Does the type of water matter in baptism?
Question:
Dear Minister,
Thank you for your website. It has a lot of good stuff. It is really awesome. Thanks. And thanks for being willing to answer questions by email.
Is any water type (fresh, chlorinated, salt, a bit muddy, etc) acceptable before God for baptism? As far as I know, no one but me has a concern about this issue, but it is a genuine concern for me.
So, with something like music, they say there's no New Testament example of instruments; therefore, only a capella is acceptable to God. And this is similar or equivalent to offering strange fire like Nadab and Abihu. But with baptism, yes, surely there were freshwater baptisms in biblical examples, but what about baptisms in modern swimming pools (chlorinated) and the ocean (salt)?
I live where many baptisms have been in the ocean or chlorinated swimming pools, as this region has relatively few bodies of fresh water. I've no reason to say that's wrong, and I don't mean to be (or wish to be) divisive. However, I am confused if these water sources are acceptable before God as there are no definitive examples of them (that I can see) in the Bible.
Or rather than being similar or equivalent to offering strange fire, perhaps water (other than freshwater) for baptism is something that anyone is free to choose (i.e., God never put a limit on what water type/s can be used)? Are the options for water in baptism perhaps like the food at the marketplace, where there is no limit on what we can choose to eat (even meat sacrificed to idols if our conscience allows)?
But then if water type in baptism is a free choice like food is a free choice, then why is there not freedom to listen to instrumental worship music if one can still sing and make melody in their heart to God (and not offer the instrumental aspect to God). God did not say never to use musical instruments in the New Testament, but what about tapping your foot, clicking your fingers, or singing sounds that are not words? I'm mainly bringing up the instrumental music issue to understand acceptable water types in baptism.
If I understand it correctly, "water" can have the adjectives for fresh (sweet), bitter and salty applied to it in James 3:11-12, and the adjective "pure" applied to it in Hebrews 10:22. When it was said, "Who can forbid water" by Peter, or "Here is water" by the Ethiopian, or in any other baptism example, there was no defining adjective to specify any preference or otherwise for any given water type/s. I assume they chose the water body based on the nearest convenient one available that was deep enough for immersion; the water types never are mentioned as coming into their decision (though, by example, they possibly were all freshwater?).
Then there's Hebrews 10:22, which states, "having our bodies washed with pure water." I understand this relates to a Jewish Old Testament practice where the Levitical priests could approach God after ceremonial cleansing to encourage the Jewish New Testament Christians (who now have all become part of the non-Levitical royal priesthood) to approach God through Christ. Correct me if I'm wrong there. Also, is it in some way a reference to baptism, and if so, what is the water type for baptism?
Thanks for your timely response.
Answer:
The word "baptize" means to immerse. The medium into which believers are baptized is water. "Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" (Acts 10:47). A specific type of water is not commanded, so to add such a requirement is to add restrictions where God has not. The argument would be equivalent to taking the command to sing and saying we can only sing songs that come from the book of Psalms. What is important is that there is sufficient water to immerse the person. "Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized" (John 3:23).
If the source of water were important, then it would be required to show either a command where the source was restricted or examples where the source was important to the event.
In Acts 2, three thousand were baptized in Jerusalem. This city does not have streams or rivers flowing through it, but there were many pools that were likely used. People were baptized in Jordan, a muddy river (II Kings 5:12). There were Christians in Laodicea, but we know its water sources were high in mineral content (Laodicea Furred Pipes). Also, keep in mind that some sources of fresh water naturally contain some levels of chlorine. Given the variety of water sources available to Christians, if there were a restriction on the type of water being used, it would be expected to be mentioned. Instead, we find that baptism is commanded to be done in water. Adding additional restrictions based on unnecessary conclusions is subtracting from God's allowances.
In the case of instrumental music, the Old Testament contained commands to use instrumental music and to sing. In the New Testament, all the commands are to sing. The use of instruments is noticeably absent. In addition, playing instruments and singing are two different types of music. There are commands to sing but not to play an instrument. In other words, playing an instrument is not a type of singing. You can't fulfill the command to sing by playing an instrument.
However, I can fulfill the command to baptize in water in whatever kind of water is present -- clear, muddy, filtered, mineral water, flowing stream, ocean water, or pool. Each is still a baptism in water.
In regards to Hebrews 10:19-22:
A new and living way before God was consecrated by Jesus through his sacrifice on the cross (John 14:6). It is new because Jesus’ sacrifice was not like the sacrifices under the Old Testament and the way into the kingdom is not like the way under the Old Testament. It is living because Jesus did not remain dead, as did the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament. It is also living because Jesus’ sacrifice is ever-giving, much like Jesus’ comments about “living water” in John 4:10-14.
The writer then explains what that way is:
- Faith: Drawing near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:22). When we come to God to worship, we must do so sincerely (John 4:23-24) without doubt. There is no need for doubt, given Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf.
- Repentance: Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience (Hebrews 10:22). The sacrifices of the Old Testament could not make the conscience perfect (Hebrews 9:9), but Jesus’ sacrifice does purify us. There is no more guilt because we know we have been forgiven.
- Baptism: Having our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:22). Under the Old Law, the priest had to wash before coming before God (Leviticus 16:24). Christians, too, wash before serving God (I Peter 3:21; Romans 6:3-7; Ephesians 5:25-27). But purity does not refer to a physical cleansing. "... baptism now saves you -- not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience -- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 3:21). While we are baptized in water, it symbolizes being baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:27). Thus, the purity is a reference to Jesus.
- Confession: We hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering (Hebrews 10:23). Our confession of Jesus is not a one-time event but a manner of life (Romans 10:8-11). Because God keeps His promises faithfully, we must remain loyal to Him (I Thessalonians 5:23-24; II Thessalonians 3:3). Here, the writer returns to the same topic mentioned in Hebrews 6:9-19.
- Obedience - Provoking one another unto love and good works (Hebrews 10:24). Again, the writer brings up the topic he mentioned in Hebrews 6:9-11. God has shown His love toward us, so we must stir up the same love and desire to obey in each other (I Thessalonians 4:9; I Peter 1:22; I John 3:16-18).
- Fellowship: We should not forsake our own assembling together (Hebrews 10:25). It is in the times we gather together to worship that we can encourage each other to greater service. This becomes increasingly urgent as we see Judgment Day approaching. Jesus’ death is proof that Judgment is coming (Acts 17:31).
Jesus is our High Priest who oversees those traveling that way (Hebrews 10:21; 3:6; I Timothy 3:15).
Response:
Wow, thank you. I get that. I've wondered about water types in baptism for maybe 20 years or more and have never understood it before, and wondered if I ever would, but I get what you have said! Many thanks. And thanks for your extremely efficient response, too.
Kind regards.
