I grew up PCUSA - was baptized as an infant. As I grew up in the church I found myself questioning the rationale behind infant baptism. I could never reconcile it to Scripture passages that link belief and/or repentance to baptism. By the time I was in my early 20's I was pretty much convinced that credobaptism was Scriptural and the better option (that isn't the best way to say it, but my mind isn't cooperating right now). That said, my children were baptized as young children (my son was 6 and my daughter 2 - I caved to family pressure).
Anyhow - when I joined the RBC I currently attend I was asked if and how I was baptized. The fact that I was baptized by sprinkling and as an infant didn't impact my church membership at all. I was able to participate in all aspects of church life - including the Lord's table. Several years later I chose to be baptized by immersion - not because I felt my previous baptism was inadequate, but because it seemed to me to be an act of obedience to God the Father.
I, for one, would never question the truth of someone's conversion based upon how they were baptized. Without question there are committed Christians who were baptized as infants and there are people who have walked away from the church after being baptized as adults.
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Show me a man who trusts his own righteousness, obedience, devotion, feelings, or anything else of his own, and I will show you a man to whom the blood and righteousness of Christ is worthless. Don Fortner
It often surprises people to learn that God is not always pleased when people worship him. We might be inclined to think that God should be thankful for any attention we give him out of our busy schedules. But worship is not about God's thanking us; it is about our thanking him. And God is not pleased with just anything we choose to do in his presence. The mighty Lord of heaven and earth demands that our worship-indeed, all of life-be governed by his word.
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In fact, there are a few staff persons on the Campus Outreach at my church who are from a Presbyterian church, and are therefore paedobaptist.
Interesting. I attend a Presbyterian church that is credobaptist. I was baptized (by immersion - it was cold, cold, COLD water...) about three weeks ago.
That said, I think as long as the person understood that they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins offered through Him by the Father, I would say that baptism is a one-time only deal. i.e.: Not invalidated by the beliefs of who performs it. (Of course, the point of whether or not they are truly believers could bring about some interesting debate...)
God bless all!
Lissa
__________________ Well, apparently I can't link to my prayer list via sig, so please pray for...
- the salvation of my friend, Brett's family; the baptism of Brett's sis, Steffanie; Brett
- the salvation of my cuz, Melynda's family; Melynda
- the salvation of my Grandpa; my Grandma
- love, patience, strength, forgiveness, and eternal communion with God!
- please pray for me
Interesting. I attend a Presbyterian church that is credobaptist. I was baptized (by immersion - it was cold, cold, COLD water...) about three weeks ago.
That said, I think as long as the person understood that they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and the forgiveness of sins offered through Him by the Father, I would say that baptism is a one-time only deal. i.e.: Not invalidated by the beliefs of who performs it. (Of course, the point of whether or not they are truly believers could bring about some interesting debate...)
God bless all!
Lissa
Interesting, I've always been under the impression that all Presbyterians are paedobaptist. In fact, over on the Semper Reformanda forum, that's the one area in which I don't fit in with the rest of the gang.
__________________ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18)
Interesting, I've always been under the impression that all Presbyterians are paedobaptist. In fact, over on the Semper Reformanda forum, that's the one area in which I don't fit in with the rest of the gang.
Historically Presbyterians have been, and the vast majority today are paedobaptist, especially if they adhere to the Westminster Standards at all. I believe credobaptist Presbyterians are fairly rare. Like yourself, I used to think that all Presbyterians were paedobaptists, but I've since learned of the Free Presbyterian Church which is a denomination which allows both paedo and credo members. Maybe there's more out there. It seems like these days all you need are 1 or 2 churches and a pet doctrine you disagree with everyone else on to start your own micro Presbyterian denomination.
__________________ "Deil colic the wame o’ ye, fause thief; daur ye say Mass in my lug?"
"It is absolutely necessary that we should submit to God, as our absolute sovereign, and the sovereign over our souls; as one who may have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and harden whom he will." - Jonathan Edwards
Historically Presbyterians have been, and the vast majority today are paedobaptist, especially if they adhere to the Westminster Standards at all. I believe credobaptist Presbyterians are fairly rare. Like yourself, I used to think that all Presbyterians were paedobaptists, but I've since learned of the Free Presbyterian Church which is a denomination which allows both paedo and credo members. Maybe there's more out there. It seems like these days all you need are 1 or 2 churches and a pet doctrine you disagree with everyone else on to start your own micro Presbyterian denomination.
