What stops you being baptised?
A question that many of you have asked. A question that many of you have been asked. It is an interesting question…
As I pondered over this question and its implications, I concluded that, while it appears to have an element of genuine concern, there is a better alternative. And the better alternative takes a different form.
Let’s take the story of the Ethiopian eunuch returning from his visit to Jerusalem, reading a portion of Isaiah’s book (Acts 8:32ff).
Phillip approached the chariot, was invited to hop on, and had the opportunity to present the good news about Jesus.
What if, at this point, Phillip would have asked, “What stops you from being baptised?” The Ethiopian eunuch could have answered:
-Well, there is no water as I you can see (they haven’t reached the pond yet);
-I am an Ethiopian…Is the good news valid for other nations too?
-I hold a highly respectable and influential position…I am under the Queen’s authority, you know…I can’t renounce my allegiance to her.
-It could be quite impossible to live a Christian life in my country…I live in a pagan society, and I can’t have children…I can’t raise a family.
All the above “reasons” could have prevented the eunuch being baptised.
I believe that after presenting the good news about Jesus, for a while, Phillip wondered, “What now?” “What is going to happen now?”
For a while nothing happened (nothing visible); Phillip didn’t ask the question. Then the pond happened. Then the question, “What stops me to be baptised?” See the difference?
There was one thing that could have prevented the eunuch being baptised. Phillip answered, “If you believe…nothing can stop you.”
Therefore, instead of asking someone what stops them from getting baptised, I will pray for that person; tell them the good news about Jesus; then wait…let the Holy Spirit do the work. That is a better alternative!