Shower Power

A man in his mid-20s named Thomas approached me one year after church, and he had a bounce in his step and a countenance of pure joy. The smile on his face and the experience of fresh life in his eyes could not be contained any longer, for from his lips burst forth, “Pastor Mark, I was baptized last night in my apartment.”

I thought to myself that I didn’t know there was a baptismal service. But I didn’t say anything. Instead, I said, “Tell me about it, Thomas.” His words came shooting out in rapid choppy statements. “Well, I was reading in the New Testament - like you told me to - and I came across the time that they were - I think it was in John - baptizing people who wanted their sins forgiven and I thought to myself well I want my sins forgiven - I want to be baptized, so I went into my shower, turned on the water and with all my clothes on said - Jesus wash me, baptize me!”

As he spoke, my thoughts raced. Should I set him straight by telling him this wasn’t really baptism or not according to church teachings. That he needed to do it publicly and confess before others. Then in a clear impression came Holy Spirit and said to me. “Just shut it. Don’t say a thing.”

As I listened I could tell that Thomas had a real encounter with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. 

Here’s the principle that we need to catch. 

I had the privilege of leading Thomas to the Lord a few months earlier. If I would have told him that his experience was not genuine or official, it would’ve squashed his faith, damaged his heart and stifled the Holy Spirit work in his life. I might’ve been right in the truth at the moment, but I would’ve been wrong.  

Let’s not let the traditions or our own personal convictions get in the way and hinder the work of the faith in others. We are to check our personal convictions and preferences at the door of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel always wins out. And now the rest of the story. Thomas continued to relate his encounter with Christ and then he paused and said, “I continued reading in the New Testament, and I think they did something publicly like, outdoors in the water for baptism. Should I not do that as well Pastor Mark?” 

“Thomas, yes, you should.” So we planned a public baptism and his family attended and was touched by God’s grace seen in a life changed