Baptising babies?

[Fatally.Yours]

Why do some particular churches do this? Surely if baptising is a way to get rid of all your sins it's better to do so once you're old enough to understand what's going on and to actually have committed some serious sins? I know it's meant to be about joining the church family and all that, but I was baptised Catholic at 4 weeks old and I've never been a Christian so you can't tell me baptising babies works.

 

[Life2Christ]

I agree with you. Baptism comes AFTER accepting Christ as your savior and not before. Babies have no clue therefore their baptism is just a symbol of what *could* be.

 

[Celticflower]

Why do some particular churches do this? Surely if baptising is a way to get rid of all your sins it's better to do so once you're old enough to understand what's going on and to actually have committed some serious sins? I know it's meant to be about joining the church family and all that, but I was baptised Catholic at 4 weeks old and I've never been a Christian so you can't tell me baptising babies works.

Ummm............ what do you think it was supposed to do?

If you were baptised and have "never been a Christian" - that speaks more about how you were raised and the fact that baptism does not negate freewill than it does about anything "working".

Infant baptism is a method of bringing a new member of the family into the covenent established by Christ. Covenents usually included all members of the household, so this is a holdover of those beliefs. But more than that, baptism is an opening of the pathway of Grace - and it is this Grace which covers and blots out sins, not the water.

For many of us who were baptised as infants (and then raised in the church and given a choice at a later date to confirm or reject that baptism), this rite sends the message that our parents thought their faith was important enough to want us to share in it. We in turn wish to pass it on to our children.

But baptism is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a journey of growth and learning, includes stumbles and falls and getting back up to try again, of having to confront our darkest failures and deepest doubts, but never having to do any of it alone. Unless you choose to. You always have the choice. You can live out the promise of your baptism in a life of faith or you can reject all that baptism stands for and go your own way. It is always up to you.

 

[.Iona.]

At my church, babies are not baptised often. It is thought that it is much better to know what Baptism means before it happens, and babies will obviously have no understanding of that. My friend recently had her baby blessed at the church, and will then have a Baptism at a later stage.

 

[Fatally.Yours]

Ummm............ what do you think it was supposed to do?

If you were baptised and have "never been a Christian" - that speaks more about how you were raised and the fact that baptism does not negate freewill than it does about anything "working".

Infant baptism is a method of bringing a new member of the family into the covenent established by Christ. Covenents usually included all members of the household, so this is a holdover of those beliefs. But more than that, baptism is an opening of the pathway of Grace - and it is this Grace which covers and blots out sins, not the water.

For many of us who were baptised as infants (and then raised in the church and given a choice at a later date to confirm or reject that baptism), this rite sends the message that our parents thought their faith was important enough to want us to share in it. We in turn wish to pass it on to our children.

But baptism is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of a journey of growth and learning, includes stumbles and falls and getting back up to try again, of having to confront our darkest failures and deepest doubts, but never having to do any of it alone. Unless you choose to. You always have the choice. You can live out the promise of your baptism in a life of faith or you can reject all that baptism stands for and go your own way. It is always up to you.

I don't think it's much to do with how I was raised, I was taken to church every week until I turned 18. Still didn't work. :S

 

[Celticflower]

I still don't understand what you mean when you say "it didn't work". What were you expecting it to do? Did you think Christianity was like instant coffee - just add water? So you were taken to church every week - did you understand why or what was going on or did you sit there and just tune it all out, eager for the hour to be over? Were you taken and left, or did your parents attend too? Were you involved in any Bible study classes or youth groups?

You have still made a choice. I hope it is the right one for you.

 

[TripleZ2]

Why do some particular churches do this? Surely if baptising is a way to get rid of all your sins it's better to do so once you're old enough to understand what's going on and to actually have committed some serious sins? I know it's meant to be about joining the church family and all that, but I was baptised Catholic at 4 weeks old and I've never been a Christian so you can't tell me baptising babies works.

Hi, you are right except for the false belief of Baptism getting rid of sin ? I have no idea who has taught you this ?
Did Jesus die on the Cross for nothing ? Remember,it is all about Jesus, but only as an adult are we commanded to follow Gods Word.
Adults should give a testimony at their Baptism, to the congregation, to their Pastor and those with whom they will have fellowship. This is the way that our beliefs are made known to our Church and our dedication to Jesus and Faith in Salvation through Grace.
Remember, NOTHING that we DO can save us.
blessings

 

[Fatally.Yours]

Hi, you are right except for the false belief of Baptism getting rid of sin ? I have no idea who has taught you this ?
Did Jesus die on the Cross for nothing ? Remember,it is all about Jesus, but only as an adult are we commanded to follow Gods Word.
Adults should give a testimony at their Baptism, to the congregation, to their Pastor and those with whom they will have fellowship. This is the way that our beliefs are made known to our Church and our dedication to Jesus and Faith in Salvation through Grace.
Remember, NOTHING that we DO can save us.
blessings

My school taught us that babies have original sin and that's why we need to be baptised.
It was Catholic school, if that makes any difference.

 

[Fatally.Yours]

I still don't understand what you mean when you say "it didn't work". What were you expecting it to do? Did you think Christianity was like instant coffee - just add water? So you were taken to church every week - did you understand why or what was going on or did you sit there and just tune it all out, eager for the hour to be over? Were you taken and left, or did your parents attend too? Were you involved in any Bible study classes or youth groups?

You have still made a choice. I hope it is the right one for you.

My dad took me and my little brother, when I was little I didn't really understand what was going on. When I was about 7 or 8 I understood a little more, and from that point on it was more a power struggle between me and my dad rather than being about Catholicism. He's only Catholic when it suits him anyway.

