Why do some churches (like the Catholic church) perform infant baptisms?

Question

If our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ authorized this Himself, I want book, chapter, and verse. In other words, I want proof.

I know what baptism is.

This is off the churches of Christ web site:
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The word baptize comes from the Greek word "baptizo" and literally means, "to dip, to immerse, to plunge." In addition to the literal meaning of the word, immersion is practiced because it was the practice of the church in apostolic times. Still further, only immersion conforms to the description of baptisms as given by the apostle Paul in Romans 6:3-5 where he speaks of it as a burial and resurrection.

Is infant baptism practiced?

No. Only those who have reached the "age of accountability" are accepted for baptisms. It is pointed out that the examples given in the New Testament are always of those who have heard the gospel preached and have believed it. Faith must always precede baptism, so only those old enough to understand and believe the gospel are considered fit subjects for baptism.>>

We shouldn't be adding or taking away from the Bible.

Revelation 22:18-19 (HCSB, Holman Christian Standard Bible)
18 I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. 19 And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book.

Deuteronomy 12:32 (HCSB, Holman Christian Standard Bible)
You must be careful to do everything I command you; do not add anything to it or take anything away from it.

All kids that die before they know any better will go to Heaven. None of you can prove that infant baptism is the Bible, because it ain't there. Why in the world why people would false doctines and creeds by men before God's own Holy Word!! Y'all are playing with fire!! Churches need to get rid of their man made creeds and doctrines, and return to God's Holy Word in the Holy Bible!!

Answer 1

For generations and centuries now, this has been quite a controversial issue among theologians and biblical scholars within Christianity and from different religious faiths.

In lieu of a protracted response, and without any malice aimed towards the laity and other church members, here's my take on this:

Infant or child baptism [pedo-baptism] is one of the MANY INVENTIONS of the Roman Catholic Church that contravenes the believer's baptism [credo-baptism] ritual that was performed since the time that Yeshua Messiah [pbuh]/JC lived and walked on Earth.

If you dig a little deeper, you will find that this Catholic ritual actually stems from another INVENTION: the Original Sin. This is the doctrine that man is born blemished with a sin, a sin that has been handed down through the generations since the time of Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God in Eden. This is contrary to biblical teachings [see Ezek.18:19-20] and contravenes man's FREE WILL. Moreover, in essence, it also says that God continues to create human beings WITH A FLAW ...up to now!

Regardless, however, by performing baptism on an infant/child into the Church, several things occur. First, the child is "forgiven from his/her original sin"; next, the parents are handcuffed and forced to rear their child according to the Church traditions and teachings; third, and perhaps the most important one of all, the Church has recruited another [captive] member in its roster among the laity. Thus, the Church has a continuous source of AUTOMATIC membership, one that is assured through many, many generations! Ca-ching!!

And, as an aside, since most all of the Protestant churches were founded as splintered groups of the RC Church, the majority of these Churches continue to follow BOTH [INVENTIONS = false doctrines] the "Original Sin" doctrine and the "Infant Baptism" ritual that emanated from the Mother Church. Same results apply. Same continuous flow of automatic memberships. Ca-ching!!

And that's the name of that tune...

Peace be with you!

Answer 2

The best I have found is from a catholic paper and I copied and pasted it here. The present Catholic attitude accords perfectly with early Christian practices. Origen, for instance, wrote in the third century that "according to the usage of the Church, baptism is given even to infants" (Holilies on Leviticus, 8:3:11 [A.D. 244]). The Council of Carthage, in 253, condemned the opinion that baptism should be withheld from infants until the eighth day after birth. Later, Augustine taught, "The custom of Mother Church in baptizing infants is certainly not to be scorned . . . nor is it to be believed that its tradition is anything except apostolic" (Literal Interpretation of Genesis 10:23:39 [A.D. 408]). It sounds much like they were Baptizing infants at the age of eight days, which would coincide with the circumcision of the Jewish infant. Replacing the circumcision with baptism. This begs the question, are they taking the ideal of free will away for the infant?

