If i'm a catholic and then become a christian; do i have to get rebaptized?

Question

yeahhh; religion was never a big thing or heavily reinforced in my life growing up. So i dont know all the "rules" and stuff.

Answer 1

If you have never really had life giving faith --- that is, if you have never been born again (and I wouldn't use that term, as I know it puts a lot of Catholics off, except that Jesus said that we could not have eternal life unless we be born again), then yes, I think you should be baptized after you do have that life giving faith, because your first baptism didn't signify anything. If you were already born again as a Catholic and were baptized after this, and you have just decided that another Christian denomination is more your theological flavor, then I would say no, you do not need to be baptized again.

It is not that you need to be baptized according to a certain church's rules. Baptism signifies the new birth, and if you were baptized before the new birth, your baptism was, in my opinion, meaningless.

I hope this doesn't sound harsh and I hope I expressed myself clearly --- in brief, baptism is a SYMBOL of our new birth in Christ. Once you have that new birth through the gift of faith, you should be baptized as a sign of your faith.

Answer 2

Catholics ARE Christians. We worship Christ alone, same as protestants.

You should not need to be re-baptized because the Bible talks about ONE baptism, not multiple ones, but some protestant churches do not recognize a Catholic baptism so they will make you do it over again.

Rather than make a change, though, why don't you learn about the faith you were introduced to as an infant? It's a pity that your parents didn't properly educate you about Catholicism, but it is a beautiful and Biblical faith. I suggest you either take a class (RCIA) and learn more, or read some books like, "What Catholics Really Believe" or "Catholicism for Dummies." That will give you a rudimentary understanding and help you determine whether you would like to complete your training within the Catholic Church or not.

Answer 3

That would depend upon the church in which you are joining, if they consider baptism necessary for salvation but only valid for adults.

Catholic teaching on baptism, in a nutshell, holds that baptism is a conferrence of grace, and is necessary for salvation. As such the individual being baptized neither adds nor takes away from the baptism, and so a baptism on an infant is as valid as on an adult. Some Protestant churches adhere to this thinking as well, and the Catholic church recognizes any Baptism performed in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Some non-Catholic churches hold (citing Matt 28, for some reason) that one should only be baptised in the Name of Jesus. Others hold that a confession of faith must precede baptism. Either tenet would require a re-baptism, although if you believe in your infant baptism, perhaps this new church isn't quite a theological match for you.

Answer 4

No, you don't. Catholics technically believe in the same trinitarian God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) as Protestants. The differences between the two are generally theological (including the unbiblical belief that Mary has the ability to intercede for us).

I'm pretty sure that the creator of the universe will see that you've already been baptized. ;) As I understand it, baptism is a matter of obedience -- our end of becoming part of the covenant that God made for us.

Answer 5

Catholics are Christians. You become a Catholic when you are Baptized in that faith.

You might renounce your Catholic Christian faith and join another brand of Christianity. If you do, you'll need to follow the rules of that brand. Some might tell you that you need a "Believer's Baptism". Some will tell you that you need to be baptized in the spirit, which is what Catholic confirmation is about.

While you wish to "Be a Christian" instead of a Catholic Christian, why not find out what it is that you are turning your back on?

I'm not a Christian, but I think it's interesting how so many people get talked out of a particular faith without ever really understanding it.

Answer 6

In the process of becoming a "Christian" you must have someone that can answer your questions for you. Mind you, I'm listening to Muse "Supermassive Black Hole", so my words probably don't hold any water. Ask a Catholic priest...Oh, well, there's Father Joe. He's got the info you need. Just email him.

Answer 7

You are already christian because Catholics are christian and no you don't need to be rebaptized if changing denominations.

Answer 8

Yes you have to. In catholicism a baby is baptized. Such a baptism was not administered by John the Baptist nor did Jesus take such a baptism.

A baptism is an outward sign of your accepting Jesus as your personal savior. For this you need to be
capable of thinking,
you need to repent for your sins and cast it out and
then of your free will accept it.

As a baby is not capable of any such thing what you have received a baptism.

When you were being baptized the one who baptized you asked you weather you are willing to leave your sins and you did not answer that question. Your parents did. That does not stand. Because on Judgment day when you stand before the Lord you (not your parents) will have to answer for yourselves. They will be busy answering for themselves.

Answer 9

If you are Catholic you are already a Christian.
Catholics are Christians.

Answer 10

Many Christian churches practice full immersion baptism for adults that have accepted Christ. If you were just sprinkled as a baby, then you should probably get baptised again. Ask your pastor.