A couple of days after my birthday in 2024, I got baptized for a second time over semantics. I was home for spring break on a frigid day in March, and we rushed to a church service in Washington, D. C. shortly after I opened my gifts. My mom had been pestering me about it for a while, and I reluctantly agreed as a personal sacrifice to make her happy. Odd way to look at a baptism, but in my defense, I had already done it once in a bathtub by my late grandfather and didn’t quite see the point in doing it again.
I covered my body from head to toe. It was a very conservative service, and I couldn’t even have my hair showing. We were in the basement of a hotel, and before the service had even commenced, a series of lamentations and “LORD JESUS” cries rang through the air as I rethought all of my life choices that brought me to this moment. The pastor gave a sermon that I largely didn’t agree with, emasculating men with “long hair” (My brother has shoulder-length locs.), among other things.
“How many souls are getting saved today?” the pastor asked, as I reluctantly raised my hand. He led us to a room, and I put on even more covering: two garments that resembled surgical gowns, one on my front and one tied to my back. Socks, leggings and two shower caps –– not even my ears could be exposed. I assumed that the baptism would occur in a heated indoor pool, given that we were in a hotel room. I could not have been more wrong, and I quickly realized this when I was led outside to a freezing, wintery mix in the dead of night. “It will be over quickly,” they reassured, noticing my horrified look. My heart sank as I realized that there was no getting out of this.
Shivering vehemently, I stepped into what resembled a horse trough, and they submerged me as water shot up my nose (I wasn’t even allowed to plug my nostrils.). I sat up and immediately lashed out at my grandmother, who was recording with the flash on. I felt more anger than salvation at that moment. I changed, dried my hair and tried to enjoy the dinner that ensued, despite not being able to shake that frigid, soggy feeling.
The reason I got baptized twice was due to an age-old biblical debate: Are you supposed to get baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, or solely in the name of Jesus Christ? My mom argued in favor of the latter. I said it was all semantics, asserting that since the Holy Trinity includes “the Son,” Jesus would know what I meant when I reach those pearly gates.
Matthew 28:18 argues in favor of baptism in the name of the Holy Trinity, according to Jesus Himself. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” For context, this was during the Great Commission: Jesus was giving his apostles a play-by-play regarding how to continue his legacy in his absence. It occurred after crucifixion but before his ascension into Heaven.
Acts 2:38-39, on the other hand, argues in favor of baptism in the name of Jesus alone. In this chapter, Peter is speaking on the Day of Pentecost to the Jews. Peter says, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.”
I think context is important here. In Matthew, Jesus is talking to his apostles about spreading the gospel to those who may not know God at all, let alone the Holy Spirit or Jesus. Essentially, offering salvation to those who have no prior knowledge of what is now known as the Christian faith. In contrast, Peter is speaking to Jews in Acts. He uses the words “our God,” which I interpreted to confirm that the Jews already had a concrete understanding of God, it was just Jesus that was the missing piece of the equation. One chapter speaks to those who have little to no knowledge of Jesus or even God, the other, to people who already have an understanding.
So does this mean that if you already believe in God, you should get baptized solely in the name of Jesus Christ, and those converting from atheism or other religions should do the whole shebang? Let’s take a look at some other passages. Paul says in Romans 6:3-4, “Do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.” In the words of Peter in Acts 10:48, “So he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they invited him to stay for several days.” Galatians 3:27-28, spoken again by Paul, states, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”
So, who is right? Jesus in Matthew, or his apostles? I cannot confidently say that either way is correct, or that you are condemned if you happen to prefer one or the other. I do have some peace of mind that I have a sort of “double immunity” given that I’ve been baptized both ways, although I don’t see that as feasible or necessary for everyone to do. I would, however, encourage those at a crossroads to pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit, do research and go with what you think is best. I sincerely hope that no matter what decision is made, should you decide to be baptized, your experience will not be half as unpleasant as mine.
Zora Rodgers is a senior studying film, television, and theatre. She's from Falls Church, Virginia and has the pajama pants to prove it. When not watching the TODAY Show or writing, she can be found wearing too much perfume and spending her NBC paychecks on SKIMS. You can reach out to her at zrodgers@nd.edu.
