Why all the confusion about baptism?

The book of Acts has all sorts of confusing stories about baptism and the Holy Spirit, but to me they are all easily reconciled.  Here’s why:

Well, it seems that there are two major ideas about baptism that get debated regularly.

1.  When should one be baptized?

2.  How should one be baptized?

In reading the Bible there is ample text to show that baptism is something that you are to allow happen to yourself.  It’s not a work.  The need of baptism in conjunction with belief is a clear requirement for salvation.  (See links below for references)  Baptism washes away our sins, it represents a burial and rebirth when performed, especially via immersion.  Baptism AND belief are an indicator that you are ready to receive the Holy Spirit.  This can happen at various times, just read the book of Acts.  The Spirit came before baptism in a few recorded instances.  Although, even if the Spirit came before baptism, the believers were STILL baptized!  Now, there are some interesting points that get made regarding the baptism of infants, or waiting until a time of decision (coming of age).  In the links below, both claims are fairly and scripturally backed up in a logical manner in my opinion.  So, in fairness, I see an easy resolution.  Baptize as an infant AND baptize at the time of decision.  In this manner, everyone can be happy and we are not “missing” some important point from the bible, nor praying that God will be merciful if one way is wrong.  How can two water baptisms be bad for a soul?  That’s my take on the “when”.

Now, the “how”… This one has been the easiest for me personally.  Do it like Jesus did it.  Get dunked if at all possible.  If you are in the desert, they dig a hole, place a tarp in it, fill it with water and immerse the believer.  If they can do it in a desert, then they can do it just about anywhere.  Sprinkling came about due to the difficulties in immersing infants (for those choosing to baptize an infant).  Now, correct me if I am wrong, but don’t families take babies swimming when they are very young?  Don’t they go under the water and have a natural reflex to hold their breath (usually)?  I could be misinformed on that, but sure seems I’ve heard that many times before.  So, to me Sprinkling is a “man-inspired”, “choice of convenience” method of baptism, no disrespect intended.

So, the “how” comes down to immersion or some other method, sprinkling or pouring etc.  I choose immersion and I feel this method is the most biblical.  It is the method described in the bible, arguably, as some feel the translation of “baptizo” is not always “immerse/submerse”.  Again, the argument about the translation of baptizo seems heated.  I will point to one argument in link 3 that I failed to grasp, and that was that “if baptizo meant ‘wash off’ in some instances (i.e. hand washing) aren’t the hands immersed in the water and not just sprinkled?  Again, see the links below for some intriguing arguments regarding baptism.

I hope you find these links as interesting as I did.

Links:

1. http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/get_wet.shtml

2. http://www.catholic.com/library/infant_baptism.asp

3. http://www.catholic.com/library/baptism_immersion_only.asp

In Christ,

Jeff