2007-03-12 12:04:18 · 21 answers · asked by Clarkie 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You can't be inducted against your will, the ceremony you went through without being willing or understanding what was happening did not make you a christian.
2007-03-12 12:07:31 · answer #1 · answered by Rossonero NorCal SFECU 7 · 6⤊ 0⤋
It depends on your view of baptism. If it removed original sin, then you've denied the existence of God anyway later in life, and your baptism had an effect only until the age of reason.
If you held a "believers baptism" point of view, then depending on whether you believed in a once-saved, always-saved theology or you could lose your salvation, one would have been a mistake by the person baptizing you that you were sincere about your beliefs, and the other would have made the baptism valid only for the time that you believed.
If you hold a paedobaptistic view, then it was up to God in the first place as to whether you were part of his covenant or not. And I'll go with this view rather than leaving it up to man sending you to heaven or hell based on what anyone did for you physically.
2007-03-12 21:06:19 · answer #2 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you are talking about being baptized as a baby, and you have decided that the church is not where you belong, just move on....why? Do you feel a need for a formal ceremony for some reason? Did someone forcibly make you get baptized?
I do think that an infant shouldn't be baptized, the decision to be baptized as part of joining a church should be when you are old enough to decide that for yourself....I was raised Catholic, though, they make you baptize babies, and teach that if your baby dies unbaptized, it will go to Limbo, how awful is that? The Guru might be on to something, you could enter a body of water, then when you come out, announce to whoever that you have been re-born into a new life of (insert your intentions)....if it is that you wish to be an athiest, announce that you want to be an athiest...if it is that you want to join some other church, or some other religion, baptism, or initiation in to the new whatever it is you are seeking would take precedence over what ever came before, I would think...
2007-03-12 19:11:47 · answer #3 · answered by beatlefan 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you were baptized against your will you are not bound to anything. Baptism is a symbol of a person's dedication to follow a way that the person is in agreement with. Therefore you are not bound to anything.To become a christian a person must have a basic understanding of God's word the bible. This is a requirement:To learn about god and his Son. See John 17:3
If you need further information?
gemhandy@hotmail.com
2007-03-12 19:17:43 · answer #4 · answered by gem 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If such was done and it wasn't your choice - all you got was wet in public.
Baptism is a person willingly following the teachings of Jesus.
If you weren't willing - you weren't baptized. Within scripture there is no such example of someone being baptized against their will and being called a "Christian" or a follower of Jesus.
Your comments do make me wonder what in the world got you to the point that you seem to be at now, though.
2007-03-12 19:11:29 · answer #5 · answered by Toe the line 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Baptism does not make you a Christian--following Christ's example is what makes you a Christian. Your heart condition has obviously never had room for the love required in order to follow him. Perhaps at some later date you will change your mind and decide that his love is sufficient for you.
2007-03-12 19:47:35 · answer #6 · answered by Sparkle1 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you can't become a Christian if your heart isnt willing, so someone claiming you are 'catholic/lutheran/whatever' cuz your parents had you sprinkled as a baby doesnt make you a Christian.... Being a Christian is surrendering to Jesus Christ and accepting His Gift of Salvation... and you can only do that once you reach the point where you can understand what it is all about... if you were 'dunked' or 'sprinkled' as a child not understanding what they were 'doing to you'.. you arent a Christian... Christianity is a choice of the participant, not the parents or church
2007-03-12 19:13:59 · answer #7 · answered by livinintheword † 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Your in a religion or a cult.
GOD Cannot Recreate your Spirit (get you Saved, Born-Again) With-Out your Permission.
You have to say Yes to GOD Almighty to get Saved.
Water Baptism Does Not Recreate your Spirit.
Just gets you wet.
Real wet.
Water Soaked wet.
Thats all.
(I was agonna say you can go down a Dry Devil and Come Up a Wet Devil, but I don't want to Offend AnyOne.)
Ditto.....................
2007-03-12 19:11:12 · answer #8 · answered by maguyver727 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Baptism is like a wedding ring, it's just a symbol. You just "unbaptised" yourself by "taking it off".
How were you possibly baptised against your will?
2007-03-12 19:09:06 · answer #9 · answered by Wendy B 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good question. I don't know that this is precedented, but you could totally make up a really cool ritual that would work for you.
Maybe you could fill a kiddy-pool up with water (kiddy- pool symbolizes immaturity and fear of personal responsibility that characterizes many religious people), and step into the pool and spit into it, step out of the pool and walk around it. Repeat this five more times. The seventh time, step into the pool and spit into it, then step out and walk around it seven times. After the seventh round, yell at the top of your lungs and imagine the walls keeping you from being the person you were meant to be fall, fall, fall to the ground.
Best of luck.
2007-03-12 19:11:25 · answer #10 · answered by the guru 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