Well, I'm PCA and we allow both padeo and credo baptists to be members. I think the ONLY group here which doesn't allow both membership are Baptists. That is somewhat troubling as I said considering all the Baptist churches in which I attended had a closed communion. It was like being a second class Christian.
Recognize that all true Christians will be Calvinists in glory....
Your friendly neighborhood Cordial Calvinist Woody.
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Well, I'm PCA and we allow both padeo and credo baptists to be members. I think the ONLY group here which doesn't allow both membership are Baptists. That is somewhat troubling as I said considering all the Baptist churches in which I attended had a closed communion. It was like being a second class Christian.
Recognize that all true Christians will be Calvinists in glory....
Your friendly neighborhood Cordial Calvinist Woody.
Yeah, I wasn't clear. The OPC also has no doctrinal requirement on baptism for membership. But the official position of the denomination is paedobaptism, and that is clearly undrerstood by all. I don't believe the PCA or OPC allows credobaptists as teaching elders. What I meant about the FPC is that they practice both forms of baptism, with no doctrinal position on one side or the other.
__________________ "Deil colic the wame o’ ye, fause thief; daur ye say Mass in my lug?"
"It is absolutely necessary that we should submit to God, as our absolute sovereign, and the sovereign over our souls; as one who may have mercy on whom he will have mercy, and harden whom he will." - Jonathan Edwards
The SBC International Mission Board requires it's candidates to have been baptized (via immersion) by a church which believe's in eternal security. Why? I am not entirely sure yet (hopefully one of you can inform me).
Do you think Baptism done by any other group, say Assemblies of God is valid? Why or why not?
our church is not sbc, but it is baptist and they do allow membership to a person who was baptised as a baby, and also credobaptism by sprinkling. I think the only no-no is a non-trinitarian baptism. (does assemblies of God fit that? I forget which group baptises in Jesus' name only.....)
anyway, the op wasn't really discussing credo vs paedo anyway....
it sounds as if the sbc position is too rigid to me. Putting the doctrine of eternal security that high on the priority seems a bit.....exclusionary(is that the right word?) to me. It's kind of like saying you can't belong unless you've been baptised in a church that believes in the Rapture.......
Whether or not the doctrine is important(eternal security, yes....rapture, not so much - ) is beside the point......... imho
Course I'm one of the few credo-baptists here that doens't really have a problem with paedo-baptism, or even sprinkling really. I'm kind of baptist by default-----having grown up Quaker and not believing in 'baptism' in general for a majority of my life---I just think people should be(not have to be) baptised, and I'm not too picky about how!
__________________ We didn't believe in order to be born again, we were born again in order to believe. ----Nobody's Fool
Last edited by Imblessed; 22nd August 2006 at 01:57 AM.
I believe the word you were looking for is "exclusive," my friend.
__________________ Well, apparently I can't link to my prayer list via sig, so please pray for...
- the salvation of my friend, Brett's family; the baptism of Brett's sis, Steffanie; Brett
- the salvation of my cuz, Melynda's family; Melynda
- the salvation of my Grandpa; my Grandma
- love, patience, strength, forgiveness, and eternal communion with God!
- please pray for me
I think the only no-no is a non-trinitarian baptism. (does assemblies of God fit that? I forget which group baptises in Jesus' name only.....)
Nope. Assemblies of God is definitely Trinitarian. I used to be one! You're thinking of the Oneness Pentecostals. They go by that name, and there are many others, so confusion is understandable.
Course I'm one of the few credo-baptists here that doens't really have a problem with paedo-baptism, or even sprinkling really.
I guess I would be another. I always thought paedo-baptism was strictly a Catholic thing. It's only in the last few years that I've been exposed to covenant theology. I'm not 'converted' to paedo-baptism (yet, maybe!) but I'm no longer opposed, either.
- ) is beside the point......... imho
You're thinking of the Oneness Pentecostals. They go by that name, and there are many others, so confusion is understandable. 
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