A question for Catholics and Lutherans, perhaps a few others?

Question

I am a Baptist, my wife is Lutheran. My wife insisted that our daughter be christianed, and I had an issue with it. Do you feel that Christianing an infant takes away their free will and ability to choose for themselves?
And, do you think that the children that are not Christianed would go to hell if they died before learning about Christ?
Please, I'm serious, not an athiest trying to get a rise out of people.

Earl, it would not bother me if my daughter choose not to believe, it is her choice-that was the basis of the question. Through my faith (and my wife's) she is saved irregaurdless.

Answer 1

There is nothing against infant baptism. You are not taking away their free will. Even as baptized Christians...we can still walk away from Christ at any time. Free will isn't a one shot deal.

We do not know what happens to babies that die before baptisim. They have committed no personal sin, but they carry the stain of original sin. But not to baptize your daughter, in my opinion is dangerous. She will grow up and may never be baptized and then she will have both original and personal sin.

The diciples were told to go out and baptize all nations...St. Paul baptized entire households. Even though they didn't specifically mention infants...they certainly didn't exclude them. It's hard to believe that they would baptize everyone and leave out the babies.

http://www.fisheaters.com/baptism.html
http://www.catholicapologetics.org/ap060200.htm
http://www.catholic.com/library/Infant_Baptism.asp
http://members.aol.com/RSIWORSHIP/scriptural.html

Answer 2

No.

Baptizing an infant does not take away their free will. They can always choose differently for themselves later.

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.

By the way, infant baptism is also practiced by the majority of Protestants in the world, including Lutherans, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Dutch Reformed, Methodists, and others.

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

Christening an infant will not take away their free will or the ability to choose for themselves but it will certainly not save a person. Only Christ can do that. John 14:6 says, "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.""
There is a certain age of accountability where a child will be able to understnad the full message of Christ and choose. If say a three year old died they would most likely go to Heaven, christened or not, because they weren't at the age to make a commentment to Christ and understand what they wer doing. If your child is christened now I don't think it would be a big deal but later on in life he/she will still have that decision to commit their life to Christ and then could be baptized (if your wife has a problem with that tell her you went along with the christening lol) hope I helped!

Answer 4

Well firstly, when a child is christened they are babies so no, I don't think it effects them in any way.

What effects them is how they are brought up and if your having this delema now you need to work it out quickly and decide how you are going to bring your child up.

Secondly, it clearly states in the bible that children will go to heaven if they die. I think the bit about not being christened is a man made issue, the bible is one book that is very ambiguous.

If 10 different people read it, they will see 10 different things from the same passage. It's all dependant on what is going on in your mind when you read it. That's why it's said that the bible has the answers to all questions.

Anyway, I was brought up with both protestant and catholic but when I became an adult I chose which I wanted to be, you could do that with your child, bring them up exposed to both religions and let them choose when they are old enough to understand both.

No religion is right or wrong, the point of all religions, is to be a good person and to treat others as you want to be treated yourself so, it makes no difference one way or the other.

Answer 5

Hi, I'm Catholic too. I don't think that the church would mind the pastor coming to share a few words, after all we are all worshipers of the same God aren't we? He cannot act though as an honorary celebrant, he might be able to talk as part of the sermon, not the whole, but some. Good luck. by the way if you are planning on raising your kids catholic it is a lot easier is your hubby is also catholic. I get it if you aren't a real big religious person but I am and that is what i would do.

Answer 6

First I never give an atheist a thumbs down against heaven or hell or even God because they don't know what they are talking about.

I am not Baptist or Lutheran either but I don't believe Christining an infant takes away their free will and abillity to choose for themselves.

Answer 7

Since Baptists don't get baptised as infants, it probably seems weird to you...but Lutherans [and Episcopalians too] like infant baptisms as a way of welcoming the kid into the Christian family. What denomination they choose later [i.e., free will] is up to them...as is never going to any church at all. The Lutherans [and Episcopalians] do not believe as the old Catholics did about a kid going to what was then called 'Limbo' [since canceled due to lack of interest] and being without the presence of God. In a nutshell, your wife found comfort in having your kid baptised as an infant - sort of like wearing both belt AND braces - and you can see to it that your daughter gets to attend both of your churches as she gets old enuf for Sunday school, etc. Educate her about the differences in denominations--but don't worry about infant baptism. It doesn't sign a kid up for anything beyond being accepted as a new member of the family--Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Doctrinal differences don't mean much until the kid can think for herself...she might wind up a Unitarian and fool you both!

Answer 8

Christening or baptizing a child does not take away their free will and ability to choose for themselves. There is no gauratee that a child who is christened or baptized will continue to follow any faith once she has gotten older. No one has ever said "Damn, I want to be a Catholic, but i have already been baptized a Lutheran! I am stuck!"

Quoting from teh Catechism of the Catholic Church: "As regards children who have died without Baptism, the Church can only entrust them to the mercy of God, as she does in her funeral rites for them. Indeed, the great mercy of God who desires that all men should be saved, and Jesus' tenderness toward children which caused him to say: "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them," allow us to hope that there is a way of salvation for children who have died without Baptism.

You should ask yourself, "What does a child gain from being baptized?"
1. She becomes an adopted daughter of God the Father
2. She is united with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and is promised resurrection
3. Original sin, which is the human condition that separates us from God is eliminated
4. She receives the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Peter baptized entire households, including infants. Jeus implored His disciples to let the children come to Him. With all that Baptism does for a child, why would anyone NOT want their child baptized?

Please contact me if you want to discuss more.

Answer 9

The bible says you cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven unless you are baptized. Why take a chance I would have my child baptized as soon as possible. Your child can still grow up and change to something else if she or he so desires. However, I think God would be to merciful to send an infant to Hell. That I would not worry about.

Answer 10

No and No I believe in infant baptism because of the grace of adoption, the commitment of the parents to living in Baptism and raising the child as a Christian,entrance into the Church and family of God and antiquity of the practice. InNT whole households without distinction of age or rationality were baptized. Even adult baptism does not take away a person ' s ability to reject it later.