Changing Baptism Arrangement

Prior to 1951	1955 to 1985	1985 onwards
Baptism as a Christian in any religion, provided by full water immersion	Baptised by Watchtower Representative. To Father, Son and Holy Spirit	Baptised by Watchtower Representative. To Father, Son and the Organization

Baptismal exclusivism is a major symbolical sectarian feature and the changes outlined below represent the Watchtower Societies desire for stricter control and segregation of its members. Christian baptism requires confession of faith in Jesus, followed by full water immersion. The simplicity of this ritual is attested to by multiple New Testament examples; the Ethiopian Eunuch, those that presented themselves to John the Baptist and the 3000 Peter baptised.

Acts 8:36 “The eunuch said: “Look! A body of water; what prevents me from getting baptized?”"

Jesus set the standard, saying:

Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit ….”

At times followers were baptized in the name of Jesus alone. However, it was then necessary to specifically pray to receive the holy spirit.

Acts 2:38 “Peter [said] to them: “Repent, and let each one of YOU be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for forgiveness of YOUR sins, and YOU will receive the free gift of the holy spirit.” Acts 8:14-16 “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Sa·mar´i·a had accepted the word of God, they dispatched Peter and John to them; 15 and these went down and prayed for them to get holy spirit. 16 For it had not yet fallen upon any one of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Originally that was how baptism was conducted by the Watchtower Society. Over time a regimented pre-baptism approval procedure has developed. Most significantly, since 1985 the candidate declares they are devoting themselves to an organization when answering the two pre-baptismal questions. As late as 1955 a person did not need to be baptized by the Watchtower Society to be considered a Jehovah’s Witness. Baptism by another Christian denomination was considered valid provided it was as an adult by full immersion.

“Rebaptism was necessary only if the previous baptism was not in symbol of a dedication, or if it was not by immersion” Watchtower 1955 July 1 p.412

It was not until 1956 that baptism by the Watchtower Society became mandatory.

“Yes, one must be baptized again. Obviously, by any of such religious systems one was never in reality baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit,” because had he been so baptized he would have appreciated the authority and office of such true Higher Powers.” Watchtower 1956 July 1 p.406

The rationale for the change was that though other religions baptize in the name of “The Father, and the Son, and the holy spirit”, they do not recognize Jehovah and Jesus to represent the Higher Powers of Romans 13:1. Strange, since this view of the Higher Powers was only held between 1928 and 1961 and the Watchtower no longer accepts Jehovah and Jesus as the Higher Powers either. More unusual, the Watchtower 1956 December 15 p.763 made the qualification that only those who had been baptized after 1918 needed to be re-baptized. Apparently that was the date when Christendom was officially rejected by Jehovah. The pre-baptismal process continued to become more rigid. Prior to baptism it became necessary for an interested person to answer 80 questions in front of 3 different elders. This was increased to 124 questions in the 1983 Organized to Accomplish Our Ministry. Since 2005 there are 104 questions. (Organized To Do Jehovah’s Will pp.182-216) There is certainly no such Biblical precedence for this. The Watchtower justification is that Jews needed no such questions as they already knew Jehovah’s requirements and so simply had to confess faith in Jesus to be baptized. This is nonsense. In Jesus day there were many Jewish Sects that believed many different things. For instance Sadducees and Pharisees had diametrically opposing views of the resurrection. In addition to this, Jesus did away with the Mosaic Law, the arrangement of animal sacrifices and revealed the Sacred Secret, making Christianity significantly different to Judaism. Despite this gulf of theological between Jewish thinking and Christianity baptism only required that a person such as the Ethiopian Eunuch profess faith in Jesus.

Baptism Questions

Under Russell baptism candidates were simply asked if they had consecrated themselves to the Lord.

“What are the questions usually put by Brother Russell when receiving candidates for water immersion?
ANSWER.–You will notice that they are on broad lines–questions which any Christian, whatever his confession, should be able to answer in the affirmative without hesitation if he is suitable to be acknowledged as a member of the Church of Christ:
(1) Have you repented of sin with such restitution as you are able, and are you trusting in the merit of Christ’s sacrifice for the forgiveness of your sins and the basis of your justification?
(2) Have you made a full consecration of yourself with all the powers that you possess–talent, money, time, influence–all to the Lord, to be used faithfully in His service, even unto death?
(3) On the basis of these confessions, we acknowledge you as a member of the Household of Faith, and give to you as such the right hand of fellowship, not in the name of any sect or party or creed, but in the name of the Redeemer, our glorified Lord, and His faithful followers.” What Pastor Russell Said pp.35, 36

Later, two questions developed containing reference to the Father, Son and holy spirit, as shown in a scan from the Watchtower 1944 February 1 p.44.

 ”Therefore now with your mouth make a public declaration of your faith by answering these two questions that I shall ask you, and let your answers be hearable, that all those about you may be witnesses to the declaration that you solemnly make:
(1) Have you recognized yourself before Jehovah God as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him the Father through his Son Jesus Christ?
(2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightenment of the holy spirit?” Watchtower 1956 July 1 p.407

An important comment was made in 1955, something significantly contradicted in the arrangment introduced in 1985.

“A Christian, therefore, cannot be baptized in the name of the one actually doing the immersing or in the name of any man, nor in the name of any organization, but in the name of the Father, the Son and the holy spirit.” Watchtower 1955 July 1 p.411 “We do not dedicate ourselves to a religion, nor to a man, nor to an organization. No, we dedicate ourselves to the Supreme Sovereign of the Universe, our Creator, Jehovah God himself. This makes dedication a very personal relationship between us and Jehovah.” Watchtower 1966 October 1 pp.603-604

In total disregard for these previous comments and Biblical examples, in 1985 the baptism questions changed, with the candidate having to announce their desire to become associated with an Organization.

“At the close of the convention baptism talk, the baptism candidates will be in position to answer with depth of understanding and heartfelt appreciation two simple questions that serve to confirm that they recognize the implications of following Christ’s example. The first question is:
On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?
The second is:
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit-directed organization? Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism.” Watchtower 1985 June 1 p.30

Rather than follow the biblical example of confession in Christ prior to baptism, a Witness must prove they know intricately Watchtower doctrine and law, and then devote themselves to “God’s spirit-directed organization” - the Watchtower Society.