Infant Baptism, why do you reject it?

[Catholic Dude]

Why do some groups hold to the historical Christian teaching of infant Baptism while others do not?

The Catholic Church has always held to this important teaching as have groups like Anglicans, Lutherans and Calvinists but for some reason other groups reject it.

If you reject it, on what grounds do you reject it (especially considering other groups accept it)?

 

[BigChrisfilm]

I don't base any decision on what groups or humans believe to be true. I know in the bible it says you must first believe, and then be baptised. Think of it this way, if you were born an infant, and were baptised, would you then be baptised later on in life, I don't think so. But how can a infant believe in Jesus, he has never even heard of the bible before, so then being baptised at birth puts an road block into a childs life, and they may never be baptised the way it says to be in the bible.

 

[Oblio]

The Bible speaks of Faith. Faith is mystical and even a child can posses it. Why should a child who has always loved the Lord and cannot ever recall a time that they did not (if their parents and church were doing their jobs) be one day told that they must 'believe' in Christ and be Baptised ?

I encourage everyone to search the Scriptures for examples of what the Bible means by household.

 

[Iollain]

I don't really mind parents who feel they should have their babes baptised, but it makes me sad of thinking of having my own baptised as babes, as if the Lord does not know a child's innocents and love them already. Until they are mature enough to realize what baptism is and that they should turn from sin and believe on Jesus for salvation, i just can't see me participating in infant baptism.

 

[Oblio]

The fruits of Rationalism

 

[Iollain]

Also i can't picture myself believing that i'm bringing a babe to baptism to 'wash away original sin' and the babe will 'recieve the Holy Spirit' at the baptism, as some believe. Like here we go to church to have our child recieve the Holy Ghost, i try to imagine this but i just can't do it. I don't even believe in original sin

 

[HisKid1973]

I'll stick with a believer"s baptism and the blessing of the little ones.

 

[Angel of God]

My opinion is that an infant has a Baptism of water
and his spirit will become more strong with years......
Therefore his spirit would be all in Christ if he believes forever; if he will not believe more then he is free to be an unbeliever......

 

[Enacielle777]

I know for myself it is because the Bible says we must first believe and that faith is an individual thing. I can not pick my child's friends so how I can pick Jesus for her? Instead, I had her dedicated at birth, where the Pastor said a prayer and I announced to the church my commitment to train her up in the ways of the Lord. Then, when she was older she accepted Christ on her own and was water baptized by her own choosing. She picked Christ on her own, not me doing it for her.

I do think, however, this is something that we can all have our own opinions on and in the end, it doesn't matter. You will not go to hell for believing in infant baptism any more than I will go to hell for not praying to the Virgin Mary. These are silly things. What matters is simply that we accept Christ as our savior and acknowledge that he died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected. The rest is just there to divide the church into the various denominations so people can be more comfortable worshipping with others that believe the same things they do. In the end, we will all be worshipping together in our heavenly bodies!

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

You don't believe in original sin?

You don't believe that we all possess the stain of Adam?

We all die don't we?

That is the mark of original sin.

Why would anyone deny the protection that Baptsim brings to a little child?

Or is it that the protection itself is denied? As in, it offers no protection.

Forgive me.....

 

[Iollain]

I believe that all of mankind fell because of Adam, and Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but i'm not guilty of Adam's own sins.

No i don't believe that baptism will protect a child.

http://aggreen.net/theotokos/orig_sin.html

The Orthodox do not believe in original sin, i thought?

 

[HisKid1973]

If baptism is all that is needed for the removal of sin, why don't we just pull people off the streets and baptise them..Somehow calling on the name of the Lord has to be factored in..Also do you think someone could be baptise in proxy for someone else??

 

[Lynn73]

No, baptism won't protect a child. I'm betting there are people who have never accepted Christ but think they're saved because once upon a time their parents had them baptized when they were babies. So now they're home free and can live however they like.

 

[BigChrisfilm]

It says in the bible that we are to believe and then be baptised, no where does it say we are to be baptised at birth, Jesus even waited a long time before we was baptised, we should follow in his example, not what the church thinks is right.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

I believe that all of mankind fell because of Adam, and Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but i'm not guilty of Adam's own sins.

No i don't believe that baptism will protect a child.

http://aggreen.net/theotokos/orig_sin.html

The Orthodox do not believe in original sin, i thought?

I am shocked to read that in the way that it is written.

The Orthodox do not believe in our guilt of original sin.

We do believe in Adams sin which caused the fall of all mankind..... what else would we call it?


The article says By a Priest of the Orthodox Church in America

That raised strong suspicion for me....

Every Priest I have ever know to write signs his name to his work...

This appears to be someone elses best understanding of a Priests work and not the work of the Priest himself.



Forgive me....

 

[Iollain]

ok, well there is a difference in 'original sin' beliefs, i'm with you on the 'original sin' view, i believe.

 

[Iollain]

There are 1,980,000 links in Google for 'orthodox and origanal sin'

 

[Paleoconservatarian]

I know for myself it is because the Bible says we must first believe and that faith is an individual thing. I can not pick my child's friends so how I can pick Jesus for her? Instead, I had her dedicated at birth, where the Pastor said a prayer and I announced to the church my commitment to train her up in the ways of the Lord. Then, when she was older she accepted Christ on her own and was water baptized by her own choosing. She picked Christ on her own, not me doing it for her.

If you won't baptize your child because you cannot pick your child's friends, why would you dedicate your child to someone? If you cannot pick your kid's friends (I think it's sad that we use this as an analogy for a sinner's relationship with Christ), why would you dedicate him to them?

But you're right. You don't get to choose. Our sovereign Lord does, and He has chosen the children of believers to enjoy the benefits of the covenant. "For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself" (Acts 2:39).

 

[BarbB]

It says in the bible that we are to believe and then be baptised, no where does it say we are to be baptised at birth, Jesus even waited a long time before we was baptised, we should follow in his example, not what the church thinks is right.

I agree. I was re-baptised by immersion after I was born-again and yet I was sprinkled as an infant. Didn't save me or I wouldn't/couldn't have sinned as grievously as I did.

Many babies are sprinkled and yet some still turn out to be unregenerate thieves and murderers as adults. Certainly didn't save them, did it? Or their victims?

 

[HisKid1973]

"For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself" (Acts 2:39).

Yes, the promise is available. but baptism doesn't a sinner to saint make..pax..kim
Makes me wonder how many who turned athiests or pagans were baptised as babies..