Why do some Christian Churches not praactice infant baptism?

Question

Do you believe in the stain of original sin which also applies to infants?

Answer 1

Absolutely I believe that original sin applies to infants. It applies to everyone from Adam forward we all need a Savior.

Our Baptist friends are very quick to point out that infant baptism is not mentioned anywhere in Scripture, but very slow to admit that it is not forbidden, either. Paul's explanation of baptism to the Hebrews should have corrected them since they more than likely would have assumed that the practice would also apply to infants as it had done for circumcision in the Old Testament.

Also, when the entire households were baptized, the implication is not that everyone in the house was an adult. The implication for that time and culture was that the master of the house dictated how that household would be run. You have to remember that women and servants would have had the same social status as infants, and even though it is not explicitly mentioned, the culture of that time would have naturally included those that are denied the baptismal font today.

Answer 2

We dont practice it because it never says to baptize infants in Scripture. Infants didnt start being baptized until the 14th century. Pretty late to start something like that isnt it?

The idea that a baby that has not sinned yet being sentenced to hell just because their parents didnt put them through a ritual doesnt make a whole lot of sense even to believers. We are born fallen that is true, but we arent born sinners. We pickup sin as we go along and choose it just as we choose God. Infant baptism means nothing. Baptisms int eh Bible were tied to repenetence and belief in Jesus. No infant I know of can understand their sin or Jesus yet.

And there is nothing helpful about the doctrine of original sin. It is just poor Catholic theology that lingers on life support to this day.

Answer 3

This is one of those things that causes lots of arguments.
Baptism is clearly are requirement because it was one of Jesus' last comments before he went to heaven, yet there isn't any clear examples (other than Jesus at the age of about 30) as to what is and isn't acceptable.

Regarding infants, I think it was common when infant mortality was fairly high because people wanted to know a dead Child would go to Heaven, but I think now most Christian theologians would say that if a Child died without being baptized but the parents were, then it wouldn't make any difference.

Answer 4

The question of original sin as it applies to infants - water does not wash away sin...only the blood of Christ. Water does not apply the blood of Christ - only a conscious decision can do that. Since infants cannot understand their need of a Savior and Christ has not "dealt with their heart" they cannot make a conscious decision for salvation. They are covered by the mercy of innocence until that time - just as Adam and Eve were covered by "innocence" until the time they were offered a choice. Water baptism does not save - it is simply an act of obedience to Christ to testify to the world of the internal work of saving grace that has already occurred in the heart. An infant can have no understanding of that - therefore it does not apply to them.

Answer 5

Because we believe that baptism does not save, it is a symbolic action based on faith of the individual person, plus we beleive that they are under the age of accountability and till they are conscious of right and wrong are not charged with guilt, we believe also in baby dedications, that makes the parents responsible to bring the child up in the admonition of the Lord, but infant baptism is not based on the faith of the child but on the parents which cannot save that child from ones sins only the child when it accepts Jesus Christ as his or her personal savior can do that

Answer 6

Some churches view baptism the way other churches view confirmation - as an adult commitment to the church.

If you believe the original sin stuff then, yes, it applies to infants. This gets into the whole question of how can an infant accept Jesus when all he can say is aaah? If he can't then how can he be saved? If someone else can accept Jesus for him on his behalf (through baptism) then doesn't that lead to the whole Mormon belief that you can baptize your ancestors to save them?

Atheism is so much easier.

Answer 7

The apostolic Church baptized whole "households" (Acts 16,33; 1 Corinthians 1,16) a term which includes infants and children. Baptism in the Christian tradition is the equivalent of circumcision or the "circumcision of Christ" (Colossians 2,11-12). Thus, like circumcision, baptism can be given to infants.
Peace and every blessing!

Answer 8

Baptism is to be done when the recipient is old enough to make a decision for themselves..

John the Baptizer in the Bible only Baptized ADULTS.

Yes-- the stain is there-- but if they die before baptism they gt to Heaven anyway--just like low IQ's etc..

Infant Baptism is a CULT thing!

Answer 9

The Bible says to believe and than be baptized. How can a baby believe?
Most Christian Churches hold baby dedications in which the adult members are responsible for the spiritual well being of that infant.

Answer 10

first off, baptism does not do anything to remove sin...baptism is a purely symbolic and VOLUNTARY act by which a Christian demonstrates that his/her heart is 'cleansed'...secondly, an infant has no idea, earthly or otherwise, what is going on...infant baptism or 'sprinkling' may make mom & dad happy, but it does absolutely nothing for the baby...they might as well dunk a teddy bear