Why do Methodist call "Sprinkling" Baptism?

Question

Why do the Methodist church called baby dedication, "Baptism"?. A young baby doesn't know what sin is and can't ask for forgivness. Other religions wait for to a person to understand, ask and accept God's Gift. Will a Methodist once they reach the age of accountability die and go to hell if they are not trully saved if they know what sin is?

Answer 1

You answered your own question. A baby doesn't know what sin is and therefore has no reason to ask for forgiveness before baptism. The Bible tells us we must become "as little children" in order to enter into eternal life. Obviously then those who already are "as little children" are ready for eternal life, and ready for that which is needed for eternal life - rebirth through water and the spirit - baptism. Which is why the Christian Church has baptized infants from the very beginning. Withholding baptism from them is a modern tradition of men that no-one ever heard of until a few hundred years ago, and a serious deviation from orthodox Christianity.
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Answer 2

I used to be Methodist. As I understand it, which may not be very well as it wasn't discussed very often at all when I was a Methodist, their version of baptism sort of is a precurser to their acceptance of Jesus Christ as their personal Savior once they are old enough to know what that means.
However, I agree with you. Baptism is a sacred ordinance and should only be done when one has reached the age of accountability.
As for your last question, If a Methodist dies and has not been truely "saved", and knows what sin is (has reached the age of accountability), will they go to hell? If you ask a Methodist, that's what infant baptism prevents. If you ask me, no, because they were never given the opportunity to be baptised after the age of accountability. Therefore they died without a saving ordinance and that ordinance can be performed by proxy and accepted by the person if they want it, at a later date.

Answer 3

I am not Methodist.

Baptism is a "ceremony" -absolutely nothing else.
It 'symbolizes' washing or cleaning away dirt (sin).
Sprinkling to a Methodist is the same as dunking to a Baptist. Neither is better, or worse. And, neither can wash your sins away. Baptism (sprinkling) is a "picture" of what has happened in a persons life. It symbolizes and or publicly declares that they have trusted Jesus for their salvation, and it is the ceremonial way to let the community know. Baptism is not required for salvation although it is expected in most denominations.
Anyone who dies after the age of accountability (when ever that is?) that has not accepted God will go to hell, regardless of their religion or baptism.

Answer 4

Sprinkling baptism is an oxymoron. The word baptism means total immursion. We are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. We are baptized as an outward showing of giving our lives to Christ. Some say it is necessary for salvation some not. I wont give my two cents on this from scripture but Id say if you have the chance to get baptized Id do it. Everyone not saved at the age of accountability will go to hell. Amen and Peace out......................

Answer 5

Catholics, Episcopelians, Lutherans, Methodists, and other Christian religions do it too. In Mormonism at age 8, they baptized the child, is the child really accepting Jesus or being coerced by the parents? Is a tradition and a way of passing religion to your children.

Answer 6

Infant baptism and any type of baptism (as long as it includes running water) was practiced by early christians.

for example

"For He came to save all through means of Himself--all, I say, who through Him are born again to God--infants, and children, and boys, and youths, and old men." Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 2,22:4 (A.D. 180).

"I, therefore, brethren, who have lived sixty-five years in the Lord." Polycrates, Fragment in Eusebius' Church History, V:24:7 (A.D. 190).

"And they shall baptise the little children first. And if they can answer for themselves, let them answer. But if they cannot, let their parents answer or someone from their family." Hippolytus of Rome, Apostolic Tradition, 21 (c. A.D. 215).

"[T]herefore children are also baptized." Origen, Homily on Luke, XIV (A.D. 233).

"For this reason, moreover, the Church received from the apostles the tradition of baptizing infants too." Origen, Homily on Romans, V:9 (A.D. 244).

"Baptism is given for the remission of sins; and according to the usage of the Church, Baptism is given even to infants. And indeed if there were nothing in infants which required a remission of sins and nothing in them pertinent to forgiveness, the grace of baptism would seem superfluous." Origen, Homily on Leviticus, 8:3 (post A.D. 244).

"But in respect of the case of the infants, which you say ought not to be baptized within the second or third day after their birth, and that the law of ancient circumcision should be regarded, so that you think one who is just born should not be baptized and sanctified within the eighth day...And therefore, dearest brother, this was our opinion in council, that by us no one ought to be hindered from baptism...we think is to be even more observed in respect of infants and newly-born persons…" Cyprian, To Fidus, Epistle 58(64):2, 6 (A.D. 251).

"Concerning baptism, baptize in this manner: Having said all these things beforehand, baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in living water [that is, in running water, as in a river]. If there is no living water, baptize in other water; and, if you are not able to use cold water, use warm. If you have neither, pour water three times upon the head in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." These instructions were composed either while some of the apostles and disciples were still alive or during the next generation of Christians, and they represent an already established custom.

The testimony of the Didache is seconded by other early Christian writings. Hippolytus of Rome said, "If water is scarce, whether as a constant condition or on occasion, then use whatever water is available" (The Apostolic Tradition, 21 [A.D. 215]). Pope Cornelius I wrote that as Novatian was about to die, "he received baptism in the bed where he lay, by pouring" (Letter to Fabius of Antioch [A.D. 251]; cited in Eusebius, Ecclesiastical History, 6:4311).

also you may not believe in the stain of orginal sin and that is why you don't care for infant baptism... their doctrine is different from yours.

Answer 7

It isn't just Methodists; and this is a big problem!

Heaven is going to be a very small place, as there are thousands of different religions and denominations, and only one of them can be right!

Answer 8

Methodists are not the only ones. Lutherans do it to. That's how they got me. I was too small to defend myself.

Answer 9

Sprinkling and baptism are not related. tradition taken from catholicism.

Answer 10

its the symbol that counts tnot the amount
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