Baptism and Church Membership
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servants to set before these souls the privilege of their high calling in
Christ Jesus.—
Testimonies For The Church 6:95-97
(1900).
Judge by the Fruit of the Life—There is one thing that we have
no right to do, and that is to judge another man’s heart or impugn
his motives. But when a person presents himself as a candidate for
church membership, we are to examine the fruit of his life, and leave
the responsibility of his motive with himself. But great care should
be exercised in accepting members into the church; for Satan has his
specious devices through which he purposes to crowd false brethren
into the church, through whom he can work more successfully to
weaken the cause of God.—
The Review and Herald, January 10, 1893
.
Administration of the Ordinance—Whenever possible, let bap-
tism be administered in a clear lake or running stream. And give to the
occasion all the importance and solemnity that can be brought into it.
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At such a service angels of God are always present.
The one who administers the ordinance of baptism should seek to
make it an occasion of solemn, sacred influence upon all spectators.
Every ordinance of the church should be so conducted as to be uplifting
in its influence. Nothing is to be made common or cheap, or placed
on a level with common things. Our churches need to be educated
to greater respect and reverence for the sacred service of God. As
ministers conduct the services connected with God’s worship, so they
are educating and training the people. Little acts that educate and
train and discipline the soul for eternity are of vast consequence in the
uplifting and sanctifying of the church.
In every church, baptismal robes should be provided for the candi-
dates. This should not be regarded as a needless outlay of means. It
is one of the things required in obedience to the injunction, “Let all
things be done decently and in order.”
1 Corinthians 14:40
.
It is not well for one church to depend upon borrowing robes from
another. Often when the robes are needed, they are not to be found;
some borrower has neglected to return them. Every church should
provide for its own necessities in this line. Let a fund be raised for
this purpose. If the whole church unite in this, it will not be a heavy
burden.
The robes should be made of substantial material, of some dark
color that water will not injure, and they should be weighted at the bot-
tom. Let them be neat, well-shaped garments, made after an approved