Several days ago, Religion News Service reported:
Over 4,000 were baptized and publicly declared their faith in Jesus Christ at Pirate’s Cove in Newport Beach, the same historic baptism site during the Jesus People Movement in the 1970s
Baptize SoCal, a collaborative baptism event that brought together over 250 churches in Southern California, successfully occurred at Pirate’s Cove, a historic baptism site during the Jesus People Movement with Chuck Smith in the 1970s. The event aimed to allow individuals to undergo water baptism and publicly declare their faith in Jesus Christ.
On Pentecost Sunday, May 28th, 2023, an estimated 10,000-12,000 attendees witnessed a remarkable 4,166 baptisms throughout the afternoon. “We believed that if we stepped out in obedience, God’s people would rally, and it would become one of the largest water baptisms in American History,” said Pastor Mark Francey of Oceans Church, who hosted the event. “Little did we know that a film would come out just a few months after our receiving the vision that celebrated water baptisms at Pirates Cove (Jesus Revolution).”
The event concluded with a live-album recording featuring popular Christian songs, including “Great Are You Lord.” The event left a lasting impact, transforming numerous lives and facilitating healing experiences.
Building on this success, Baptize SoCal aspires to expand its reach and become Baptize California. “Next year, our intention is to call it Baptize California (not just SoCal) and have baptisms on Pentecost Sunday, from San Diego all the way up to the top of the state,” Francey stated. “Then we plan to unite the Big “C” Church to rally the following year in what we will call Baptize America, hosting hub locations from coast to coast where people can gather and get baptized.”
The organization envisions hosting similar events on multiple beaches along the California coast, offering baptisms, worship, and celebration opportunities to the wider body of Christ. The organizers believe that God has more in store for California, as evident in the increasing resurgence and spiritual hunger among individuals and churches in the state, fostering a sense of unity and promoting widespread spiritual awakening.
Baptize SoCal’s next water baptism event is scheduled for Sunday, May 19th, 2024. It will continue to be a multi-church gathering, emphasizing the collective effort of various congregations. Francey concluded, “God is not done with America, and we are convinced if we can unite the Church and turn fully back to Jesus, He will heal our land.”
What are we to make of Baptize SoCal and its 4,166 baptisms? Is this a wonderful move of God, with thousands of sinners being gloriously saved, baptized, and added to the church? Surely you jest. This is nothing of the sort. This is akin to the Asbury Revival. Remember that one? Just a few months ago, Evangelical talking heads were claiming that America was on the verge of the Third Great Awakening. However, what was advertised as a spontaneous event was found to be a manufactured “move of God”; one that quickly petered out. Evidently, neither God nor his followers had time to get revived.
Baptize SoCal is also a manufactured event. Most of the people being baptized are already Christians. The two hundred and fifty churches involved in this mass baptism want uninitiated outsiders to think that a mighty move of God is happening, when in fact it is nothing about nothing. If anything, it’s about Christians looking for a feeling; a spiritual connection; a snort of Jesus cocaine. Much like the Asbury Revival, Baptist SoCal will quickly wither away as thoughts turn to the true God of Americans: NFL football. Go Bengals! 🙂
So what is the question no one is asking about Baptize SoCal? Here it is: what Biblical justification do they have for rebaptizing Christians who have already been baptized? Did Jesus, the apostles, or the early church rebaptize believers? Of course not. The reason for this is simple. People are baptized after they are saved. One time, never to be repeated. Baptism identifies the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is an outward testimony to what has taken place in the believer’s heart. Secondarily, baptism is the door to admission into church membership. Evangelical church membership is generally comprised of people who have been saved and baptized. There’s not one instance in the Bible where a church member was rebaptized. Thus, I can safely say that Baptize SoCal has invented a new doctrine out of whole cloth; one that has no Biblical justification. The goal, in my opinion, is to give the appearance of growth; not much different from painting the exterior of a house while the foundation is crumbling. Events such as the Asbury Revival and the aforementioned mass baptism are little more than a facade meant to hide the termite-riddled, rotting foundation of Evangelical Christianity. Passersby will think all is well, but if they dare to stop and look behind the facade, they will see that all the fake baptisms in the world can’t “save” Evangelicalism.
Bruce Gerencser, 66, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 45 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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