Should I baptize my child? Serious answers only please?

Question

My family consists of very devout baptists. I mean my roots are Carolina mountain roots so heavy on the Christianity and so I was raised... however I have come to doubt certian things... I am trying to find my way. The thing is I have a 2.5 almost 3 year old baby... If for some slim chance my way of thinking is wrong, I do not want her to suffer an "eternity in hell" as you Christians put it because of my bad mistake... But then again I don't really 100% into the Christian belief...

My dilema is I am constantly worried about my daughter. I don't want anything bad to ever happen (who would??) to her but I also want to ensure that *If* something did happen, she would be at peace.

Maybe some Christians could help me out - would your God really punish a child into hell for eternity eventhough they know no better (at age 3 I doubt she can comprehand such things). Thanks!

I just want to thank everyone so far for relieving my fears... As to those who say I am unfit as a mother because I don't believe - it *is* my choice to believe what. Just cuz I'm not religious DOES NOT MEAN I am not Spiritual. I am. I've read up on a lot of Religions and beliefs.

I myself am still finding my way and personally could care less if what I believe is wrong and I suffer in hell for it because it was MY choice. I just do not want my daughter to suffer for something she had no control/understanding of. Thank you.

Answer 1

God would not punish your child for not knowing any better, and He would not send her to hell just because she didn't have time to get baptized before dying. He is very merciful (although some branches of the Baptist faith seem to forget that).

You worry about your daughter because you are a good mother. Keep trying to find your way and God will honor that. Ask Him to lead you and guide you, and He will be faithful to that request.

Answer 2

If you look in the bible, there is no mention of infant baptism.
Jesus was 30 years old when he was baptized.

People were baptized when they came to an understanding of the scriptures and wanted to be baptized.

So if you follow the bible. Your child should be old enough to make that decision on her own. Young children would fall under their parents until they are old enough to make their own decision.

So if you are worried about your child, you need to make sure you are living your life right. Of course, anyone who dies has paid for their sins and have the hope of the resurrection.

Romans 6:23; John 5: 28 & 29; Acts 24: 15; Ecc 9: 5 & 6:10; Ps 146: 4; Matt 3: 13-15; Matt 28:19 & 20; Acts 2: 41; Acts 8: 38, 39; John 3: 23

Answer 3

Dear SilverBlue,

Water baptism is only a sign indicating that one must have their sins washed away. It has absolutely no spiritual substance-that is it does not affect one's soul. As you know, water cannot wash away 1 sin. The Lord is the only One who can forgive sins. Water baptism is similar to Jewish circumscision. This ceremony could not provide a Jewish male baby with salvation. It was simply a sign indicating that a person must have their sins cut off (Deuteronomy 30:6). Only the Lord can cut off our sins.

I used to be a "baptist" until God showed me that the "church age" is over now. It ended in 1988. If you read Matthew 24:15, 16 the abomination of desolation is satan. Judaea, holy place, temple are all metaphors for the church or local congregation. "Mountain" is a metaphor for God Himself (Psalms 121:1). Also look at Revelations 18:4 (read the whole chapter too). The Bridegroom is parabolic for Christ. The "Bride" is a metaphor for the true believers. Please note that the "light of a candle" is a metaphor for the true Gospel. In other words the Gospel is no longer in the churches! "Another gospel" (2 Cor 11:4) is present in the churches today and deceiving many people. In 2 Thess 2:7 the Lord tells us that the Holy Spirit is no longer in the churches. Therefore, absolutely NO ONE can be saved there regardless of the accuracy of the preaching.

Start readin the Bible o your child. We read in Rom,ans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Faith is a synonym for Jesus or Christ. Jesus is the essence of faith (Revelation 19:11). So then Christ cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

If you want further info type this into your web browser: FamilyRadio.org and just listen. There is a good program called the "Open Forum" where listeners call-in with there questions and the host answers them from the Bible. I hope this will help you.

Answer 4

A deeper question, why did you have a child in the first place if there would EVER be a even a chance of her going to hell?

Regardless, I believe that baptism itself is a continuation of a covenant, believers "tuned in" with God's love and wanting their entire household to demonstrate a Godly home. That's what circumcision was all about in the Old Testament, and that's what it needs to be about today. Circumcise your heart, baptize your heart, same thing. Raise your kids accordingly.

