Shouldn't we let them make their own choices when they are older? I mean, if parents babtise their baby, then when they are older, they let the child choose what to believe, what was the point in baptism? I personally think the parents should wait till the child is older so the child can make their own choice.
2006-11-18 04:15:28 · 13 answers · asked by mchl_atkinson 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
It is a ritual to cement the continuity of superstitionism through the family structure. It is stupid, as there are no such things as gods.
2006-11-18 04:32:15 · answer #1 · answered by iknowtruthismine 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
people who baptise babies do so for several reasons. I can see why some might have a covenant baptism of babies and others might wait...both doing so in good concience
the best reaon would be a type of covenant dedication. Corinthians say that if even only 1 parent is a believer in some sense the unbelievign spouse and children are 'holy'. There is some special covenant protection or blessing for them. Doesn't mean they are saved. But people who baptise babies would be making some type of covenant appeal to God committing the child to God as well as commiting the parents and church to raise the child in the hopes of them coming to saving faith
People who prefer to dedicate the child and wait till the child has saving faith might prefer this for several reasons and also be doing so in good concience. They might want to distance themselves from thte idea a child becomes a Christians because it is bapitsed or they might prefer the image of being buried with Jesus and raised that imersion baptism gives
I could see it both ways. I also think there is an example of a rebaptism in the Bible in the case of the followers of John the Baptist in Ephesians in Acts... they appear to have been baptized by John the baptist earlier and then later by Paul into Jesus... It;s hard to decide how this might be applied today... and probably an area where Chrstians should cut eachotehr slack
I disagree with the position that children become Chrstians when baptised as babies... this would be "baptismal regeneration" since the Bible seem clear that you are saved by faith claling on the Lord. I can see a covenant dedication of children in the hopes of them becoming Christians later and I can see baptizing after being a believer , analogous to a confirmation.
2006-11-18 12:26:13 · answer #2 · answered by whirlingmerc 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I doubt if I'm going to change your belief, but when I see a dedication I wonder where the water is, and when I see adult baptism I say "it's about time!". Baptism is at all not what we do for God. It is what God does for us through a covenant that replaces OT circumcision.
Lots of questions come up when looking closely at baptism "only after the age of reason". How much water is necessary, esp. if water is scarce? If one loses one's faith temporarily and regains it, is re-baptism again necessary? And did that baptism apply while you chose not to believe? Mark 16:16 says "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." How are children of believers distinguished from unbelievers if neither are baptized? What of the historic church that had baptized infants through the ages? Did a sudden revelation make them all wrong? How does baptism not perform the same office as circumcision? If infants were circumcised then, why exclude them from the promise now?
2006-11-18 13:23:14 · answer #3 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree that it should be a personal choice once one has decided to accept the free gift of salvation through Jesus. However, the churches that baptise infants use this verse as their reasoning:
Acts 2:38-39
38Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
My personal belief is that this is promise is for future generations, not for 'children' - the word children here meaning progeny..
2006-11-18 12:27:19 · answer #4 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You don't baptise babies, you only baptise a person that knows the reason for baptism, through submersion in water.
2006-11-18 12:23:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's more traditional. Before, there was a lot of infant deaths and they didn't want the babies to go to limbo, and so they baptised so they would go to heaven because the chances of them dying were much higher.
2006-11-18 12:17:49 · answer #6 · answered by Megan 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they do not know the truth..you get baptised after you recieve Jesus as your savior and only at the age of accountability.
2006-11-18 12:18:57 · answer #7 · answered by mizzgrizz01 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I beleive that it has something to do with a pikie called 'John' (nice armaic name) who used to wash in a river.
Nowdays it's to force your children into something that they may not need or want.
2006-11-18 12:55:23 · answer #8 · answered by Dr No 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
to submit them to the LORD.In some churches the babies that have been baptist must be baptist again when they are youth ..bout 14 to 15 years old.
2006-11-18 12:19:06 · answer #9 · answered by Wxzy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When do you want to give a child a name or identity?
When do you want him/her to go to school? When he is too old to learn?
A baby has a soul, and a responsible parent should provide spiritual shield for him/her from exposure to evil.
When do you give a horse its hay, when it's already dead?
2006-11-18 12:25:38 · answer #10 · answered by Ely C 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