makes its meaning clearer and more beautiful. It is for our enlightenment and instruction. We recognize the divine source of this counsel and light. It is counsel from the Lord. It teaches, instructs, and admonishes. It clearly sets forth the right way, and the true principles, but does not legislate. It has never undertaken to establish baptismal requirements in the church. It is for the denomination to do this in its official capacity. Therefore, it seems clear that the personal or private interpretation of the teachings of the Spirit of prophecy should not be used or applied by an individual worker as a substitution for, or an addition to, accepted church standards as adopted by official action of the body." [15]

See also

References
  • Blake, Chris (July 22, 2000). "Adding to the baptismal vows" (PDF). Australasian Union Record. Warburton, Victoria, Australia: Signs Publishing Company for the South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists. 105 (28): 12. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  • Willey, Wayne (June 1983). "The baptismal vow as the criterion of Adventist faith". Spectrum. Takoma Park, MD: Association of Adventist Forums. 13 (4): 4-7 (electronic 6-9). Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  • Case, Stephen W. "What am I committing to? Simplified baptismal vows". Insight (Adventist magazine) 29 (October 24, 1998), p9
  • Wood, Miriam (September 24, 1987). "What if I break my baptismal vow?" (PDF). Adventist Review. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald Publishing Association. 164 (39): 16. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  • Jorgensen, A. S. (January 30, 1978). "Is the baptismal vow in need of revision?" (PDF). Australasian Record. Warburton, Victoria, Australia: Australasian Division of Seventh-day Adventists. 83 (5): 11. Retrieved 2013-08-17.

Footnotes
  1. "Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual" (PDF). Seventh-day Adventist Church. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-08-30. Retrieved 2006-09-22. (pages 32–35 approximately)
  2. Hulbert, Victor (July 8, 2005). "Delegates Debate Baptismal Vows". Adventist News Network. Archived from the original on August 17, 2013. Retrieved 2013-08-17.
  3. "Actions: Sixth Business Meeting, 57th General Conference Session". Adventist Review. Review and Herald Publishing Association. July 3, 2000. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
  4. Brown, Nathan, "SPD backs alternative baptismal vow Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine". Record 110:33 (August 27, 2005), p3
  5. De Corona, chapter 3. Accessed March 15, 2001
  6. The Advent Herald, August 28, 1844, p. 6
  7. In 1926, The Home and School journal at page 23 mentions the "examination for baptism to be conducted by the pastor."
  8. In the June 8, 1876, edition of the Sign of the Times, James White wrote, "Those parents who brought their children to the (Camp) meeting and saw them converted, and take the baptismal vow, are now glad that they brought them." As quoted in Ellen G. White, Volume 3 The Lonely Years 1876-1891, By Arthur L. White (1984)/Chap. 3 – (1876) The Camp Meetings
  9. The Church Officers' Gazette, March, 1920, pp. 1, 2
  10. Coon, Roger W. "Belief in Ellen G. White as a Prophet: Should It Be Made a Test of SDA "Fellowship"?". Andrews University, GSEM534: Lecture outline, Section 4a. Retrieved 2013-08-24.
  11. General Conference Session Bulletin, June 10, 1941, p. 240. (Online p. 16.)
  12. General Conference Committee Minutes, July 14, 1941, p. 35. (Online p. 16.)
  13. The General Conference Committee Minutes Autumn Council for 1941. October 27, p. 152 (online page 39)
  14. Branson, W. H., "Uniform Baptismal Standards Adopted" (PDF), Ministry, February, 1942, p. 5
  15. Adherence to Church Standards. Ministry, March, 1942, pp. 5,6
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