Posted by Friend [Friend] on November 05, 1999 at 17:07:21 {6xiCHW3gJ2hxaL3hj3H2OgnjR4Br/g}:
In Reply to: *****Water, water everywhere posted by J.H. on November 05, 1999 at 16:34:51:
JH
The WTS apparantly teaches (I remember a CO talking on the matter) that until 1919, baptism by immersion "under the right motives" were valid to God. After 1919, God had rejected "Christendom" and baptisms after that time were not valid.
Actually it is after 1918, but yes, what you say is pretty accurate. Here are some relevant citations.
But if one has submitted himself to immersion in water in some one of the many nominal religious systems, can such baptism today be considered by such baptized one as acceptable to God? No, because since 1918 those religious systems have been on judgment.—Baptism, The Watchtower, 1958: 474This Watchtower article has not said anything more than or different from what previous articles on the subject have said, except the point of one’s having been baptized in Christendom’s religious denominations not being viewed as sufficient today, since A.D. 1918, when Jehovah God accompanied by his Messenger of the Covenant came to the temple and cast off Christendom.—Questions from Readers, The Watchtower, 1956: 762
The question of whether to be rebaptized depended upon the baptism being prior to 1919 and that the subject had also come out of "false religion" before 1919.
I know of a situation where an elderly sister wanted to pioneer. The pioneer application asked for her baptism date and the secretary realized the date was not on her publishers record card, so he asked her. She said it was in 1917. Curiously the man asked who baptized her, assuming that it was some old anointed brother. She said her baptism was performed by the local Baptist minister. Concerned the elder wrote the Society. The Society said since her baptism occurred prior to Christ’s brothers separation from Christendom that it was valid.
Friend