as is practiced by Eastern Orthodox churches
2007-07-11 12:37:14 · 22 answers · asked by Holy Holly 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Baptism is always 100% effective (at any age) in making one an adopted child of God, a temple of the Holy Spirit, co-heir with Jesus Christ, and a member of the church, simply because God desires all to be saved.
Infant baptism in the Orthodox and Catholic Church is also the most powerful demonstration of salvation without any works at all, with the church freely supplying all that is necessary, including the water and the faith, courtesy of God himself.
Life is a dangerous, risky, and even deadly ordeal.
Without baptism, there's no absolute assurance of salvation, so it's always smart to secure your place (and the places of those you love) in the family of God, as early as possible ... and infant baptism is the very best way to do it.
The new testament of the bible does not in any way prohibit or restrict infant baptism, while the required old testament practice of circumcision on the 8th day of life remains as the strongest biblical "type" for the new covenant practice.
In the end, there's no substitute for baptism by water and the Holy Spirit ... at any age ... and as soon as practical.
2007-07-11 12:58:24 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The 8 days is simply a holdover from Old Testament times when circumcision was done on the 8th Day. Paul tells us that baptism under the New Covenant replaces circumcision under the Old Covenant, so the practice has some validity. However, it is sufficient to baptize babies as soon as possible after birth, as the Christian Church has always done.
2007-07-11 19:47:08 · answer #2 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Don't want to add to the confusion, but Jesus was probably in his late 20's or early 30's to be baptized. The reason was he wanted to fulfil the law and set an example for us. Yes he was circumcised on the 8th day but waited until he began his ministry. Just a thought.
2014-11-24 09:27:50 · answer #3 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The baptisim of infants is only a show and has absolutely nothing to do with the salvation of the child. Salvation is through a conscious acceptance of what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. And no 8 day old child that I have ever known is capable of making that decision. A parents decision to raise a child in the church according to the word of God would best be described as a dedication of that child and the parents dedication to do the best that they can.
2007-07-11 19:46:37 · answer #4 · answered by cbmultiplechoice 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Why, tell me what it does for them??? Answer, NOTHING, it has NO SUPERNATURAL POWERS & NEITHER DOES A PRIEST!!! Baptism is an Outward Sign to the Community of ones Choice Made to Believe in Christ & Follow in His Death, Burial & Resurrection Symbolically, Period!!! A Child can't make any "Choices' so it is Meaningless to them. God is Not Evil!!! If a Child or any Other Person dies Before the Differing Age of Accountability, their Soul is taken to be with God & given an "Interim Body" until Christs' Second Coming!!! John
2007-07-11 19:48:02 · answer #5 · answered by moosemose 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Babtism is symbolizing one dedication to serve God,now how can a child dedicate himself/herself at such an early age. If a church wanted to increase its membership ,what better way than to babtise all innocent babies into the church and to also encourage large families and no birth control.
2007-07-11 21:43:08 · answer #6 · answered by hunter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on their reasoning, which you did not include. I am surprised that they don't baptize at birth like Catholics do. I don't see the problem of either or being baptized at 12 like many Protestant churches do. My father is a Follow of Christ, I believe that's the name of his church. He was baptized as an infant AND at 12.
2007-07-11 19:41:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
I was never baptized when I was small, and the way I raised my kids were to wait until they were all old enough to pick whatever they believed in whatever religion they felt best in, and yes they were all baptized the same day my whole family was..But I wanted themselves to choose, I didn't want to choose for them..
2007-07-11 19:45:58 · answer #8 · answered by s 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Absolutely. The Bible has references to whole households being baptized, which would include children and babies. Besides, infant baptism has always been practiced by the church, and it removes the stain of original sin.
God bless...
2007-07-11 19:45:04 · answer #9 · answered by The Raven † 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Baptism can be done according to circumstances. If it is a baby the earliest soonest. If it is an adult christian convert like those baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan river, baptism for them is later in their adult age.
2007-07-11 19:44:49 · answer #10 · answered by Prophet John of the Omega 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