“Look! Here is water; what prevents me from getting baptized?”

(Acts 8:36)

After only few minutes of Bible study, an Ethiopian man asked Philip whether he could get baptized. Philip acted presumptuously and readily “baptized him,” completely ignoring theocratic procedure. (Acts 8:38) He rather should have waited until the Ethiopian would have breathed the wish to accompany him in the field ministry. Then he should have informed the coordinator of the body of elders, so that he could have ‘arranged a meeting of two elders (one being a member of the Congregation Service Committee)’ and the Ethiopian. The Elders would have tried to find out whether the Ethiopian ‘believed that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and if he knew and believed the basic teachings of the Scriptures so that when asked questions, he would not have answered according to his own ideas.’

They would have verified that he was “heeding the Bible’s command to associate with Jehovah’s people at congregation meetings,” that he ‘knew what the Bible teaches about fornication, adultery, polygamy, and homosexuality, and if he was living in harmony with such teachings.’ They would have asked him whether he knew “the Bible’s prohibition of drunkenness,” and they would have checked if he was “free from all nonmedical use of additive of mind-altering natural or synthetic substances.” They would have made sure that he saw “the value of avoiding unwholesome association.” Furthermore they would have investigated whether ‘he had definitely broken off membership in all false religious organizations with which he might have been affiliated, and if he had ceased attending their meetings and supporting or sharing in their activities,’ and also if he was “free from all involvement in the political affairs of the world.”

Finally they would have “encouraged [him] to begin sharing in the field ministry as soon as possible and to turn in a field service report at the end of the month,” and informed him that “a Congregation’s Publisher Record card is made out in his name and included in the congregation file.” (Organized to do Jehovah’s Will, pages 79-81) After he would have regularly turned in a field service report during a number of months, he could have apprised the coordinator of the body of elders of his decision to get baptized. The coordinator of the body of elders would have assigned three different elders to discuss 35 questions about “elementary bible teachings,” 32 questions about “Jehovah’s righteous requirements,” and 37 questions regarding “Jehovah’s arrangement of things” with him.

If the Ethiopian would have confidently and correctly answered all 104 questions, the elders would likely have allowed him to get baptized. He would have been baptized at the next convention. One year later, the secretary would have ‘notified the coordinator of the body of elders that the publisher has been baptized one year,’ and the coordinator would have ‘arranged for two elders, one of them being the Ethiopian’s group overseer, to meet with the baptized publisher … to provide encouragement and helpful suggestions.’ – Shepherd the Flock of God, pages 17, 19.

Therefor let us never be as careless as Philip, but let us “willingly submit ourselves to the direction given by the Governing Body and cooperate with the appointed elders in the congregations.” (The Watchtower, January 15, 2010, page 32) Only then “all things … [can] take place decently and by arrangement.” – 1 Corinthians 14:40.