Why is baby baptism wrong? bible verses only please?

Question

My wife's catholic family wants to know why we're not baptizing our baby. My wife said we're going to wait until he makes the decision on his own. but what verses support this? I remember reading a very straight forward verse buy I can't remember where or the words exactly.

G and gilbert, thank you very much. I hope everyone else reads your answers. They are very helpful. God bless you!

Thanks to everyone who answered with verses, rather than your own opinions, you are indeed following Jesus commandment rather than the tradition of men. There are no arguments: there is only what we say and what the Word of God says.

Answer 1

What makes this practice especially disturbing is that the Bible does Not record a single occurance of an Infant being baptized.
On the contrary, every mention of baptism involves people old enough to hear and receive the gospel.

Jesus was an adult when he was baptized:

"... Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water..." Matthew 3:16

Throughout the Bible, baptism always followed salvation. The Ethiopian eunuch who was led to salvation by Philip was an adult when baptized:

"... they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." Acts 8:38

Others were baptized after they believed:

"And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized." Acts 18:8

After people heeded John the Baptist's message to "repent," they were:

"... baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins." Matthew 3:6

Obviously, newborn infants can not repent, believe or confess their sins. Therefore, they are never qualified to be scripturally baptized.

The Philippian jailer

When the Philippian jailer who guarded the Apostle Paul asked, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30), Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 31)." After the jailer believed, Paul baptized him (v. 33).

When Peter preached in Acts, chapter two:

"... they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41

When Philip preached to the people of Samaria, men and women were baptized, but no infants were baptized:

"But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women." Acts 8:12

If God's Word is so explicit that only those old enough to hear and receive God's Word should be baptized, then why does Catholicism demand that newborn infants be baptized? Is it to bring people into bondage to the church from shortly after their birth? You must settle this question in your own heart.

When you were baptized as an infant, were you really baptized, or did you just have some water sprinkled on you? It all depends on which side you will believe in - the Word of God or the traditions of men. Please keep in mind the words Jesus spoke to the religious leaders of His day:

"Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." Mark 7:9

Answer 2

Of cause One can change from Methodist to something else...you're a free agent..if you wish to join another church denomination then do so and if you choose to be Scriptually baptised by Full Immersion in a church that practices this then do so...you DONT have to stay in the church you were brought up into.Its Your decision!

Answer 3

Mark 1:4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. So you tell me how can a baby know thay need to be baptized? don't you have to know that your a sinner First? doses a Baby know that it is a sinner and needs to repent and be baptized? I'm not try to sound smartellic but it is the truth. I was raised catholic I was an alter boy, I was even going to become a pr east, but God opened my eyes to the truth about a lot of things, so now I am truly a child of God. Hope this helps. Luke 3:3. Acts 19:3-4 Romans 6:1-4 Ephesians 4:5

Answer 4

There are no bible verses that ban infant baptism, neither are there any that support it. Infant baptism is a response to a belief that when a child dies, before having the ability to choose to accept Christ that they go to hell. I'd like to make it plain that children do not go to hell, because their minds are like those of Adam and Eve prior to their sin, to put it more simply, they are "inoccent" even if they've committed sins because they don't know any better. The verse that supports that is Matthew 19:13-14, Where Jesus says regarding children "the kindgom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Now some church denominations have adopted infant baptism as a way for the parents to publically declare their intent to raise the child in the Lord. My only objection to that reasoning for it is that if the parents are both Christians wouldn't they be doing that anyway? I would think so.

However if it's a matter of keeping the peace within your family there's nothing wrong with infant baptism, just understand, and make sure your child also understands when they come of age, that being baptised as a baby does not mean there's no need for it when they make a decission for Christ later in life, because as you've already pointed out, as a child they were not able to make the decission and baptism can only bring salvation to a person who has the ability to choose, and has chosen Christ.

