what kind of god would he be if babies went to hell?!?!? the whole reason he died for us was to suffer for our sins so we can have the gift of repentance....so why would babies be born with sin?? ridiculous! its a complete contradiction.
2007-10-02 07:51:35 · 21 answers · asked by Beth 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Baptism is a choice made by the individual after coming to faith in Christ and repenting of sin.
2007-10-02 07:54:59 · answer #1 · answered by L.C. 6 · 7⤊ 2⤋
Baptism never saved anyone in the first place and babies that die instantly go to heaven anyway. They wouldv'e had to be old enough to make a conscious decision to accept or deny the gospel and the gift of Jesus's death and resurrection in order to be either separated from God or reconciled back to God in a personal relationship. It takes thought and recognition of their own sins in order to make that kind of decision. And a baby can't do that. And God is not an unfair God. He is totally fair and just. So salvation through water baptism is not biblical and was only meant to show the way of the coming Messiah who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. When the people were getting baptized in the Jordan river (when Jesus arrived on the scene), showing their acceptance of the gospel, they were all older and there was not one baby or infant.
2007-10-02 16:19:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
First off, not a Christian. The basic idea is that we are all born with original sin, as well as the sins of the fathers, which are visited on the next three or four generations. The baptizing of infants started because parents were fearful in times when the infant mortality rate was high, that they're babies would go to hell if they were unbaptized and died. Since there is nothing in the Bible against it, the church began the tradition. It is not necessarily unbiblical--even Paul speaks of baptizing the dead, so that they may find comfort in heaven, even though they obviously have no choice in th matter. It's the same way in the beginning of the church, if a man converted and was married, his entire family would be baptized, regardless of the wife (or wives) and children's opinions and beliefs.
2007-10-02 15:05:59 · answer #3 · answered by Aingeal 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I don't agree with infant baptism. Babies are born sinless. They don't have original sin. They haven't sinned. They don't know what sin even is! They can't make the commitment if they don't understand what it means.
When Christ atoned for our sins, He didn't just atone for the sins of everyone that would live, but for everyone who has EVER lived. That means Adam and Eve. Their sin was forgiven them, and it isn't an issue anymore. We aren't held accountable for anything anyone else does. That means Adam and Eve also.
In my church, we give babies a special blessing. Usually it's given by the father- as long as he is worthy to hold the priesthood. Baptism doesn't happen until the age of 8. At which point, children should be able to understand right and wrong and understand what sin is.
2007-10-02 15:23:47 · answer #4 · answered by odd duck 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Babies are not born with sin but rather into sin. As far as Baptisms....I do not agree with Baptizing an Infant but I do believe in Baby Dedications.
A Baby Dedication is a ceremony in which believing parents, and sometimes entire families, make a commitment before the Lord to submit a child to God's will and to raise that child according to God's Word and God's ways.
Responsibilities Involved in Baby Dedication:
Christian parents who dedicate a child are making a promise to the Lord to do everything within their power to raise the child in a godly way, prayerfully until he or she can make a decision on his or her own to follow God. Parents who make this vow of commitment are instructed to raise the child in the ways of God, and not according to their own ways. Some of the responsibilities include teaching and training the child in God's Word, demonstrating an example of godliness, disciplining according to God's ways, and praying earnestly for the child.
2007-10-02 15:02:01 · answer #5 · answered by DK 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I agree with the principle of infant baptism, so do over a billion other Christians.
1 Peter 3:21
and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
Acts 2:38
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:3-4
Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
2007-10-02 15:12:12 · answer #6 · answered by Adoptive Father 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
This is the same god that said he would punish families to the third and forth generation for the sins of their ancestors. (Exodus 20:5). Yes, its ridiculous, but that is the kind of thing the Christian/Jewish god does according to the Bible.
Its really not too surprisingly that a lot of people eventually come to the conclusion that Christianity is a false religion.
Either ignore the problem, choose to make up your own version of christianity that you like better, decide that its false, or learn to love things that are ridiculous and wrong if they are in the Bible.
These are some of the most common solutions to this problem.
2007-10-02 15:01:10 · answer #7 · answered by Azure Z 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Wow my Pastor just said something about this Sunday. Baptism of water is something that is done AFTER you repent of your sins and receive Jesus into your life. It does not say in the Bible to have your babies baptized. Therefore there is no contradiction.
The three steps:
1. Be born again
2. Be baptized with water
3. Be baptized with the Holy Spirit
2007-10-02 15:00:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
We are all born into sin it is just that a baby has not committed a sin yet.
We got our children baptized as infants and my husband and made the commitment to raise them with God's Holy words.
When they get to be old enough to decide for themselves if they want to stay christian all they have to do is renew their baptismal vows for themselves, they do not have to be re- baptized.
2007-10-02 15:10:16 · answer #9 · answered by 9_ladydi 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
As a necessary sacrament for the salvation of the child, I do not think even the Catholic Church requires it anymore (they did away with limbo)
But the ritual is still valid in that it requires the parents and the chosen God parents to stand before God and promise to raise the child in the faith. That has plenty of meaning. In any event all faiths performing infant Baptism require re-dedication or conformation when the child reaches the appropriate age.
2007-10-02 15:02:06 · answer #10 · answered by jehen 7 · 1⤊ 3⤋