Should I have my 4 month old son dedicated or baptised?

Question

i am baptised and confirmed lutheran of my own choice at the age of 14. i now attend a nondenominational church that doesnt baptise infants. i grew up in a household that didnt practice religion, but i intend on raising him christian. help me decide which to choose, having him baptised in a traditional lutheran church, or dedicated in my non demonimational contemporary church.

Answer 1

I would have my child dedicated. The reason that infants are baptised in some churches is because there is a belief that if they die without water baptism, which is only symbolic, then they will go to hell. This is clearly not true. An infant has not reached the age moral comprehension. If an infant dies they go straight to heaven. Dedicating your child will show God that you are going to let God have His way in your child's life. Dedication at a non-denominational church is the way to go.

Answer 2

Infant baptism.
From the LCMS website:
God's promises and power (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21; John 3:5-7; Titus 3:5-6; Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:1-4; Colossians 2;11-12; Ephesians 5:25-26; 1 Corinthians 12:13). Those churches which deny baptism to infants usually do so because they have a wrong understanding of baptism. They see baptism as something we do (e.g., a public profession of faith, etc.) rather than seeing it as something that God does for us and in us. None of the passages listed above, nor any passage in Scripture, describes baptism as "our work" or as "our public confession of faith." Instead, these passages describe baptism as a gracious and powerful work of God through which He miraculously (though through very "ordinary" means) washes away our sins by applying to us the benefits of Christ's death and resurrection (Acts 2:38:39; Acts 22:16), gives us a new birth in which we "cooperate" just as little as we did in our first birth (John 3:5-7), clothes us in Christ's righteousness (Gal. 3:26-27), gives us the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-6), saves us (1 Peter 3:21), buries us and raises us up with Christ as new creatures (Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:11-12), makes us holy in God's sight (Eph. 5: 25-26) and incorporates us into the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13). All of this, according to the Bible, happens in baptism, and all of it is God's doing, not ours. The promises and power of baptism are extended to all in Scripture--including infants-and are available to all. Parents and sponsors then have the privilege and responsibility of nurturing the baptized child in God's love and in His Word so that he or she may know and continue to enjoy the wonderful blessings of baptism throughout his or her life. "

Answer 3

I just had my son dedicated last Sunday actually, and it really doesn't matter between denominations. The point is that you realize that the baptism or dedication doesn't save him, it just signifies your commitment to raising him to love God and his Word. I would definitely recommend that you have it done wherever you currently attend because another part of the point is so the congregation is aware of your commitment, and they also learn who you and your son are so they can help and support you through his life.

Also, it is important that you and wherever you attend understand that baptism of any kind is simply a symbol of your commitment to follow Christ. When you are a baby, it is your parent's commitment to raise you, and when you are old enough to make your personal decision to have a relationship with God, you do a different kind of baptism which signifies that your sins have been forgiven and that you have become a new person.

Answer 4

Baby baptism is not biblical.
However, baby "dedication" is; which also involves the parent's participation in dedicating "their" life to God.

Baptism, according to scripture (Acts 2:38, Romans 6:4,5, Acts 22:16 and 1st Peter 3:31) saves us and remits (washes away) our sins.

Babies do not have a free will of choosing to get saved and be right with God. They cannot be baptised and it do one ounce of good. It only makes the parents "feel" better.

Baby dedication, however was performed in the bible.
(1st Samuel 1:11, Luke 2:22)

Hope this helps clear up the difference between what is bible and what is opinion. :)

http://www.splashdesignworks.com
http://www.housefellowship.org

Answer 5

Since earliest times Christians baptized infants. We read in the Book of Acts about 'entire households' being baptized.

Why not make your child part of the Covenant Community of Jesus Christ?

Answer 6

There is much confusion about baptism in the various Christian denominations. However, this is not a result of the Bible presenting a confusing message on baptism. The Bible is abundantly clear of what baptism is, who it is for, and what it accomplishes. In the Bible, only believers who had placed their faith in Christ were baptized - as a public testimony of their faith and identification with Him (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4). Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience after faith in Christ. It is a proclamation of faith in Christ, a statement of submission to Him, and an identification with His death, burial, and resurrection.

With this in view, infant baptism is not a Biblical practice. An infant cannot place his or her faith in Christ. An infant cannot make a conscious decision to obey Christ. An infant cannot understand what water baptism symbolizes. The Bible does not record any infants being baptized. Infant baptism is the origin of the sprinkling and pouring methods of baptism - as it is unwise and unsafe to immerse an infant under water. Even the method of infant baptism fails to agree with the Bible. How does pouring or sprinkling illustrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Many Christians who practice infant baptism do so because they understand infant baptism as the new covenant equivalent of circumcision. In this view, just as circumcision joined a Hebrew to the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants, so baptism joined a person to the New Covenant of salvation through Jesus Christ. This view is unbiblical. The New Testament nowhere describes baptism as the New Covenant replacement for Old Covenant circumcision. The New Testament nowhere describes baptism as a sign of the New Covenant. It is faith in Jesus Christ that enables a person to enjoy to blessings of the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 11:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Hebrews 9:15).

Baptism does not save a person. It does not matter if you were baptized by immersion, pouring, or sprinkling - if you have not first trusted in Christ for salvation, baptism (no matter the method) is meaningless and useless. Water baptism by immersion is a step of obedience to be done after salvation as a public profession of faith in Christ and identification with Him. Infant baptism does not fit the Biblical definition of baptism or the Biblical method of baptism. If Christian parents wish to dedicate their child to Christ, then a baby dedication service is entirely appropriate. However, even if infants are dedicated to the Lord, when they grow up they will still have to make a personal decision to believe in Jesus Christ in order to be saved.

Recommended Resource: Baptism: The Believer's First Obedience by Larry Dyer.

Answer 7

I would wait until he is older so that he can understand what baptism means. I don't know about other religions, but in mine when you are baptized you make covenants. We don't believe in infant baptisms. We start at the time they are infants and teach them about baptism and what it means. We teach them what it means to keep covenants and how to live a Christ like life. Then when they are the appropriate age (8), then they are baptized. Most are looking forward to being baptized, it is like a rite of passage. We still continue to teach them these principles.

Just teach him well and that at an appropriate age, then if he wants to be baptized, go ahead and do it.

Answer 8

"Dedication" accomplishes little.

Baptism with water, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, is always 100% effective at making the baptized ...

Free from original and all other sin.

A temple of the Holy Spirit.

An adopted child of God.

Co-heir with Jesus Christ.

A member of the church.

Which do YOU think would be best?

Answer 9

Baptism is an outward show of an inward change. I am not sure that now would be the time for baptism but definately for dedication. However, pray and be led of the holy spirit on what is the right decision. If you ask the father and wait he will answer.

Answer 10

You should do what ever it is that the religion you intend to bring him up in subscribes too.

However, if later in his life he chooses to change it, don't stop him, just because your are baptized or dedicated it doesn't preclude you from having it done again if you change to another belief system.