What is the Local Church view on baptism?
 

What is the Local Church view on baptism in terms of it's necessity for salvation and timing (infant or adult baptism)?

Only two times in my time with Christians on Campus were there any talk of baptism. The first was when a dear friend of mine talked about how she went to be baptised with them. The other was when they asked me whether or not I would want to be baptised. They never put any pressure on me for this.

As a child we went to the NG Church which espouses infant baptism. I was baptised there when I was 7 years old because I wanted to be (I remember urging my mother to have me baptised). Though only around 16 did I truly give my heart to the Lord. I'm unsure if this is regarded as infant baptism or not. I am myself not entirely convinced of either infant or adult baptism, but at the moment I'm mostly convinced of the latter.

Regardless of the LC view I do not think this something to be grossly divided over. I just want to know what their view on it is.

Edit: By the way, what is the correct forum for general questions on the LC like this one?

Re: What is the Local Church view on baptism?
 

See "SALVATION NOT BEING THROUGH BAPTISM" by Witness Lee.

Re: What is the Local Church view on baptism?
 

I read it and I don't understand their conclusion. Is is necessary for salvation or not?

Re: What is the Local Church view on baptism?
 

I believe yes it is necessary and children can be baptized if they believe but not infants (they cannot believe or understand).

Re: What is the Local Church view on baptism?
 

Local Church are Baptists without being doctrinal about it. Baptism is by submersion. Never saw anyone baptized by sprinkling. Always submersion.
As for children, I can't recall witnessing any children being baptized younger than 12 or 13. Quite possible children younger than that have been baptized, but I haven't seen it.

Re: What is the Local Church view on baptism?
 

Along with most of my peers, I was baptized in 6th grade after we had a conference. That seemed to be standard practice in So Cal, where the young people in 6th grade would all be baptized at the same time. It does beg the question as to how much it was initiative-based rather than happening because of pressure. When I was in college, we had semi-annual conferences where there would be baptisms during the conference, and everyone who had been saved on the campus during the quarter was encouraged to be baptized. Sometimes there would be a long line for baptisms and it would go on for 30-45 minutes. Again, it makes you wonder if group pressure was involved or not.

The only oddity I've seen related to the practice of baptism in the LC is that of members being baptized more than once. I saw one person get baptized on three separate occasions. I once saw an elder get re-baptized at the spur of the moment with no explanation given.

Re: What is the Local Church view on baptism?
 

During the 1987 HS conference in Irving, which followed a trip for many of them to Taipei, there was intimidating pressure by the "trainers" to be baptized (often, again.) Then they turned the pressure on the elders using the YP to challenge them openly. Some succumbed, others like Titus Chu, refused to budge.

What a fiasco! And they call that the economical spirit or some such.