Baptism or Dedication?

GodsGrace101 said:

I wish some Nazarenes had posted. I live in Italy now and really miss the fellowship...

Thanks for all the info!

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GodsGrace101 said:

Baptism is more serious to me and I don't really understand how a baby could be baptized although I do know Catholic doctrine (which is why I WISH I could be allowed on the OBOB forum...) and understand why they do this.

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GodsGrace101 said:

I also found this on a site. I was hoping to hear from a fellow Nazarene.

"We, as the COTN, do practice infant baptism. My son was baptized as a baby and the minister said something along the lines of, "Do you, as his parents, promise to raise him in the community, so he will learn he is a part of this community through baptism now?”
For the beauty of infant baptism- is it reminds us none of us KNOW enough to be baptized. My little boy did not know enough as a squirming little baby, I did not know enough as a bratty 13 year old, and the ancient old man does not even know enough. It is GOD who makes the covenant with us—drawing us towards the beauty of who we were called to be. As the water is on us, we die to ourselves—with Christ—and when the water is washed away—we rise again with Christ to new life. It is not so much about our level of knowledge as we enter into this community through this sacrament. It is about God.
Since my son was baptized as a little baby and there is no way he can remember it, we celebrate his baptism birthday every year- to remind him he is a part of the community. I usually give him a special gift and have a special dinner- so that as he grows up he will remember his baptism and that he is special. It was the day he entered into the community of faith. He is a part of us- and we are raising him together- to help him learn who he was created to be.

source. REDEMPTION IS CALLING-- by Christy Gunter: Nazarenes and Infant Baptism

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GodsGrace101 said:

I did find a Nazarene church in Florence but that's even worse.
I just don't understand how Italians could prefer to be JW's instead of protestants. I've been living here a long time and I don't get it.

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