Am I wrong to think it should be my kids choice wether or not they get baptised?

Question

I have a 5 year old and a 2 year old, I do believe in God. But I kinda think they should be able to make the choice themselves, when there older, when they actually know what it is and if they want it, My father has been on me for years about it and making me feel kinda wrong for not doing it yet. Its just that I was pushed into a relegion when I was 6 and I didin't like it, I dont want them to feel the same way.

Ty everyone for your answers, I never heard of dedicating a child

I havent mentioned them becasue there not around.

Answer 1

Go ahead and do it.

I think I was baptised like twice or something when I was younger, but if they decide not to believe it won't make any difference either way.

weeder

Answer 2

NO your not wrong, children have to understand what being baptized means. I think at that age, its just getting wet and that's not what it means. Let them attend on Sundays (morning and night) and Wednesdays. They can see and hear the word. Read to them from the bible, they need to hear Mommy read to them about the great works of the Lord.

My husband and I attend church with a family who has twin daughters, the girls did not get baptized until they were 11, their father is a Deacon in the church. The same family has an 8 year old, he's still learning about the Lord!

my Niece was 8, she told me she was saved and then baptized a week later ... I don't understand that! In the bible it tells you to repent, except God and be baptized, You have to know what repent means and why you are going it.

Answer 3

precise right here what i could desire to declare approximately this in case you're baptized you are able to desire to comprehend the clarification why you're being baptized in the adventure that your son dont completely hold close the reasoning contained interior the decrease returned of it there is not any decide on for. on the same time as your baptized your showing to the congregation that the historic self has died and the form new has resurrected. think of of of Jesus's death the historic handed directly to the excellent beyond and the form new began that shows the historic is wahed away and your putting out a sparkling existence as a sparkling guy Baptisism are no further waiting to stay removed from appropriate believing Christ and accepting him as your Lord and private Savior can try this even even nevertheless what it exhibits is that your showing the church that think of approximately converted your tactics and are renewing your suggestions and installation greater effective christ like so if he's to youthful to prevail in this there is not any reason to. I even have 2 young infants 5 and 3 and that i've got have been given been in church for extra or much less 3 years now good rededicated to the Lord on hearth for him and that i've got have been given been baptized, yet until at last at last my young infants comprehend why they are being baptized thye wont be.

Answer 4

I never understood why a parent wants to delay a good like baptism for their child. Most would argue wait until they are old enough to make their own choice and understand what they are choosing. This is a faulty argument because I know from childhood my parents have made lots of decisions in my stead that were beneficial for me. I did not understand that they were for my good at the time, but as I grew older I did reason to the goodness of their decisions. And I am a grateful child to them for doing this. They were being the parents they are supposed to be.
You may get a lot of answers about leaving the decision to the child or do not impose baptism on them. But have you considered this? How can the child decide whether to be baptised or not when no parent has bothered to inform them of it and await some magical day when they can decide all on their own. If you show to your child your indifference to baptism, then don't you think the child will be indifferent as well? Who knows, if one shows such a lack of desire for their own childs good (physically and spiritually), then wouldn't they raise your grandchildren the same way? Or maybe they will never even bother to have your Grandchildren baptised. We can only decide things clearly if we have an informed and developed conscious (which is a parents duty for the child).
If you wait for your child to decide then what are you going to say when they are older and want baptism and then ask you questions like, "Why didn't you baptise me when I was a child? If baptism is for the salvation of my soul, didn' t you care enough about my soul to baptise me when I was young?"
I think the problem is our culture forgot what it is to be a parent, which is to provide for their good (physically and spiritually).
Yet, others will say that to baptise a child is to impose on their freewill. Yet, I submit that one can impose their indifference to baptism on the freewill of the child. If this is to teach us anything it teaches us that a parent has to impose their will on their child so their child may develop and grow. I think we worry too much about will of the child rather than forming the child's will as parents should. Having your children baptized will be the first step in their formation as Christians and citizens. I am sorry that this is lengthy, but I hope it helps. May the Lord bless and keep you. May the light of His face shine upon you.

God's and your beast of burden
Fr. john

Answer 5

Jessie, each church or denomenation has a different opinion on that. Which is because the Bible doesn't specify.

The Bible says to "train up a child in the way they should go, when they are old (mature), they will not depart from it..."

What that means is build up your kids in the faith, but let them discover it. If you look at how Moses taught Israel to learn of the Passover, it falls along these lines:
Do the faith,
Involve the kids,
When they ask why, explain why.

Teach them about life, love, faith, truth, righteousness, God, morality, death, etc - as you go. Don't wait for a big moment.

That's what I've done with my kids and they are fabulous people who challenge me and who trust me. Because I'm not pushing anything on them, but I do expect them to live by my standards in my home. They have made the faith their own, and have great testimony of their own belief.

TEK

Answer 6

The important thing is that you share your faith with your children and make the decisions that are right for you and your family, otherwise any talk of deferring baptism is nothing less than a copout. Your being pushed is no justification for you pushing them away. It is a beautiful thing if they can be baptised together with the full affirmation of their family, not just you and your father but also their father and his parents (You've said nothing about them) and able to answer for themselves from all you've taught and shared with them. I hope you have found and are part of a vital and vibrant faith community.

Answer 7

no i dont think so i decide at 9 to give my heart to christ I think for a commitment of faith to have any weight it has to be the free will choice of that person.

Father K im a little supprised that you feel you should force a religion on some one. Jesus never forced the deciples to belive in him they did so freely after witnessing him.

Dedication of a child is one thing baptism is another.

Answer 8

i was baptized as a child because my parents wanted and arranged for all of us kids to get baptized on a certain day at church.

i was too young to know what was going on really, but the Jews dedicated their children to God shortly after they were born.

at home while bathing my son, i baptized him as a way of dedicating him to God.

he's older now to make his own decision about it, (he is saved)... but hasnt had a desire to get it done... yet. and i'm not going to push him.
i too feel that its a matter for each person to decide and not be decided for them.
...

however... if you consider the process to be a matter of dedication unto God...

it will give your father peace of mind. and not cause opposition between you.
and still allow for your children to make their own choice when they get old enough.
...

Answer 9

Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it. Prov 22:6
If you weren't willing to accept that responsibility, you shouldn't have had children. Anyone can just sit by and watch kids grow. Wanna place a bet on the outcome???

Answer 10

I agree with you, they should be baptized when they decide to take the Lord as their personal Savior. Some religions will only dedicate a child, not baptized.

Answer 11

I think it's great that you want them to make the choice. By doing so, I believe that you are giving them the right to make the decision. It will mean more to them which ever they choose.