Answers
Yes — it is commanded, not optional, and it is the public sign of belonging to Christ. On the manner and the age, churches divide honestly: Baptists and most independent churches baptise those who profess faith, by immersion, following the pattern of the converts in Acts; Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians and Methodists also baptise the infants of believing households, seeing the sign of the covenant given to children as it was in circumcision. Ask the church you are joining what they practise and why.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:19
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4