I am getting my 3 month old son baptized on the 24th this month. My daughter will be 7 years old next month and very much wants to be a part of the ceremony and be baptized herself. I am having a hard time trying to explain something like this to my almost 7 year old in a way that she fully understands this commitment. Is there anyone out there that can help?
2007-06-06 06:11:29 · 22 answers · asked by stunts20 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Has she already BEEN Baptized? Because if she has, you can just tell her that, as far as letting her be baptized.
I don't really understand the tradition of infant baptism myself, but my understanding is that it is primarily the PARENTS promising to raise the child in accordance with God's will.
You have to tell her that a promise is very important always, but it's even more important when you make it to God, and you are promising God that you are going to raise your son to love God. Then you can give examples from your daughter's experience - like taking her to Sunday school or whatever it is that you do to make live up to having baptized her. Maybe it's just teaching her not to hit people or whatever, but tell her that you are promising God that you will do the same for your son.
2007-06-06 06:21:58 · answer #1 · answered by ZombieTrix 2012 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can. I am an atheist, but was raised Christian and baptised. As it was explained to me at the time, baptism is a cleansing process, symbolic of rebirth. After being baptised, a Christian begins a new life with Jesus--at least, that is how they perceive it. Being "reborn" in this manner is a means of absolving one's self of sin and starting anew. Also, some believe baptism to be absolutely necessary--that one can not be "truly" Christian or earn salvation prior to the baptismal experience.
2016-05-18 01:14:30 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My friend your child does not need to fully understand what baptism is in order to recieve it. You do understand and can teach her. In the Catholic faith we anoint the child's mouth and ears with holy oil because we understand that baptism into the life, death, and resurrection of Christ gives us the ability to understand that mystery in baptism. This gift of understanding is the gift of faith. Once your child receives baptism the Spirit will be conferred upon her to understand. And the same Spirit will give you the wisdom to teach her. Yet, know that just because she receives the gift of baptism does not mean she will fully understand it (she is still a child), but she will fully receive its sanctifying grace. She grows in the understanding of that grace all her life and especially in your continued teaching and prayers. Baptism stays with us forever and its effect is not temporary it is all our life. So, if you love her as a good mother, then you will have her baptized like a good mother for the sake of her soul. To delay is insane. Why delay such a good as baptism because the child cannot understand? My parents have made plenty of decisions for me in my childhood that I did not understand were good at the time. But now that I am older I do see what they decided for me was good and I am a grateful son to them. I think in this PC culture we worry too much about the will of the child instead of forming the will of the child. And to form a child's will is to decide things for them whether they fully understand or not. Trust in God and have your child baptized. 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
2007-06-06 06:32:27 · answer #3 · answered by som 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Baptism in children is to wash away the stain of original sin. Her commitment wont begin until she begins her religious education for confirmation and her first communion.I would tell her that by her being baptized she is being wrapped in the arms of God's loving arms.
2007-06-06 06:37:43 · answer #4 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ceremony that enables her to spend the rest of her time with Jesus and then eternity with him in Heaven with angels and everybody that goes there.
TG: you are wrong. The Eunuch that was reading Scripture and finally had it explained to him had his WHOLE HOUSEHOLD baptized. Several places speaks of the entire households being baptized. Do not prevent the little ones from coming unto him.
2007-06-06 06:20:05 · answer #5 · answered by Midge 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Baptism is an important decision one makes when he or she is ready to commit to God's will , but should not do so until baptism is fully understood and not made a spectacle out of in front of people....It is more serious then you think or at least should be!
2007-06-06 06:20:43 · answer #6 · answered by blahblah 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I take it your seven-year-old daughter was already baptized? You may want to just explain to her that she's already been set aside for the kingdom of God, and it's time for her little brother to be marked like her -- and in your house, you all are conducting yourselves as people who belong to God through Jesus.
2007-06-07 11:57:05 · answer #7 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sacrament of Baptism is for believers old enough to understand the commitment they are making. Baptism is a public identification of the believer with Jesus in his death, burial and resurrection. It does not save, however. We follow Jesus' example of being baptised, but I can't think of any benefit of getting a 3 month old baptised.
2007-06-06 06:20:23 · answer #8 · answered by Graham 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The original idea of baptism was that the godparents agreed to raise the child should the parents die. The church has prostituted the concept. Tell your daughter that baptism is to make sure she is never alone.
2007-06-06 06:18:45 · answer #9 · answered by bocasbeachbum 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Are you sure your 3 month old son is ready to repent?
Acts 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.
Good question. Deserves a star.
2007-06-06 06:16:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 2⤋