What Made Texas Gov. Rick Perry Get Baptized Again?

Charisma News ^ | 4/30/2014 | Jennifer Leclaire

[wonkowasright]

Do you remember the Christian prayer rally that filled Houston’s Reliant Stadium? "The Response" made cross-denominational waves, uniting people in prayer in a massive way.

So why would its organizer, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, need to be baptized?

The Associated Press reports that Perry was baptized last month in Little Rocky Creek near the small town of Independence. It was the same little creek where Texas icon Sam Houston was baptized. But again, why?

[Zuriel]

**Following the baptism, Burleson is reported to have said “Now Sam, your sins are all washed away.”**

Wow, sounds like Burleson agreed with the conversion of Paul, where Ananias said, “And why now tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord”. Acts 22:16

I wonder if Burleson baptized in the name of Jesus like Peter commanded.

[X-spurt]

Gov. Goodhair the only thing you can come up with?

Perry has been both the longest Texas Governor in office and one of the most popular ever. Lots of folks have wished they hadn’t underestimated Rick Perry, don’t be one of them.

[CyberAnt]

Good grief .. what a smarmy comment.

In the Christian faith, it is acceptable to “re-dedicate” your life by being Baptized again.

No special deal to it. You just go to the Pastor and ask permission to re-dedicate your life. Usually, I have found that this happens when people have made a firm commitment to God to complete some task God has asked them to do.

It has nothing to do with being “churchy”. However, I’m glad to know this so I can add the Gov to my prayer list.

[ForYourChildren]

Per Wiki, “Perry grew up in the United Methodist Church”. United Methodist Church believes in paedobaptism. Rick probably got baptized as a baby.

He now attends Lake Hills Church, which believes in believer baptism, or credobaptism. Lake Hills Church probably does not recognize paedobaptism, etc. etc.

Also, here is Ricks testimony in Sept, 2011:

“My faith journey is not the story of someone who turned to God because I wanted to. It was because I had nowhere else to turn. I was 27. I’d been an officer in the United States Air Force commanding a fairly substantial piece of sophisticated equipment, telling men and women what to do. But I was lost spiritually and emotionally. And I didn’t know how to fix it,” Perry said.

At another point in the speech he said that “Christian values” should be given supremacy over other religions in guiding the U.S. government.”

[aumrl]

Since this was done in private with family I am wondering how it was even brought to anyone else’s attention.

I am not so quick to trash what is someone else’s faith efforts. That Mr. Perry felt a need for a recommitment to his faith then good for him. I don’t know his heart and neither do you. Quit being so dimorat in your evaluation

I concur

Posting HTML

[ForYourChildren]

I just found this link which pretty much sums it all up:
http://www.texastribune.org/2014/04/29/perry-baptized-anew-historic-creek/

[Romulus]

No it isn’t. A valid Christian baptism confers an ontological character that’s permanent. An attempted second baptism has no such effect.

[ForYourChildren]

And then there is this link on FreeRepublic:

United Methodist Church to Grant Benefits to Employees in Same-Sex Marriages http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3150667/posts

United Methodist Church is a very liberal church in general.

No wonder why Rick would out of that church.

Also notice who is a member of United Methodist Church, from wiki: "former President George W. Bush (R-TX) is United Methodist and former Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY) attends a United Methodist Church, although he is not a member. The junior U.S. Senator from Ohio, Rob Portman (R-OH), attends Hyde Park Community United Methodist Church in Cincinnati. In addition, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and former Senator Max Cleland (D-GA) are also United Methodists. Many practicing United Methodists believe this flexibility is one of the UMC's strongest qualities."

[DaltonNC]

AMEN
Why question why any man would want to be baptized again?
Many Christians, for personal reasons are baptized a second time and maybe more.
I was baptized when I was 11 yrs. old. At age 55, I was baptized again. You will feel renewed, that was the best feeling.
It all depends on your relationship with God, only you would know. Naysayers should remain quite!

[CyberAnt]

Hmmmm ..?? Really ..?? What church says that when you are Baptized an ontological character is permanently conferred upon you ..??

Baptism (the submersion into water), is an outward symbol of an inward decision - to follow Christ. The Baptism means, you died with Christ. After you are submerged and then lifted up .. it’s a symbolic gesture of being raised with Christ to a new life.

If you don’t agree .. that’s just fine with me.

[kinsman redeemer]

It’s called “Believer’s Baptism” and it’s the right thing to do after believing that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life. It’s appropriate because it is an opportunity to testify of God’s awesome love for you.
It’s pretty common really~ especially for someone who... Trusts Christ personally.

[Romulus]

* Really ..?? What church says that when you are Baptized an ontological character is permanently conferred upon you ..??*

The Catholic Church. The Orthodox churches. Most mainline protestant communions. About 95% of the Christians in the world don’t agree with your idiosyncratic understanding of baptism.

[Rashputin]

"Since this was done in private with family I am wondering how it was even brought to anyone else’s attention."

You're right. Someone thought they could make political hay out of it, that's the bottom line.

Obviously, they were right and a lot of people will go on about it even though there really aren't any details and there shouldn't be since it was private.

[righttackle44]

Supposing Governor Perry doesn't have a political or public reason for being baptized. Many people have made professions of faith when they were children--accepting the Lord, asking Him to come into their hearts because He shed his blood and rose again to save us from sin, and the person realizes that need for salvation [Romans 10:9-10, 13].

Then, sometimes, an adult realizes later on in life that they made a profession because of the emotionalism of the moment, or to please their parents, or did so because their friends did. The adult realizes that he or she has never really been saved. So he or she makes a fully-informed profession of faith. The condition for baptism according to the New Testament is faith in Christ. So if the adult did not have saving faith in his hear when he was previously baptized, then he or she has never been Scripturally baptized.

So the adult, having really come to faith later in life, may well choose to be baptized to fulfill the New Testament condition of faith in Christ.

That may have been what happened to Governor Perry. But whatever the reason for his being baptized, that is strictly between him and the Lord. Neither you nor I have any reason to question what is in the heart of another person. I note that a lot of people here at FR frequently made such judgments of someone else's spiritual decisions when it's none of our business. If Governor Perry has made a profession of faith and was baptized, then it my responsibility to accept the word of a brother in Christ, and not the word of of someone else.

[aumrl]

Jesus was taken to the Temple at 12 for a ‘dedication’.
As an adult He was baptized by John.

[a fool in paradise]

When did Barack Obama EVER get baptized?

[Tammy8]

I wonder if it is even safe to mock a Texan for getting baptized...

[ansel12]

Why would someone want to mock any Christian’s baptism, or God at all?

[Tammy8]

I have no understanding of that. I thought everyone was free to worship in any way- and I have never heard of a limit on baptism.

[deport]

I’d say a private affair isn’t trying to look churchy or teapartish.
********

http://www.texastribune.org/2014/04/29/perry-baptized-anew-historic-creek/

“He had his parents with him and his sister and a couple of guests, just a few. It was
very low key,” Hassell said. “I never met him before, but he was personable, kind
of down to earth.”

While at the church, Perry played a gospel hymn on an 1874 pump organ, which makes
sound with the help of foot-operated bellows.

“It’s not easy to play a pump organ. You’ve got to move your feet while you play,”
Hassell said. “I thought he played well.”

Former Perry aide and speechwriter Eric Bearse said he wasn’t surprised that
Perry renewed his faith in a private, intimate ceremony.

“Baptism is a very personal expression of faith,” Bearse said. “He has a deep and
abiding faith, and it influences his view of the world and how he lives his life,
but not every expression of faith is meant to be a public ceremony.”
end snip