God Bless,
Chake-Ri Shcos

Answer 5

Baby baptism is not wrong...the parents are committing to raise the baby in their religious tradition...When they (the babies) are old enough to decide they want to, they can go to confirmation classes to show they want to follow God's way & be confirmed into the church.
Different denominations have different requirements for baptism & acceptance into the church. God honors them all...He knows we are only human & don't have all the answers so he just loves & forgives us any way...all of us...

My granddaughter had a Catholic father & a Protestant mother. She was not baptised as an infant in the Catholic church...or any church for that matter. When she got older (about 8 yrs), she thought she was going to hell because she was not baptised. Since I was working in the Anglican church, I asked the rector what to do...he said baptize her so she was baptised in the Episcopal church...& was very happy that she was 'between' her Catholic father & Protestant mother. Today she doesn't go to any church, because she was not trained to go to any church (sporadically here & there)...but she is happy that she is not going to hell !!!

I'll be happy when & if she chooses some church & goes there...at least for the kids sake...ages 2 & 5 mos. God loves them anyway...but they won't know that w/o believing & living that among Christian people.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

The bible would not unquestionably say that that's incorrect, yet then it would not have something in it to assert that's staggering, the two. i replace into baptized as an toddler, and that i replace into rebaptized as an grownup using fact I felt the would desire to be. God placed it on my heart, so I figured it replace into the staggering element to do. Baptism would not get you into heaven. in basic terms the blood of Jesus can wash away your sins. Baptism is an act of obedience, and a public demonstrate of your faith. It represents the dying and resurrection, that's the inspiration of our faith. My mom supplies this argument: (not asserting I agree together with her) a toddler is baptized, then while the youngster turns 13 or 14, they're "shown" of their faith, by taking affirmation instructions and being shown in the church(she's not catholic, by ways) besides, the only difficulty I see with that's that's not, then a private dedication using fact that's telling somebody while they'd desire to do it, instead of it being something they opt for to do for my section. i replace into additionally shown in a church, yet, incredibly, I never understood it incredibly, and it wasn't my decision. i've got self assurance it may be very own with God. i'm with you in this in that i hit upon no foundation for it in the Bible. God Bless

Answer 8

Baptizing a small child does not help him develop in faith. In fact, it violates Jesus’ command: “Go therefore and make disciples [or, “make learners”] . . . baptizing them.” (Matthew 28:19) Baptism is meaningless unless one is old enough to be a disciple. True, there is an “immemorial tradition” for infant baptism. But did not Jesus condemn those who ‘made the word of God invalid because of their tradition’?—Matthew 15:6.

Answer 9

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. Mark 16.16

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. Acts 2.38

Catholic (false) doctrine is that there is saving power in baptism. Baptism is a good work. Does it save?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2.8+9

According to the Bible, baptism is a public declaration of a new life in Christ. Think of it as a marriage ceremony. The baptism is not our salvation or our new life. It is the Christian ceremony used to mark the event. The real event is our repentance from sin and our belief in Christ. The real event is our new birth. Baptism is only a ceremony. I am not putting down baptism. Baptism is holy. But as Christians we need to know what baptism is and is not.

I can't post the whole New Testament. In the entire New Testament, baptism (of Jesus, not John) was for adults who repented from their old lives of sin, believed in Jesus, and wanted to make that statement to the world. There is not a single case of infant baptism in the New Testament.

Infants can't "believe and be baptized" to be saved. They are too young to believe. They are too young to know good from evil! Therefore they cannot willfully sin. They are innocent like Adam and Eve before fall.

You can also tell your catholic relatives that their denomination has recently changed its doctrine about unbaptized babies. Now they go straight to heaven instead of going to "limbo." There is no such place as limbo. There is no limbo in the Bible. It's good that the catholic church is finally admitting this.

Answer 10

This is what you say, and I guarantee you it will work better than any Bible verse.
You tell your in-laws "If you want to raise another child, you are more than welcome to have another one of your own."
Your child- your choice, end of story.
BTW- I was baptized Catholic before converting. I'm not anti-Catholic by any means. I am just against anyone who tries to tell you how to raise your child.