In recent weeks, I’ve been having more conversations about baptism than usual. Some of the conversations are with parents who are asking about baptism on behalf of their children. Other conversations are with adults, most of whom are new to the church and the Christian life. And I have enjoyed conversations with students who are thinking about baptism.

There are many baptism stories in the Bible, including the baptism of John, the baptism of Jesus, and the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch. My perspectives on baptism are shaped by the Baptist tradition in which I was raised. We practice baptism by immersion, which means we go under the water during baptism. However, the churches I have served respect and appreciate other traditions of baptism.

Some traditions hold that baptism is sacramental while others describe the act of baptism as symbolic. In describing baptism as a bold commitment, Rachel Held Evans advised, “​​In the ritual of baptism, our ancestors acted out the bizarre truth of the Christian identity: We are people who stand totally exposed before evil and death and declare them powerless against love. There’s nothing normal about that.”

As you think more intentionally about baptism, here are some of the questions I’ve been asked over the years, along with the responses I have given:

1. What is baptism? A general definition of the word baptism is “a rite of washing with water as a sign of religious purification and consecration.” Christian baptism is more specific. Baptism is a visual confession of faith wherein a follower of Jesus is dipped or immersed in water, much like Jesus, as a way of declaring or sharing their faith with others.

2. Who should be baptized? Those who have committed themselves to following Jesus are invited, some say commanded, to be baptized. Sometimes baptism comes at the end of a catechism or discipleship class for young believers. Adults who make a Christian commitment later in life will also find baptism to be meaningful and affirming. As a pastor, I encourage individuals to be baptized soon after they commit their lives to following Jesus.

3. Does being baptized make you a Christian? Although baptism does not make you a Christian, baptism is one of the many ways we let others know we have decided to become a Christian. Just as a wedding ring lets others know you are married, baptism lets others know you are a Christian.

4. Is there a minimal age for a person to be baptized? While some traditions practice infant baptism as an act of dedication and consecration, our Baptist tradition of baptism is to baptize individuals who have reached an age where they can make a willful and conscientious decision to follow Jesus. Some churches have a policy that specifies a minimal age. For example, I know of churches that have a minimal age of 7, 9, and 12 years old.

5. Is it necessary to be baptized in a church building? Absolutely not! However, it is often convenient and meaningful to be baptized in the church where you worship. Jesus was baptized in the Jordan River. My home church did not have an indoor baptistery, so I was baptized in a nearby creek. In addition to church baptistries, I have conducted baptisms in lakes, creeks, oceans, and swimming pools. Baptisms can be experienced wherever there is water.

6. Can a person be baptized more than once? Although the Bible does not give an example of someone being baptized multiple times, there are examples in Christian history of believers being baptized more than once. There are three reasons a person might be baptized more than once: 1) Some request a baptism of rededication after they have neglected their faith for a prolonged season. 2) Some churches require new members to be re-baptized if they were baptized in a different faith tradition or by a different method of baptism. 3) Christians may request baptism in an iconic location. For example, Christians who embark on a tour of the Holy Land (Israel) may choose to be baptized in the Jordan River, the iconic location where Jesus was baptized.

7. What is the next step once I decide to be baptized? If you are an elementary or middle school student, it is important to talk with your parents about your baptism. Then they can join you in speaking with your minister. If you are an adult or teenager, you should contact your pastor or student minister soon after you have made a commitment to Christ, so they can assist you in preparing for baptism and setting a date for your baptism.

My baptism was one of the most meaningful and memorable experiences in my early walk of faith. I hope that your baptism will be meaningful and memorable also.

Just remember that baptism is the starting line of your faith journey, not the finish line. Your baptism marks the beginning of your spiritual walk, not your arrival at full spiritual maturity.

If you have decided to follow Jesus, it is time to be baptized. Popular preacher and author Max Lucado contends, “Baptism separates the tire kickers from the car buyers.”

Baptism is sort of like a watery tattoo on our body and soul, identifying us with the Jesus we follow.

If you have additional questions about baptism, please contact me or a minister in your neighborhood to get more information.

(Barry Howard serves as the pastor at the Church at Wieuca in North Atlanta. He also serves as a leadership coach and columnist with the Center for Healthy Churches. He and his wife, Amanda, currently reside in Brookhaven, Georgia.)