 

[laconicstudent]

Because Baptism is done for salvation. I've never seen a verse stating that a particular degree of mental faculties were required.

 

[A_maize]

Why do some particular churches do this? Surely if baptising is a way to get rid of all your sins it's better to do so once you're old enough to understand what's going on and to actually have committed some serious sins? I know it's meant to be about joining the church family and all that, but I was baptised Catholic at 4 weeks old and I've never been a Christian so you can't tell me baptising babies works.

I don't know what Catholics teach, but I never thought that baptism cleansed your sins. Besides, cleaning of your sins and forgiveness should come after true repentance and guilt for something you did wrong.

I have not been Christian long, but I do enjoy baby baptisms. To me, it is like an open commitment by the parents that they will raise the baby with love, prayers, and care to be a pathway of blessings, the gospel, and joy to others, as Jesus Christ showed us.

 

[John_Galt]

Why do some particular churches do this?

Good question. The Bible is very clear that there are certain criteria that must be met before a person is baptised, and babies are incapable of meeting these criteria.

Surely if baptising is a way to get rid of all your sins...

Just to clarify, Christians don't believe that baptism "gets rid of your sins". We believe that it's symbolic or being crucified with Christ and being raised to new life in Him.

A person's sins are removed when they're born again. Baptism just commemorates that event.

I know it's meant to be about joining the church family and all that, but I was baptised Catholic at 4 weeks old and I've never been a Christian so you can't tell me baptising babies works.

Actually, you're a prime example of what I tell Catholics all the time.

Catholics believe that one is born again when they are baptised. The Bible tells us that there are some very obvious and observable signs that one has been born again. By your own admission, you have never shown those signs, so you could not have been born again at baptism.

Congratulations! Whether you know it or not, you just illustrated a Biblical principle. That means you already know the Bible better than 90% of the people here.

 

[JasperJackson]

Baptism is one of the main doctrines that denominations argue over. So it's best to go back to scripture and see what it says. This short Bible study might help:
Baptism Bible Study

For what its worth, I go to an Evangelical Anglican church where baptism is seen as an outward expression of commitment to God as a response of the gift of salvation he's given to us. We do also have infant baptisms but it is made clear that it is still a symbolic act, but that its more of a commitment of the parents of how they will raise their child.

 

[E.C.]

Why do some particular churches do this? Surely if baptising is a way to get rid of all your sins it's better to do so once you're old enough to understand what's going on and to actually have committed some serious sins? I know it's meant to be about joining the church family and all that, but I was baptised Catholic at 4 weeks old and I've never been a Christian so you can't tell me baptising babies works.

A few reasons...

1) Christ said, "Let the children come to me". If He was chastising His own Apostles back then, than certainly He would do so now!

2) Saying that one must "understand" sin would be placing an intellectual cap on becoming a Christian. The Gnostics tried this and they were heretics.

3) Why not?

4) The godparents speak for the child.

 

[John_Galt]

A few reasons...

1) Christ said, "Let the children come to me". If He was chastising His own Apostles back then, than certainly He would do so now!

Jesus said that in Matthe 19:14. Where in that passage did Jesus say anything about baptism or that children are exempt from the criteria for baptism?

2) Saying that one must "understand" sin would be placing an intellectual cap on becoming a Christian.

How can one repent unless they understand sin?

3) Why not?

How can an infant meet the Biblical requirements for baptism?

4) The godparents speak for the child.

What verse is that?

 

[solarwave]

In my opinion 'baby baptism' hijacks the Biblical use of the word baptism.

I have no problem with welcoming a child into the Christian family, we do this, but we don't make it out to be anything to do with baptism.

 

[drich0150]

I personally think babies are baptized to preserve "religious" doctrine, and to save face, rather than it being a direct command from God. in that a doctrine gets challenged when people ask, What happens to babies if/when they die. Those who tend to believe in the Doctrine of Original sin, which basically points to Adam and Eve and their first sin infecting all of us with sin just by being born. (Which Makes a New Born Doomed To Hell If He Dies) Believe that infants need to be baptized in order to save them from This doctrine. So rather than point to a Loving rational God, that might not strictly adhere to that particular religion's beliefs.. These people point to a God that completely supports their form of worship, to the point of sending babies to Hell. so I believe that they must baptize their children rather than yield any ground on their religious doctrine..

That said baptizing a baby is not a sin, and if you or anyone else wishes to do so know there is no command against it, but at the same time there is nothing that commands to do it either. For those who do not live or worship in denomination that demands the baptism of their babies. People can and do dedicate their children to God, and this can include a water ceremony of sorts, as a promise or vow to say before the Church and God that they intend to raise their children in a Godly way.

 

[ebia]

Why do some particular churches do this? Surely if baptising is a way to get rid of all your sins it's better to do so once you're old enough to understand what's going on and to actually have committed some serious sins? I know it's meant to be about joining the church family and all that, but I was baptised Catholic at 4 weeks old and I've never been a Christian so you can't tell me baptising babies works.

As you note yourself, the church is the people of God, a family, and therefore includes children as it has always done since Abraham circumcised Isaac. Being a member of a family does not stop you estranging yourself from the family, but neither does the fact that you can estrange yourself nullify the concept of family membership.

 

[razeontherock]

you can't tell me baptising babies works.

Doesn't sound like a way to explore, but rather to preach.

 

[razeontherock]

My school taught us that babies have original sin and that's why we need to be baptised.
It was Catholic school, if that makes any difference.

Shall I point you to the many anti-Catholic threads, would you enjoy that?