infant baptism?

Question

why is it that catholics still carry the tradition of infant baptism?? i mean its totally against the scriptures, jesus himself said to his disciples to go out to all the nations and teach them the good news of god, and then baptise them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. well hence infants can not be taught, so why does a catholic church go againt the scriptures and more or less make this mandatory for its members???...........and if you are answering as somebody whose catholic, please give scriptural proof for infant baptism, if you have any

Answer 1

Baptism is an outward symbol that the one being baptized has made a complete, unreserved, and unconditional dedication through Jesus Christ to do God's will. Jesus was about 30 years old when he was baptized.
In our faith, we do not baptize infants or children, unless the child is old enough to make a full dedication to do God's will.

Answer 2

I don't think Jesus said, "and then" when it came to baptism, which means you're interpreting the scriptures your way, not necessarily what everyone else should think. Catholics interpret the Bible differently, and through the implication of original sin, baptism is defined to remove this sin and all others prior to the age of reason. While I can see their point of view (and yours, for that matter), I'm of a still different persuasion that looks at baptism as God's covenant with us as His people, and infants are included in that covenant that points to mortification and forgiveness of sins, although it doesn't actually forgive them. That's God's territory, not man's.

Answer 3

It also says to repent and be baptized.Mark 16:16 says to those who believe and are baptized they shall be saved,but for those who believe not they are cursed.I see this curse on many of them not knowing what it means to be born again.They use the scripture about the Phillipian jailer and his house being baptized ,but it gives no indication there was an infant.Acts 16:34 tells us that all his house believed.We have also the account of Philip and the Eunuch.The Eunuch asked Philip what kept him from being baptized?"And Philip said,If you believest with all thine heart,thou mayest,And he answered and said,I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God." Acts 8:37.We see clearly here requirement needed before baptism.A baby can't believe with all it's heart.You will be told that the church has been given the authority to do this but Deut.4:2 we are not to add to the word of God nor take away,Revalations 22:18-19 tells us the same thing.It is a very dangerous thing when one handles the word of God so deceitfully.God have mercy on them all.

Answer 4

I wish I did have a scripture to back it up but I do know that the tradition had to do with a high mortality rate for infants back in the day. And a few other issues dealing with that. I'm not against it but, I guess some people figure that they want their child to be covered with the blood of Jesus just in case. The Bible does speak about how children are automatically entered into the kingdom of Heaven if they were to die. But I haven't read anything about them having to be baptized or else they wouldn't be permitted. However, I was taught that one must confess with their mouth or be able to comprehend that Jesus is their Lord and Savior before they could be baptized.

Answer 5

i always roll my eyes at this. i don't feel like quoting bible verses, you can check them out at another post above mine.

infants were baptized starting after the first conversions to christianity because the first people who became christian had children, and wanted their children to be a part of their church. i mean think about it - the only reason all of the first followers of jesus were baptized as adults, was because they were all adults when he came around. as these people have children, there becomes no reason why these infants should not be baptized as their parents were.

besides, baptism is made for a child or adult to enter the church, and confirmation is a literal confirming of this belief as an adult (in this case, about 15 years old). In the Middle Ages, infant baptism was often also necessary because of such a high infant mortality rate. Parents would obviously want to save their children right away for fear of them dying.

This all slowly becomes tradition, and tradition is something not easily done away with. And yes, small children can be taught, and not everything Jesus was saying the Bible must be interpreted so literally. Jesus told the disciples to go out and spread the good news because there were only a handful of followers at that point. Once these people converted, there was no reason for their future children to not be baptized as well. If you have such an issue with it, then challenge history itself, because its a natural progression for religion to take.

Answer 6

ok first off i dont belong to the roman catholic church.
i am a christain and i can tell you that at least here in canada all main stream churchs have infant baptism.
you will see if you go to church that the cleryman ask the parents who gives this child to be baptised and the parents answer we do . then the minister asks what shall this child be called and the parents say the first names only not the last name.
then the child is baptised and from that moment the babies name is written in the book of life .
in additon to being asked who gives the baby and the name
the parents grandparents godfather or godmother have to promise to raise the child as a christain.
the thinking is that babies who are not baptised do not go straight to heaven instead they do to a state of limbo .
the ones who have been baptised have been made free of the original sin and so as such if they were to die as infants they die free of sin all sin .
the ones in limbo do go to heaven but only after a time has passed and the lord has judged them .

Answer 7

You are correct. The Bible speaks about dedication of babies, just like how Jesus and other babies were dedicated at birth but only a thinking and reasoning human being can choose to be baptized and change from a life of sin to a new life in Christ. Does a baby commit sin, they are born in sin but they haven't committed any as yet because they don't even know what it is.

Answer 8

It's a question of power. If you get people by an very young age into your church, tehy will not leave it, because it becomes a tradition to them. And the moore people they have in their churche the moore power in politics they have. But Jesus said, that His kingdom is not of this world. - There is no scriptual proof for infant baptism.

Answer 9

The Catholic Church is very slow to change, but I believe this will someday change. The premise is that all children are born with the original sin of Adam and Eve and must be baptised to excorcise this sin. You will see this change some day. We all know children are innocent. This tradition was made up by men, not God. God will not banish an innocent child to Limbo.

Answer 10

As you said it's tradition. The Catholics and many Christian churches still have and follow traditions not backed up by the Bible, praying to saints or angels , purgatory, substitution of gape juice for wine in communion(yes I said that) and so on. Tradition was never meant to over ride the Word of God, but we have let it happen.