Infant Baptism

[Fellowship]

Noone knows the answer to this question. Don't base your feelings or emotions on how others will answer this question, since only God can ultimately know. Ask the Lord in prayer for an answer, He will guide you.

On the other hand, if I didn't get a baptism, and I chose not to get one...

Aren't I screwed either way?

 

[Linnis]

Haha, from that point of view you are.

We are mere humans trying to figure out the word of God. People have been trying to for over 2,000 years and I doubt it'll be all figured out any time soon.

Pray & see where God leads you.

 

[Discipleship]

On the other hand, if I didn't get a baptism, and I chose not to get one...

Aren't I screwed either way?

Again, I cannot answer this question. It is good to see that you are thinking about such things, but I think that if you are merely asking the people of CF, you are taking this inquiry to the wrong person. Also, don't bind God to our limited human understanding by playing games of semantics. Just because something doesn't make sense to us doesn't mean you should spend sleepless nights pondering it over. As I said before, I think you should pray and ask for God's guidance rather than try to rationalize the concept in your own mind.

 

[Celticflower]

If you are unsure whether you were baptised as a child or want to be baptised as an adult due to a rebirth of faith and you feel confirmation is not enough, then I don't think anyone will hold it against you.

When I really get upset with second baptisms is when they are pushed on you in order to join a congregation because this group of humans doesn't think it was done "right". I tell them, fine-you go tell God He screwed up and get back to me, ok?

 

[biblelighthouse]

So what does this mean for me. I had mentioned that I'm adopted and I just recently got baptised about a year ago.

Is this bad if I had an infant baptism and didn't know about it?

No, you don't have to worry about that.

I was just saying that it is wrong to *intentionally* get baptized twice. If a person was baptized as an infant, and knows it, then it is wrong to get baptized again.

But you did the right thing. If you don't know if you were ever baptized, then you certainly should make sure that you get baptized.

Blessings!
Joseph

 

[biblelighthouse]

I do not understand how God will hold is against someone if they get batised twice. I mean he must know that small children really have no idea what's going on and t's the parents not the child.

In an earlier post, I already listed 4 reasons why a person should not intentionally be baptized twice.

However, I agree that a person can't really be held responsible for a baptism he doesn't know about. If your parents baptized you, then gave you away for adoption, and you never knew you were baptized, then I wouldn't have a problem with you being baptized later.

I do not even really agree with young children getting baptised I mean how does a child of 6 or 7 understand truly understand any more than a baby?

Baptism has the same meaning in the New Testament that circumcision had in the Old Testament. And yet circumcision was for infant children, as well as adults.

How much could a little child understand about circumcision? Very little, if anything at all. Nevertheless, as the child grew up, his parents could remind him of his circumcision, and repeatedly teach him that he has been marked out in covenant with God. This helped him keep focused on following God.

It is the same way with baptism. Does a little infant know what's going on when he/she is being baptized? Probably not. However, the parents do know what's going on, and it encourages them to raise up the child in a godly way, to serve the Lord. As the child grows, they repeatedly remind him/her of the baptism, and that he/she is therefore marked out in covenant with God. This helps the child keep focused on following God.

Just like circumcision was in the OT, baptism is now in the NT. It is a sign and seal of a person's covenant relationship with God. There are great blessings for being a covenant keeper, and great curses for being a covenant breaker. When a believer's child is baptized, this baptism serves as a reminder of this solemn covenant.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

7:6 But before the baptism let him that baptizeth and him that is baptized fast, and any others also who are able;
7:7 and thou shalt order him that is baptized to fast a day or two before.

Let an infant fast for a day or two! An hour or two is more like it, otherwise you'd be done for child cruelty.

We Anglicans are happy to baptise the child of believing parents, and they then bring themselves forward for confirmation when they are ready (usually around 16+). It's equally common to have a thanksgiving for the birth of the child, and then wait until they bring themselves to baptism & confirmation when they are approaching adulthood.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

I think there is biblical evidence to support both sides of the debate. We know that whole families were baptised in the early church, as it's probably safe to say that young children were included. If you are a highly sacramental person, you will see baptism as giving God's grace to whoever receives it, and you want your child to have God's grace, don't you? Personally, I see it as little more than welcoming a child into the church family - and you can do this by a Thanksgiving service.

My three eldest children were baptised when they were young and had no choice; my younger two have not yet been baptised and they will take themselves to baptism. I'm not sure if this is due to my waivering on the theology of it, or if I've simply run out of Godparents!

The attitude in our church is if you are not sure, don't do it. Have a Thanksgiving instead.

As for double baptism - I can't believe that a loving and merciful God would hold it against you. I think it really means that you don't have to get baptised again, say if you find Christ in later life, or if you switch to a different church. Anyone can baptise you - in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. My last vicar's wife was a midwife and both of them were 'trained' in baptising infants.