Does the person doing the baptism have to be an official in the church?
Question:
I'm curious to know what you think about this. I think there are some Christians who believe in order for your baptism to valid, it must be done by someone appointed by God as a minister, elder, or some kind of official position. We know people such as Peter and Philip baptized, but they were in official positions such as Peter being an apostle and Philip being an evangelist.
Does this harmonize with scripture? I don't think it does, but I wanted to hear your thoughts.
Answer:
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20).
The apostles were commanded to go into every nation and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them. Those disciples were to be taught to observe everything Jesus commanded the apostles and that would include this command to make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them. Therefore, every disciple is authorized to baptize.
