Baptism???

Question

My daughter is four now. Since she was born my in laws have been wanting me to get her babtized. They have been pressuring me to do it but im agnostic and I dont belive in it. My father in law said that he was worried about her soul, but I think thats absured. They dont know im agnostic and my husband is luthren but he doesnt belong to a church so he doesnt care either way. I tried to explain to him that if she wanted to get baptisd that I wanted it to be her decision not anyone elses, and she is too young to make that decision right now. He said the sooner the better. they want me to do it in their chruch. Im ready to pull my hair out!!!! What can I tell them so they will drop it???

Answer 1

Baptism is a symbol that the person being baptised belongs to Jesus Christ.

Baptism is not for children, its for adults.

Answer 2

From a Christian perspective, you answered the question the correct way. "Let it be her decision not someone else's decision."

Your in-laws unfortunately are gravely mistaken in thinking that the soul is saved by immersion or sprinkling of water.

There are two options I can say to you... one, if you want to keep peace in the family, you can humor them. There is absolutely no harm that can come by it, but from a Christian perspective, baptism of one so young is meaningless.

I was personally baptised as an infant. I went to church for 18 years and followed all the laws of the church. Before you know it, your in-laws will want her to go through first holy communion classes and then through catechism classes. The problem with these doctrine are that they are created by man and are essentially worthless in saving one's soul.

I became an agnostic in college... and 9 years later after much searching, I became a follower of Christ. When I made that decision in my life, I was baptised following Christ's example. My parent's who I invited to the service, scoffed at me saying "we had you baptised as an infant" and blew me off.

In the short of it all, it means nothing, it can't hurt her. However, you have to explain to her that there is no basis of what she is doing. To a four year old, that is not easily something to explain.

On the last note, your husband needs to step into this equation. It's his parents. You should not be having this argument with them. He needs to get a backbone and tell them to back off to be perfectly honest. I'm having to do that with my son of 3 months right now. My parents are telling me to baptise him. It's not going to happen. I am dedicating my son to the Lord tomorrow in which my wife and I promise to bring him up in the ways of Christ. But his soul isn't worth anything until he makes the decision himself.

As an agnostic yourself, this is the middle of a tough place for you to be. I would be happy to answer any further questions offline to explain where the theology and logic of both their doctrine and the Christian doctrine explain baptism. I will pray for your situation.

Answer 3

Baptism is a ceremony demonstrating life (dry), death (underwater), and being reborn (above water, soaking wet). At least that's how my church does it, we go to a deep creek and dunk the person under water for about 2 seconds. So, I wouldn't recommend doing this for a 4 year old. A lot of people get baptized after they're saved (been spiritually reborn) anyway, because when you're only 4 years old, it doesn't mean anything because you don't know what is going on. Being sprinkled with "holy water" doesn't put a barrier around your soul, protecting it. So, there is really no rush.

Answer 4

Tell them that the Bbible in no way teaches that a child should be baptized. Baptism is something that should be done only after the individual is old enough and chooses to dedicate themselves in service to God.

Matthew 28: 19 & 20: "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”

Was infant baptism practiced by first-century Christians?

Matt. 28:19: “Go therefore and make disciples . . . baptizing them.”

Acts 8:12: “When they believed Philip . . . they proceeded to be baptized, both men and women.”

However, later on, Origen (185-254 C.E.) wrote: “It is the custom of the church that baptism be administered even to infants.” (Selections From the Commentaries and Homilies of Origen, Madras, India; 1929, p. 211) The practice was confirmed by the Third Council of Carthage (253 C.E.).

Religious historian Augustus Neander wrote: “Faith and baptism were always connected with one another; and thus it is in the highest degree probable . . . that the practice of infant baptism was unknown at this period [in the first century]. . . . That it first became recognised as an apostolic tradition in the course of the third century, is evidence rather against than for the admission of its apostolic origin.”—History of the Planting and Training of the Christian Church by the Apostles (New York, 1864), p. 162

Answer 5

It may as well be your daughter's decision since you are not going to be the one to raise her as a Christian, and she will more than likely follow your example anyway later on in life. But we leave decisions as to who will be saved in God's hands anyway.

I believe baptism to be a covenant between God and his people, and therefore that covenant is extended to children You are showing signs of not being part of that covenant, and being the ones responsible for your children, a paedobaptist pastor would not baptize your child anyway. If your parents think you are Christian, I'd say it's time to correct them and let them know that you reject their beliefs. If they still have difficulty with this, then perhaps they should take a closer look at what paedobaptism really involves. Your child need not be marked as God's property if you're not going to follow through.

Answer 6

According to my religion a child is innocent until they reach the age of accountability, and at that point it is there choice wheather to be baptised, I was raised in the Baptist faith so we feel that baptism is an outward show of an inner work. So what I decided to do is have my daughter christened at church which was : to ask God to guide and protect her in this life, and I chose her God parents (In case something was to happen to me and my husband) this made everyone feel better. You being agnostic and you husband not practicing his faith well why not let the in laws have her christened then everybody should feel better.

Answer 7

Baptism is something for adults. In order for baptism to mean anything you have to accept Christ as your Lord and savior then be baptized to show that you want to follow Christ. If your in-laws will read their Bible it pretty well states that Children are not accountable until they know right from wrong. At 4 yrs of age this is only going to get you Daughter wet and she will have no idea as to what it is for. I would ask them to please have the courtesy to wait until your daughter can make the decision herself. If they have respect for you and your daughter they will do this. Sounds like that they are forcing an issue just to satisfy themselves. Good luck and God Bless you.

Answer 8

Nothing will happen to her, she is just a little girl and she does not know what is good or evil. On the other hand, you are the one responsible of transmitting faith to her, if you don't want, that is up to you. I would say you can't give your child something that you don't have, so if they baptized her it will be follow by emptiness. You can baptized her and always tell her as she grows that your in laws have faith in God and that if she wants to know more about it, she can ask her grand parents. After all, she will be free to do what she wants.

Answer 9

Lutherans believe baptism is for children. While I do notagree with them, it is their right to believe that, I guess.
However to be concerned a bout her sould because she is not baptized, that is the kind of superstition Luther fought against.
I would say if one of the parents want the child baptized, let him or her do it. It's only a bit of water anyway and won't change anything one way or another. But if neither of the parents are interested, it is not the business of the in-laws.

Answer 10

I think my dear sister, that we are, all of us creatures of God, no matter if you are baptized or not.- The baptism means that you integrate a community.- I´m Catholic and I have groups of children.- I teach them that everybody , all of us, are brother and sister .- Let your daughter decide which way to take.- Sometimes is good to baptism your child but if father and mother are decided to give him/her the guide to follow together the way of a religion.- But in this case she won´t have that.- So let her know about different ways of knowing God and his son Jesus and let her decide if she want to integrate a church group or family.- I have a lot of good friends that believe in God but they are not baptized, they are really good kind of human being and I think that if God decides that their time in this planet is over, they would go right to "paradise".- Sincerely from my heart - Nina

Answer 11

Baptism is action that shows your have chosen to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and believe he is your saviour. A child can't do that until they are old enough to understand. No, your daughter will not go to hell if she is not baptised as a child. God shows mercy to children who die before they are old enough to understand the choice of following Him or not. You are right, it is your child's choice. Even though you are agnostic, your child should still have the option of learning about Christianity. Being agnostic and having your child baptised would be just playing a game.