Why do you have to be members of a church to have your baby baptized?

Question

Every church in town that I've called, has told me that we have to become members to have our son baptized. What are the reasons for this? We just want him dedicated to the Lord. We are Christians, we just don't go to church on a regular basis. I would like some reasons from fellow Christians and church goers as to why this is. ( I already know what the non-Christians have to say about it. None of them will suprise me, and I know this category is full of them.)

Answer 1

Since this is an infant baptism, they want to make sure that you are committed to raising the child as a Christian. I understand the temptation to skip church, but fellowship and worship with other Christians is part of the Christian life. You should be bringing your child up within a church. To do a baptism without living the Christian life could be a superstitious act. I have known people who wanted a baptism as a means of preventing nightmares, for example. There may also be a feeling that to baptize a child is to obligate the child to live a Christian life, and this would be unfair if the child is not getting the appropriate religious education.

Answer 2

I don't know what kind of churches you've asked, but here's the Catholic perspective: Baptism is how a person becomes a member of the Church - and that means more than just being on the register at a parish or giving money - it means you are part of the body of Christ. It leaves a permanent mark, so to speak, on a soul.

If you had your son baptized as a Catholic, for instance, he would become a member of the Catholic Church. He would have certain obligations as a Catholic and you would have a duty as parents to raise him Catholic. If you aren't Catholic and have no intention of becoming Catholic, then how could you be expected to fulfill these obligations and raise your son Catholic? Why would you want your child to become a member of a religion you do not intend to have him practice?

That's the Catholic view on it. I would imagine that many other churches feel the same way. Baptism isn't just a ceremony, it isn't just a prayer to God for the child's well-being. Baptism brings a person into a faith. It brings a person into a special relationship with God that is fundamentally different than what the person had before. If the child won't be raised in the faith, then why have him baptized? Baptism places an obligation on the parents and on the child as he grows up. If the parents won't or can't fulfill that obligation the child won't be able to either. And this is not fair to the child.

Finally some churches may have turned down your request because they do not practice baptism of infants. Some Christians, notably Baptists and some evangelicals, do not baptize babies but only baptize adults who ask for baptism.

Answer 3

Because infant baptism is not some sort of way to "bless" or "dedicate" a baby. It is an entry into a Christian life. When a minister or priest baptizes a baby, they want some sort of promise of goodwill that this child will be raised in and educated in the faith. Nowadays baptisms are social events. People do stuff like choosing their best friend who never goes to church as the kid's godparent even though a godparent's JOB is to ensure the religious education of the child. Unless the minister has some security that the baptized child will grow into somone raised in a Christian environment, he won't do it. And of course, the best guarantee he has for that child's spiritual upbringing is if he is directly in charge of it. How does he make sure that the child will be instructed properly? He makes sure that the child's family are members of his church.

Answer 4

it truly is no longer the way it works. Baptism does no longer wash all your sins away each time you do it. you're baptized as quickly as on your existence and that brings you forgiveness and cohesion with Christ. because of the fact of this you does no longer be baptized returned in case you switched over TO Catholicism from say, Lutheranism or another faith that baptized you with water interior the call of the father, Son and Holy Spirit. you are able to no longer certainly be born returned. That finished concept is a advertising technique by using many fly by using night Christian religions to offer you some reason to pick to connect their church. it truly is no longer based in something Biblical. you do never see interior the Bible a narrative of a believer being baptized generally. All you will possibly desire to do is visit your nearest Catholic Church and notice a clergyman. He can in the present day pay attention your confession and walk you in the process the fast technique in case you have under no circumstances made a confession till now. actual easy. You go in and tell him your sins and which you're sorry. needless to say you definitely might desire to be sorry and truly sorry for the absolution or forgiveness to be valid and actual. Then he will provide you a penance based upon your sins. it truly is asserting a set of Our Fathers. it truly is donating a while to charity or volunteer artwork. it truly is doing something nice for somebody. solid good fortune. And definite, you would be growing to be to be a member of a diverse faith in case you certainly went out and asked some diverse church to baptize you. it truly is in contrast to a tension via subject the place you go get a baptism and not in any respect return. a sparkling church might assume you to attend centers for a while and classes with them beforehand of being baptized INTO their faith.

Answer 5

I think those who say it's a monetary thing are a bit jaded.
Part of the service includes giving the congregation instructions to help uphold the family in the rearing of the child in a Christian manner. If you aren't a member, or don't attend frequently, the church members can't be there as a resource and a helper.

Answer 6

When a church baptizes somebody, they become part of that church. If you don't intend to be, then that would be basically phony. If it is something that you feel is just between you and God, then baptize the baby yourself.
Sprinkle water, say "I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." That should take care of it for your own purposes.

Of course, if the child wants to join a church in the future, he may have to be baptized again, since there would be no official record of it. But chances are, he wouldn't want to, if you are going to raise him to believe the churches aren't a necessary part of your lives.

Answer 7

In infant baptism the parents and family along with the congregation are making a promise to raise the child to know the LORD. WHY would a church make a promise that it cannot keep?

It sounds like you want to go through the formality or the show of dedicating your child to the LORD without really checking to see what the LORD desires. I have news for you - nobody is saved by going through formalities.

The more I read and study the Bible the less I believe in infant baptism. The Bible talks about baptism as being for believers and that is not possible for babies. Dedication YES. Baptism NO.

Answer 8

Actually, my close friends were not Christians, but their children were baptized. A person who belonged to the church stood in as god-parents, and agreed to see they had a Christian upbringing. Also, in cases where no minister is around, a child can be baptized by any Christian. Don't listen to the people who say you have to belong to a church. It just isn't so. In fact, wouldn't Christians be in error if they denied baptism to a baby?

Answer 9

You need to go to church on a regular basis in order to be considered a member. When we are dedicated to the Lord we keep the Sabbath Day Holy. This means gathering and renewing our covenants to the Lord. To always remember Him and have His Spirit to be with us. Becoming a member is one way to show your level of commitment to the Lord.

Answer 10

Jesus said, "Bring the little children to me" He healed children from possession, illness, and sin. Whole households were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit by Saint Peter and the other Apostles after Jesus Ascension into heaven.

If this is the normative path that Jesus gave us why would you not Baptize your child first even before you and your wife? Baptism removes the original sin of Adam and Eve.

It is an outward sign Instituted by Christ to give your child His Grace. Intimately and personally.