Chris ›
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Being raised a Christadelphian (4th Generation), the expectations that I would once be baptized were greatly apparent. This also brought added pressure as I grew into my teens and started becoming very involved in the youth group in my area.
During the 1980's, our youth group was probably the largest of all of the Christadelphian groups in Southern California. We had a very large group all within 2 years of my age. At 15, my Sunday School class included 16 others who were of my peer group, almost all of which had also been raised in Christadelphian families.
With this large a group, and myself having been a great Sunday School scholar (always doing well fielding questions regarding the days Bible story, having my homework done, and ready with multiple memory verses for recitation)—it was expected that I would be one of the first to be baptized from my group of peers.
The issue for me was whether I was ready or not.
I have always felt that I was prematurely baptized. I still feel that I was baptized for the wrong reasons. My motivation at the time was to take pressure off of myself by satisfying my parents and others by making such a statement of action. The problem for me was that my life did not change to follow the commitment I had made because I was baptized with a misguided motivation.
I am however thankful that I was baptized, and have reenergized and refocused my commitment (years later in 1999). The greatest thing about being baptized for me is it kept me in the flock. I was still making it to the Sunday Service and other classes, etc even though I was merely going through the motions for the benefit of others opinions of me as a Christian follower of Christ. I was not reflecting the Lord Jesus in my daily life, but was instead living the cliché of a "Sunday Morning Christadelphian".
In 1999, I feel I truly accepted my walk and in a way was spiritually re-baptized into the saving name of Christ. I found the purpose to life that I had unemotionally committed myself to 15 years prior as an adolescent.
I am truly grateful that I have been afforded the time I have had to renew my faith and to commit myself to chasing after God's purpose for me. My life mantra today is that of progression, and God has allowed me to follow in this concept so that I may become a better servant of Christ and strive toward the rewards laid up for me in the Kingdom to come.