My husband and l do believe in God. We dont go to church regularly though. Only on Christmas, Easter, ect.... Should we still baptise the baby?
Would we have to go to church more often?
What really does baptising do for the baby, and what are the benefits?
What age should we do it?
2007-03-19 10:48:31 · 15 answers · asked by jackiebrawdy 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
you can be baptsed anytime
it cleans away sins
no you wouldnt have to go to church more
2007-03-19 10:58:52 · answer #1 · answered by laura 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You should only baptize your baby if it is an important value to you and your husband and an important statement about the way you want to raise your child. Otherwise it is a meaningless charade.
My advise- If you have to ask other people whether or not to baptize your child, you shouldn't do it.
To answer your other questions:
- no you don't HAVE to go to curch more often, but again...baptizing a child is making a pledge to raise them in the church...so if you don't want to go to church...why pledge your child to the church?
- The benefits of baptizing your child is you (as a parent) are making a commitment to God, your child, and the church community that you are going to do everything you can to raise your child with Christian values. The church community is also commiting to help you as you work to instill those values in your child.
- The baptism age depends on which religion you follow. Some churchs believe in "dedicating" the baby and then being "baptized" when you are older. Other churches believe in "baptizing" the baby and going through "confirmation" when you are older.
2007-03-19 17:53:44 · answer #2 · answered by western b 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I, personally, chose not to baptize my children. I feel that they can choose when to be baptized and through the church that they want, and into the religion of their choosing. I don't believe in god any less, but it's the route that my parents took with me, and I liked having the freedom to explore my options and feel out the different churches and religions before making a decision. I still don't attend church on a regular basis, but I do believe in a higher power. I just feel that baptizing a child into the faith of YOUR choosing takes away their right to decide for themselves how THEY feel. But, honestly, it's up to the parents. Some religions won't baptize a child under 13 or so, just to be sure that child knows that this is what they want.
2007-03-19 18:02:37 · answer #3 · answered by Franky 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We don't believe in infant baptism - the Bible is very clear that you are to be baptized as an outward sign that you are a Christian, a decision that a baby can't make. You might consider having your baby dedicated - but then you are making a vow to raise that child up in the ways of the Lord. I don't mean this as a jab - seriously - if you aren't really involved in church or the things of God, why bother - it won't secure them a place in heaven or anything. I understand you believe in God but if you don't practise an abiding relationship with Him and you aren't committed to raise the child in a biblical way - I don't see the point. God is more interested in the truth of your heart than He is in an outward thing you do "because it's the right thing to do".
2007-03-19 18:01:40 · answer #4 · answered by Zabes 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I became a Christian in my early 30's. In the Baptist and Mennonite Bretheren churches, you don't baptize at birth, you dedicate your child. Which means you will follow and teach your child about Jesus. If you are not prepared to do that, then don't dedicate your child. At a later date, the child can decide if they want to give their life to God. Then only they would make that decision. There is no insurance policy to get into heaven if you make that decision for them. Children are "covered" to get into heaven until they reach an age where they can make a knowlegeable decision for themselves whether or not to accept God. Many churches offer an Alpha course free of charge to learn the "basics" of Christianity. This may offer the opportunity you need to understand the workings of what you are after. God Bless you. I hope you seek further knowledge.
2007-03-19 18:21:50 · answer #5 · answered by Proud Mama of 4 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I didn't baptize my children. I decided before becoming a parent that I wouldn't make that decision for my children. I will wait for them to make that decision for themselves. Of course, I am the heathen of the family now because of it. My husband was raised Catholic, and I was raised UCC, and we have yet to decide where we plan to go to church. We just aren't "religious" people. We believe in God, and we have faith, we just aren't much for organized religion. (The whole purpose of baptism is to wash away a person's sins. What could a small child possibly have done that would need washing away? And no one can tell me that "sins of the father" crap. I don't buy it.)
2007-03-19 18:24:12 · answer #6 · answered by Jessie P 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what religion you "are" when you do go to church. My opinion, is yes, babies should be baptized. I am Catholic and we believe that we are committing our child to God and promise to raise them in our faith, washing away original sin, the water is symbolic of that. When they are older, they must make a conscious choice to remain in the faith (Confirmation)
The benefits of baptism? I don't mean this in a nasty way, but maybe you need to go to your local church and ask some questions. You as parents need to fully understand what you are doing.
2007-03-19 17:57:59 · answer #7 · answered by itsjustme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Baptism is the instruction from God to follow up taking him into your heart. After you have taken God as your savior, then you baptize yourself to show the world you are a Christian. Children should not be baptized unless they choose to do so. They need to speak to their childrens minister before hand to show that they truly understand why they are preforming this act. My 6 year old wants to be baptized, but for all the wrong reasons, his best friend did it. So we are making him wait until he can tell us in his own words the reasons why he wants to be. I just was baptized about 4 weeks ago. We didn't go to church when I was young and my husband and I just started going about 2 years ago. I took Jesus in my heart and was baptized just recently. I am 25.
2007-03-19 17:53:11 · answer #8 · answered by Barbara C 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The really true benefits would be for you go to church as a family, regularly.
2007-03-19 18:43:25 · answer #9 · answered by kayboff 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Baptism is a completely religious thing....baptism is symbolic of washing the sins away......no you don't need to go to church more often....that is like saying if you get married in a church you have to go more often.....you do what you feel is right....don't let anyone pressure you into doing anything.
2007-03-19 17:55:01 · answer #10 · answered by yetti 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Both my husband and I do not attend church either, yet we do believe in god. We do not even attend on holidays. Yet we've had our children baptised. I guess we did it more for the thought of the child... nothing much more to us. You can have your child baptised at absolutely anytime you wish.
2007-03-19 17:55:00 · answer #11 · answered by jlo77 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