Ten years ago, I visited Israel with a group. It was truly the trip of a lifetime. We ate fish by the Sea of Galilee, climbed Masada, and bobbed in the Dead Sea. When we went to the Jordan River, we couldn’t help but wade in. This is where Jesus was baptized! The other members our team were all baptized believers, but they wanted to get baptized again. After they’d all been dunked, they waved me over and urged me to follow suit. I refused. I didn’t judge them. But my understanding is that baptism is a one-time thing, not something you do over and over—even if you are standing in the Jordan.

I couldn’t help remembering that day when I read “Rinse, Repeat: Should Believers Be Dunked Again?” In it, Mark Fugitt argues that “the symbol of baptism is a way of life, not a repetitive ritual.” Whatever position you take on the issue of repeated baptism, this thoughtful piece helps underscore baptism’s unique and essential nature.

Speaking of baptism, we have a great resource on the subject. Use this packet of forms to help you process new baptismal candidates, create a preparation course, and document the event itself.