God punishing a child under the age of reason? Well, why do we baptize but to say that we all stand in need of a Savior. We don't go through life innocent with whatever decision at death determining where we'll be afterward. We are guilty all through life, and it goes all the way back, yes, to birth. We're born into sin, nobody deserves Heaven.

Just my take on it, you need to believe and be baptized, and you need to give that little girl an address in the Kingdom as well.

Answer 5

No, God's not gonna send a 3-year-old to Hell. I can't think of any major denomination that believes otherwise. Even Catholics recently declared that children who die very young without being baptized go to Heaven, and they were one of the last hold-outs on that.

Whether you choose to baptize your child as an infant really has more to do with what you believe about baptism than whether such a young child could go to Hell. For example, Lutherans believe that rebirth is actually attached to the rite of baptism, and we deny the Baptist doctrine of salvation through acceptance. For us infant baptism is quite logical since salvation is always something given to you by God through someone else, not something you reach out and take hold of through a prayer of repentance.

So what I'm saying is, you need to really get a handle on what you believe about this. If you believe that salvation is received through acceptance, then you should raise your daughter in a good Baptist church and make sure she is taught properly, and allow her to make her own decision. If you believe that salvation is received by way of baptism, then I suggest that you find a Lutheran church (Missouri Synod, aka "LCMS", would be the easiest for a Baptist to adjust to), and talk to the pastor there for further guidance.

Answer 6

Ur right! No she cannot comprehend the concept of good & evil, BUT U can, Right??? So why then haven't U Accepted Christ??? We don't want to know about Ur Families beliefs, just Urs as U are the one writing for our Advise, Right??? It is Obvious that U are Not Adequately Informed Enough to be able to raise the child in Ur current State. Let's suppose when she is older, she Does Accept Christ But Still not U! She comes to her Mommy & asks a Basic Spiritual Question and U can't answer it. I do think that U are Concerned about her well being, but if U REALLY want to give Ur child the Best, U have to BE THE BEST!!! Don't delay, get Right with Christ now!!! To Ur question about Hell for Ur Daughter. Anyone (read Ur Daughter) who does Not reach the "Age of Accountability" (where they know right from wrong, different for All) who Dies, is taken to Heaven by God!!! There is NO MAGIC IN THE ACT OF BAPTISM PERIOD!!! No Mortal Man (read priest etc.) has the Power to Forgive Sin, that is what the Death, Burial & Resurrection of Jesus Christ Accomplished!!! John

Answer 7

A child cannot inherit the sins of the parents, no your 3 year old knows no wrong, because you are the teacher now and you will teach him or her the right ways, in law, manners, social developement, imorality, and so on. No God will not punish children, they are a gift from him, why would he punish them. Just be the parent you want to be and put the rest in Gods hands and all will be fine.

Answer 8

I decided to get baptized when I was 18. I have since renounced it as nothing more than clap-trap. I'm just glad my parents didn't have it done when I was small.

My father is dead set against baptizing, and when my mother stopped treatment for her cancer, she had it done in her 60's. We didn't tell Dad though.

I also live in NC, so I know how you feel. If I were a parent, I'd let my child decide on his religion (or lack of), not to mention baptism.

Remember Jehovah's Witnesses believe that only 250,000 people will get to heaven (or something like that). It's all rubbish, really. Recently the Pope declared an end to Limbo (where unbaptized children end up) just to convert more people in Africa. It's all such a racket!

Answer 9

You're still working on the assumption hell might be real. Well, when she gets old enough to decide what she believes, then she could have herself baptised. I seriously doubt ANY loving deity would EVER send an unbaptised child to a place like the Christian hell. That's just morally wrong. And if I think it's morally wrong (a mere imperfect human), and can see that -- I am pretty sure an omnipotent being saw it long before I did. Let her make that decision for herself when she's old enough.

Answer 10

I was raised Baptist, and the belief is that Baptism does NOT provide salvation in any way, shape, or form. Rather it is a profession of your salvation. If your child is too young to choose for herself don't have her baptized. She will decide one day. Remember: nothing changes when you're baptized, it's purely symbolic. Salvation is only provided through faith in God, you can't force that upon your child.

It is good that you are concerned for your daughter. Try to nurture her to keep an open mind and discover life's meaning for herself. :)