Hey Catholics?

Question

If I may ask, why do catholics, and a few other religions, baptize babies? There is not a single account in the Bible where a baby was baptized. Yes I know we are all born into sin, but baptism is one of the steps of salvation, which is a choice, and if not, why would God give us free will? Oh and what's with the sprinkling? The word baptism comes from the greek word baptizo, which means to immerse? That's what it meant then and that's what it means now! Please don't try to take the word out of context. Thank you.

Answer 1

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called."

Infant baptism is not a new thing. There are non-biblical documented sources starting in the second century telling of infant Baptism.

There are even several passages in the Bible where whole households were baptized. This would include everyone who lived there, men, women, children, and infants.

Acts 16:15, "After she and her household had been baptized"

Acts 16:33, "then he and all his family were baptized at once."

Acts 18:8, "came to believe in the Lord along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized."

1 Corinthians 1:16, "I baptized the household of Stephanas"

St. Paul wrote that baptism has replaced circumcision (Col 2:11-12), and in Judaism circumcision was performed primarily on infants.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

I'm a Lutheran and we also baptize infants. Neither we nor Catholics sprinkle--we pour. Though we accept sprinkling as valid baptism, we consider the method improper because it is not an effective image of the washing away of sin or of the burying of our sinful nature.

Nevertheless, the literal meaning of baptizo is not the point, especially since the word was used idiomatically to refer to any kind of washing anyway. The Bible alternately discusses Baptism as representing our sinful selves being buried and us raised as new persons (Paul's analogy), or as the washing away of our sins (Peter's analogy). Immersion emphasizes the former, and pouring emphasizes the latter--both are valid.

For infant baptism to really make sense, I'll need to cover some theological ground.

We would not agree that salvation is a choice in the sense that you seem to be saying. In the Great Commission we are told to make disciples, and we are further told that the *means* by which we make disciples is to baptize people and teach them the Gospel. A person chooses salvation as an outcome of these means of grace being administered.

The Lutheran and Catholic churches are both sacramental: We believe that when God institutes a practice that represents grace, that practice also accomplishes the grace that it represents. So when we baptize a person, that person is actually born again as a consequence of baptism. When the Church proclaims the forgiveness of a repentant sinner, that person is actually forgiven as a consequence of that proclamation.

So to get back to the original point, in light of what we believe about baptism, why *wouldn't* we baptize babies? Baptism and teaching are the process by which people are brought into the family of God. Needlessly waiting until a person is older to baptize them is unthinkable in light of our understanding of the process of salvation.

Answer 3

It is true that the word baptizo is rarely used to mean immerse. I believe that there are only two instances in ancient writing where it is used to mean immersion. One is when a ship sunk in Pagan literature and the other was describing a process in making pickles. But, in the most usual sense it means to wash and that is exactly what it means when referring to the Sacrament of Baptism. One of the earliest documents on the instruction of the apostles states that any method of baptism is correct whether it be sprinkling, pouring or immersion. the Catholic church most often uses pouring but sometimes uses immersion. The amount of water is irrelevant , however.

The Scriptures do show that entire families were baptized which would include babies but the most significant proof that baptizing babies is the proper instruction from our Lord and Savior is that His disciples taught this practice to the Church and that it was a practice from the beginning of the Church as evidenced at Pentecost.

In Christ

Answer 4

Somehow I get the feeling that nothing that anyone says in defense of infant baptism will convince you. You've been indoctrinated into a faith that is sound enough for your purposes, and you accept those doctrines whether written down or verbal. I hope you'll at least take a look at the lengthy responses posted, but if anything I expect you to only go back to your own theology to get an explanation of those verses. So I'll simply agree to disagree with you, and just share a common view of a great relationship with our Lord.

Answer 5

I'm not exactly sure about baptizing babies in the bible. I do know that some churches "immerse" their babies into pools of water, like how John the Baptist was immersed in a lake/river/whatever (sorry I am Catholic, but I don't exactly know ALL the details). They sprinkle just because it's more convenient and not all parishes, like the one I'm at, can fit a pool. Either way is appropriate, it just matters what the Church chooses or prefers.

Answer 6

Baptism if for the removal of original sin. That's why babies are baptized.

Answer 7

that's available, because of fact the prepare is barely Church custom, and not a dogmatic mandate. besides the fact that, that's amazingly maximum unlikely. The Catholic church has a tendency to alter their traditions in basic terms while there is not any different determination. the only time that would desire to take place for that reason is that if there have been some dire priest scarcity. (there's a priest scarcity precise now, besides the fact that that's nowhere close to dire)

Answer 8

bap·tize (băp-tīz', băp'tīz')

v., -tized, -tiz·ing, -tiz·es.

v.tr.
To admit into Christianity by means of baptism.

To cleanse or purify.
To initiate.
To give a first or Christian name to; christen.

[Middle English baptizen, from Old French baptiser, from Late Latin baptīzāre, from Greek baptizein, from baptein, to dip.]

bap·tism (băp'tĭz'əm)
n.
A religious sacrament marked by the symbolic application of water to the head or immersion of the body into water and resulting in admission of the recipient into the community of Christians.
A ceremony, trial, or experience by which one is initiated, purified, or given a name.
[Middle English baptisme, from Old French, from Late Latin baptismus, from Greek baptismos, from baptizein, to baptize. See baptize.]

I don't see the word batizo anywhere in this dictionary definition NOR do I see anywhere that it's meaning is immersion.

Are you going to accuse Marian Webster of twisting the word and its origin.

Answer 9

It's a church tradition. It's not in the bible. That's one of the many differences between the church and the bible.

Yes. Baptism is in the bible, but that's not what you asked.

Answer 10

This site explains on infant baptism & their false doctrine. They write about who or what the pope is & there is scripture describing the Vatican. There's also a section called Escapees from Romanism where exCatholics have escaped the church & how their eyes were opened to the Truth..

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False%20Religions/Roman%20Catholicism/satanism_in_the_vatican.htm