Is Baptism Like Waterboarding?

I recently heard someone compare Bible baptism to waterboarding. I have heard baptism ridiculed in many ways over the years, but this is the first time that I have heard such a crude comparison. Waterboarding is a coercive interrogation technique that simulates drowning. The subject is strapped face up to a downward angled board and water is poured on the subject’s face with the intent of scaring the person into thinking that they are going to drown. From videos and reports that I have seen and read, waterboarding is not a pleasant experience.

Critics of Bible baptism may find the comparison between baptism and waterboarding to be witty and cute, but those of us who respect the Bible find the comparison quite inaccurate and offensive. I don’t mean offensive in a personal way. I mean offensive from the standpoint of its blasphemous implications. Baptism is a major Bible topic. The word “baptizo” is used 80 times in the New Testament. A thing that is mentioned so often must have some significance! Conscientious religious people may respectfully differ over and debate the purpose and action of baptism. However, no conscientious person dares to ridicule baptism, for he knows that GOD is its author. It is no mere human contrivance. It is taught in the holy Scriptures (Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:27; 1 Peter 3:21; Acts 2:38; 8:12-13; 8:38; 9:18+22:16; 10:47,48; 16:15; 16:33; 18:8; 19:5). The Romans 6:4 passage teaches that it is in the burial of baptism that one reaches the saving benefits of the death of Christ. Such a concept should not be lightly dismissed, and it certainly shouldn’t be ridiculed.

It is blasphemous for one to compare Bible baptism to waterboarding. Blasphemy is speaking evil of, or ridiculing the things of God. This includes baptism. Paul mentioned the “profane” in his list of sinners in 1 Timothy 1:9-10. These are people who have no respect for the sacred and holy things of God. Paul said that such people are under indictment by the law of God.

As I briefly mentioned above, it is also inaccurate to compare Bible baptism to waterboarding. Baptism is a free-will exercise. If it is not practiced freely and willingly, then it is an utterly worthless act. Paul said that the saints at Rome had “obeyed from the heart” when they were baptized (Romans 6:17 & 4). “From the heart” means willingly — not by force! Baptism by coercion is NOT Bible baptism. I remind the reader that waterboarding is a coercive interrogation technique. The interrogator is trying to extract information from the subject that the subject is unwilling to freely give. Thus it is inaccurate to compare Bible baptism to waterboarding.

Like belief (Mark 16:16), repentance (Acts 2:38) and confession (Romans 10:10), baptism is a condition of salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38 and see the above list). People do not ridicule faith, repentance and confession, so why ridicule baptism? We should just do them all and not make fun of any of them. I would not want to stand in judgment before God having made fun of Him and His designs for salvation.

—Tim Haile

3 thoughts on “Is Baptism Like Waterboarding?”

  1. Not your business

    I don’t remember infants expressing free will in being drowned in water 3 times. Sorry to say, but baptism is torture. Infants have no saying in this and they clearly fo not enjoy the experience as they scream continuously.

  2. Parkway church of Christ

    This article is about “Bible baptism,” not infant baptism. Infant baptism is wrong. Check out this link to listen to a lesson on that – Infant Baptism.

    As is pointed out in the article above, Bible baptism is for believers (Mark 16:16); therefore, not for infants. As the article states: “Baptism by coercion is NOT Bible baptism.”

    We agree that infant baptism is wrong, but that is not Bible baptism.

  3. Thanks Andy. As you pointed out and as my article teaches, baptism is for those capable of BELIEF in the tenets of the Gospel (Mark 16:15), NOT for infants. If one wishes to criticize the practice of infant baptism, I join with him in that criticism, for it is unscriptural.

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