Would you get your kids baptised? Why?

Question

My friend and I were discussing this subject because she said that she got her daughter baptised at 10 months and she is about to baptise her son that is only a month old. She says that it isn't a religios reason she had to do it so I am not bashing her beliefs or nothing, but what do you think? Would you have your kids baptised? Or even if you aren't a christian, would you force your child to believe like you do?

This is what I said to her:

Mia: i mean im baptist and i dont think a person should force their kids to be baptised, that should be their own decision otherwise it wouldn't mean anything. Or at least that is just my thinking. When you are baptised it means you are reborn and that you want god to forgive you for all your sins and that you turn your life over to him...but if u get them baptised they didnt make that choice, you made it for them... if anaya wants to be a muslim i cant stop her because that is just what she would believe in. I would still try and make sure I pray for her and try to get her to be baptist still but it would be her decision and I will take her to church, but if she chooses not to be baptist like myself or her daddy then that is on her. But i still think it should be their decision though.

Answer 1

I wouldn't force or get my kid baptistized even as a baby. It is an individual choice to follow Jesus and God. I think you need to be old enough to be able to decide. The church i attend won't even baptise a child till they are 5 and can understand why they are getting baptized.

Answer 2

First one must understand what baptism is. Baptism is the outward profession of ones faith. When one gets saved no one can see that, but by being baptized people can see this person is making a public profession of faith.

So the lady baptizing her children at an early age is missing the point of baptism. There is baby dedication where the parent brings the child before the church and basically is asking the church for support and prayer in helping raise the child to be a follower of God. Some religions may sprinkle or baptize at this time.

I do believe children can be saved and baptized but must be at a age to understand what is really taking place. If a child who understands these concepts and what it means to be saved then sure baptism them. I do not think a child younger than 7 can really understand salvation.

It is not hurting anything for the children to be baptized and it does not mean they get a free ride to heaven no matter what they. So if she wants to baptize then they whats the hurt as long the children are taught about this then make the choice to do it over later in life.

Answer 3

Well, I was raised as a Catholic but I do not consider myself Catholic currently (I have doubts about their beliefs and strict ways and if there is/is not a God but that is irrelevent); however, I did have my son baptized and the reason being is this: I was never 100% sure of what the whole baptizm thing meant, but I was very frightened that in case there actually is a God and, God forbid, something happened to my son, I did not want him to get rejected into heaven or something because of my ignorance for not relieving him of the "original sin" which I believe is what the baptizing is doing (ridding the individual of original sin - Adam and Eve).
I know, I know, probably not the most logical reason or anything, but maybe she is thinking along those same lines?
My sister also had her children baptized and then converted to a Christian Non-denominational church because it suited her beliefs better than Catholic. She feels she will raise her children as Christians, and when they are old enough to know and learn about different religions and they feel that they would rather follow a different route, so be it, they can make that choice then.
Or she may very well feel like this is what she is "supposed to do" because it was done to her.
Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I got my two oldest children baptized, their dad and his family was very religious, and honestly I don;t see a whole lot of significance in some one pouring water over my kids head while mumbling some words that the entire congregation repeats in a monotone voice as one. Although baptism is, just because they are baptized DOES NOT mean that they HAVE to believe a certain way, at least in my home it doesn't. The son I am pregnant with now will not be baptized as his father and i are not religious at all, and i really don;t feel like going through the motions for someone else once again for something I find ridiculous.

Answer 5

First of all, just to let you know, there is a rite called confirmation later on that the child can go through, which is basically them saying for themselves that they choose to follow the religion they were baptized as. (I grew up Catholic.) Some people also believe that if a person isn't baptized, they will not be able to go to heaven.

I personally didn't get my daughter baptized, only because I am not a religious person, and I do want her to decide for herself when she is older, if she wants to follow a religion, and which one she chooses to believe in and follow. I don't know the reasons that non-religious people baptize their kids, I've never talked to anyone about it. I think it's just another one of the personal choices people have, and everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion.

Answer 6

I beleive... if i had a child... I would. I was never given the opertunity as a child to have it done.. so I do not want to deny any child I may have, the opertunity. Now... about baptising a child so young... That is something I never understood. I personally feel that baptism of children should be a choice they would have to make on their own... and a child so young cannot possibly understand the importance of such a ritual.

Mind you... even as an adult, I still do not fully understand the importance of it.

Answer 7

Usually catholics have there children baptized as a baby. But if you chose not to that's ok. They probley can not receive a catholic religious education though. Like first communion,confession. And catholic children have conformation when there 15 or 16 with is the same as other religion's baptizing. That's when the children make a choice if it's right for them. This not forcing anything on them. As parents we have to have goals and direction for our children, this goes with it. Once children at a certain age then they have some choice in there life hence conformation for catholic children.

Answer 8

Infant baptism is theologically unsound but it is a nice tradition. If she belongs to a denomination that has christenings it may be expected. But I'm a baptist, too, and so my girls were dedicated in church, not baptised. Baptism is the first act of obedience a person does after receiving Christ.

Answer 9

My mother did that to me a few years ago and i at that moment was not comfortable getting baptized...i think the person that is getting baptized should make the decision to get baptized. But most people i know get baptized to join a church. To me getting baptized is a sign of giving your life to God isn't thats why Jesus was baptized!

Answer 10

We dedicated our children as infants - dedication is a vow the parents make that they will raise their children in the ways of the Lord - the Bible is very clear that baptism is an outward profession that you have a relationship with Jesus Christ, an infant is not able to make such a proclamation - in light of that, our children will get baptized when they are able to decide for themselves that they are ready to make such a commitment.