Papers by Shingirai J O H N Loga
The differences in the teachings among Christian churches are explained by a combination of theol... more The differences in the teachings among Christian churches are explained by a combination of theological, historical, and sociological theories or concepts, ranging from disagreements over Scriptural authority to cultural and political factors. The core of these divisions often involves debates over how to interpret the Bible and whether tradition holds equal weight with Scripture. As a result of these differences, rebaptism has been a subject of ongoing debate in Christian theology, with most denominations holding that baptism is a one-time sacrament. Therefore, it was deemed necessary to undertake this study to examine the rebaptism debate among Christian Churches in Malawi. The study involved some selected Christian Churches, which provided 32 participants, including Pastors, Reverends, Bishops, Church Elders, Deacons, and the Laity. The study was underpinned by the Charismatic Authority theory and Organizational Institutionalism theory to examine the topic under study. The study employed a descriptive research design, guided by social constructivism. The findings reveal that Christian churches do not require rebaptism for individuals who have remained faithful to their initial immersion, even if they have been inactive for a time. If a person has been baptised by immersion elsewhere and held similar beliefs, they are usually accepted by "Profession of Faith" rather than rebaptism. The study further reveals that although the SDA Church recognises rebaptism, the Church discourages its casual or repeated use. Rebaptism is meant for rare cases of genuine reconversion, not as a routine response to spiritual struggles. Overuse risks weakening assurance, confusing doctrine, and fostering unhealthy dependence on ritual rather than ongoing faith and discipleship. Rebaptism works better when administered to those who have chosen to start walking in New Light. That is, rebaptism becomes valid for those who have received new understanding of biblical truth and feel compelled to signify their commitment to this deeper truth. Finally, rebaptism is considered appropriate if someone did not receive baptism by water immersion. 1. Introduction Rebaptism is one unique doctrine of the SDA church which, frankly, sets the church apart from others. According to the SDA church, the conditions that invalidates baptism are so exclusive that those who are rebaptized are as if they were never baptized. The English prefix 're' denotes something which is repeated. But in the SDA church the 're' before the word baptism indicates a person's condition (White, 2017). Saying it another way, it characterizes a person who has been baptized before and not denoting
Uploads
Papers by Shingirai J O H N Loga