Answer 3

The Catholic Church teaches, "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 Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Assyrian Church of the East, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Church of the Nazarene, Reformed Church in America, Episcopalians, United Church of Christ (UCC), Presbyterians, Continental Reformed, and others. Together, these constitute over 80% of all those who call themselves Christians.

For more information, see Catechism of the Catholic Church, section 1250: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2.htm#1250

With love in Christ.

Answer 4

A lot of churches practice baby baptism, and still more practice baptism of the young.

I'm sure that this is NOT in the Bible, though I welcome anyone can prove me wrong.

I think that letting a 5 year old declare his salvation and then be baptized is just the utmost in silliness. What 5 year old (or infant for that matter) Has the mental capacity, much less the secular and dogmatic knowledge, to make such claims? And what right do I have to affirm their religion for them? At that age they are simply parroting their parent's beliefs. So how can you let them commit an act so huge as baptism before they are old enough to understand it?

And now my disclaimer--

This is simply my personal opinion, and is not in any way meant to belittle anyone's personal beliefs. Now, make with the thumbs down!

Answer 5

Since many fundamentalist Christians criticize infant baptism, I must share with you the theological basis for our practice. Catholics baptize infants -- despite the fact that they cannot profess their personal faith in Christ -- in order to share with them as soon as possible the redemptive grace of Christ and to follow the practice of the first Christians.
Baptism is the sacrament through which we become member's of Christ's church and are incorporated into the death and Resurrection of Jesus. The baptismal washing, whether by immersion or by the pouring of water, cleanses us from original sin and is necessary for eternal life (John 3:3-6).
If you object so much to it, then I suggest you don't baptize your infants. Pastor Art, as a member of the clergy, I would expect you to have at least a basic knowledge about other beliefs. It seems strange that you were unable to answer the question.

Answer 6

Because there is no biblical proof to NOT baptized infants.

ALL Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Episcopalians, Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians adhere to infant baptism. Why? Why not? It is God's free gift to us! In Judaism, the covenant with God was sooooooooooo important that he mandated that it be done at EIGHT DAYS old! "You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. 12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised" (GEN 17:11-12). Baptism is now the sign of the covenant with God through Jesus.....do you think God changed his mind about its importance?

Here is the very beautiful writing on infant baptism as taught by the Methodist Church: http://www.gbod.org/homepage/new_home/baptism/page_4A.htm#8 This writing is truly very lovely....it should be required reading for all Christians.

Answer 7

Because many churches hold to the idea of original sin. Baptism is not just about personal sin (which, obviously, infants are too young to have committed) it is seen as remittance for all sins, including original sin.

There are other reasons. This is a quote from a Catholic website regarding why children are baptized:

"The Rite of Baptism for Children emphasizes the importance of faithfulness on the part of parents when it says to parents: In asking to have your children baptized, 'you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith.' That word practice is crucial; it calls for Christian modeling on the part of parents."

Answer 8

Acts 16:33 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized


Here is some commentary on this:
The apostolic Church baptized whole "households" (Acts 16:33; 1 Cor. 1:16), a term encompassing children and infants as well as servants. While these texts do not specifically mention—nor exclude—infants, the very use of the term "households" indicates an understanding of the family as a unit. Even one believing parent in a household makes the children and even the unbelieving spouse "holy" (1 Cor. 7:14).

Matthew 19:14 (New International Version)

14Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Hope this helps in some way!!

Answer 9

And you're not going to find book, chapter, and verse. Rather it is a weight of scriptural evidence found over the entire Bible that would have to convince you of the truth of infant baptism being valid.

If you're really curious about this, there are white papers, books, and apologetics sites that will tell you more about infant baptism and why it should be considered valid.

Answer 10

I am not fully sure, but the Catholic Church(which I was once part of) uses baptisms as a way to remove the "original sin."

Do some research on this, i'm a bit too tired to do it myself.