The Bible teaches that Baptism is for those who can repent (Acts 2:38), believe (Acts 16:31), and confess Jesus (Romans 10:9).
2007-04-20 08:15:26 · 8 answers · asked by House Speaker 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
don't baptize babies
as you have said baptize thoughs who have repented
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
2007-04-20 08:20:03 · answer #1 · answered by Noble Angel 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's not as easy as that. If you're going to argue for "believers baptism" you have to get through some very cogent arguments like the fact that infant baptism is nowhere prohibited in the Bible. And "entire households" would have included women and servants holding the same social status as infants, and therefore that entire household meant something far different than it does today. In the book of Hebrews, the Jews would have understood baptism to include infants in the same way that circumcision was applied to them in the Old Testament. They were not corrected, and this would have been too significant of a point for Paul to leave out. There is also the argument of course that if we are to follow this idea "to the letter" then the same must apply for prohibiting women from participation in the rite of communion where males were the only ones participating in the early church. And, "burying" was not performed the same way as is done today. This concept isn't mentioned in the Bible, but other documents around that time mention the sprinkling of dirt as sufficient means of burial.
Add to this the theology of a covenant relationship with your maker as opposed to the thought of baptism as a public profession that glorifies man instead of God, and you have a debate that requires more than just tossing out a few verses and believing that you can just settle back and enjoy the bliss of being "right" when they may not apply at all like you thought they would.
Good luck finding the answer that works for you.
2007-04-21 17:21:49 · answer #2 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How is it possible? Simple: Hold the infant by the ankles, submerge until wet, and remove. But seriously, infant baptism in a spiritual sense is not possible. Baptism is duty required AFTER salvation. Once a person is saved, they are commanded to go and be baptized. It is something we are directed to do. It is a witness to the world that one has aligned themselves with the God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. So, to perform the ritual on an infant, is fruitless...worthless...a waste of time. It would be like grabbing an atheist, against their will, dragging them to the river, dunking them, and then pronouncing, "There, you're saved now." Doesn't work that way. A parent's faith cannot save the child. Great question/observation. Peace.
2016-05-19 22:38:49 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I believe you are taking a very narrow view of the Scriptures you quoted based on your own theological speculation. The theological term for your method of interpretation is called eisegesis. this means that you came to the Scriptures with presuppositions and read into Scriptures these presuppositions instead of allowing by being open minded to allow the Scriptures and the Holy Spirit to instruct you in the truth.
The fact is that these Scriptures do, in fact, support the practice of infant Baptism. In Acts 2:38 the text informs us that the Baptism is not limited only to those adults able to repent and to hear the Word but ALL members of the family which logically would include those under any speculation as to an age of consent. Second of all what sins does a infant have that it is necessary for them to confess or repent. Last of all regarding the verse in Romans, are you saying that unless one can talk, one cannot be saved? And, while we are at it, what about those who are mentally incompetent for some reason are they not to be Baptized and be in God's Grace and will? God offers his Grace to everyone and especially the children whom God has said that we are not to prevent the children from coming to Him.
In Christ
2007-04-20 08:34:22 · answer #4 · answered by cristoiglesia 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is actually a Christiening. People have been calling it a baptism for a long time but mistakenly so. The idea is to engage the community to bring the child to Christ. The sticky question of where babies who died ended up led to it being a baptism to make sure the babies go to heaven.
2007-04-20 08:20:07 · answer #5 · answered by Momofthreeboys 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Indeed. Children belong to God anyway until the age of accountability. No need to baptize babies, unless one is more willing to follow religion and their regulations than Jesus' example.
If we needed to be baptized as children, do not you think that Jesus would have been baptized as a baby too.
2007-04-20 08:19:56 · answer #6 · answered by SeeTheLight 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Baptism is a gift from God. I don't know about you, but I open my gifts right away, I don't wait a fourth of my life to pass by.
2007-04-20 08:23:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
They don't!
†
2007-04-20 08:18:43 · answer #8 · answered by Jeanmarie 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