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| Q: | My question is about an appropriate offering and messages of thanks to a minister and congregation for the baptisim of my 11 year old adopted daughter. We are not members of this church. Can you direct me to any Scripture pertaining to older person baptisim? | ||||||
| A: | WELS churches generally do not charge a fee for a baptism since this is simply doing what Christ instructed his church to do--preach the Word and baptize (Matthew 28:19-20). Fees or honoraria are often received for weddings and funerals since God has not directly commanded his church to marry or bury. However, he has commanded his church to baptize. Whether you are a member of a non-member, you do not have to feel obligated to give the minister or congregation a gift or offering in payment for the baptism. You also ask about Scripture passages about baptism that pertain to an older person. You might consider 1 Peter 3:21 which assures us of the saving power of baptism. Or you might look at Acts 2:38-39 as well as Acts 22:16 which reminds us that in baptism God washes away our sins. Then there is also Galatian 3:26-27 where we are told that in baptism we put on the robe of Christ's righteousness. In other words, God sees us as holy not because we don't sin but because Christ lived a sinless life in our place and died to remove the guilt of our sin. Another is Romans 6:4, which indicates that our baptism helps us live a new life, one that is pleasing to God. All of these passages remind us that baptism is something special for us as Christians. We can always look back on our baptism knowing that this is when God adopted us into his family of believers. | ||||||
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