The baptism itself is a very short ceremony. It is a ritual that clarifies the direction of a Christian; it leads on to a new journey, a new lifestyle. The ceremony is often performed in a pool or in the ocean, beginning with an introductory prayer which is done by the pastor. The prayer acknowledges the decision the individuals have made and a request is made to the Lord, asking Him to guide the group in their future journey. The group who are being baptized then enter the water with the leader of the procession. The two stand side by side and another prayer is said by the pastor for a personal blessing upon the individual- the individual is then said by the pastor to be baptized in the ‘name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost/Spirit’, while being fully submerged in the water. As the person is raised up from the water they are seen as being renewed and from that moment on they live a new life in salvation that has been giving through the death of Jesus Christ. The ritual acts as a transition to becoming mature in the faith.
This baptism is performed later on in life, there isn’t a certain age as to who can be baptized but individuals make the choice for it to be done, after they’ve gained a greater understanding of the faith. This ritual is important to Christians because it was stated in the scriptures by Jesus himself, “I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." However, I have spoken to a group of committed ‘born again’ Christian women and they told me that they agreed to it out of obedience towards the command of God. They also said that when you become a follower of Christ, the baptism is a public declaration of your commitment to the faith. It’s a ritual that shows you mean business, that the lifestyle you have chosen is a choice that deserves respect.
It appears to me that the ritual is more of a scarifice of one’s life in order to lead by the example of Jesus Christ. I’ve also understood from the intellectual coversation I had with these woman, that there is a supernatural breakthrough behind the act. In some cases individuals have given up bad addictions instantly, such as smoking.
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