Bible-fundamentalists, where does the Bible say not to baptize infants?

Question

since you insist that everything should be in the Bible for your beliefs to be valid, I am asking where does the Bible say not to baptize infants?

if it's not in the Bible, then why are you against it?

Chris, infant baptism is not equal to smashing your fingers. don't even try to veer away from the topic. is the Bible against infant baptism or not?

since both are not in the Bible, then both your being against infant baptism and Catholics being for infant baptism are wrong, is that what you're saying?
or are you just against infant-baptism just because it's a Catholic practice? if so, then your sentiments are nothing but base from your being protestants.

Answer 1

No ban on it in the Bible but it is against the traditions and the teachings of the Funda.Prots. leaders(except LC-MS)
Whole households were baptized and there was not exception made for babies

Answer 2

The criteria and reason for baptism is to signify your belief in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an outward ritual of an inward condition. The baptism is a picture of Christ's death & burial (going under the water) and His resurrection (coming up out of the water). It declares to all witnesses that you believe Christ died for your sins, was buried, and on the third day arose from the dead. It's very personal and takes an older mind to comprehend what it stands for and represents in one's life. No where in the Holy scriptures is an infant baptised. Infants, just like anything or anyone else can be dedicated to the Lord. This is a decision the parents make to give their child back to the Lord, raise it with God's blessing, and teach it the ways of God. But, baptism is a consious decision made by the individual being baptised.

Answer 3

I don't think we need a flat out statement about infant baptism. You might as well say that infants can become Christians.

If you take the time to try to understand the meaning of Baptism, just like being saved, nobody can do it for you. This is a personal and spritual thing. An infant cannot make decisions and cannot choose to be a Christian. On that note, why would you Baptize an infant? If you think being baptized keeps you out or gets you into Heaven, you have completely misunderstood the symbolism of baptism.

Answer 4

The Bible tells us the purpose and indicates who should be baptized. Infants do not meet these descriptions.

The doctrine of infant baptism comes from the (mistaken) idea that babies have the guilt of sin, therefore they need to be baptized to wash away that sin.

The Bible does teach that baptism has a role in having our sins washed away (Acts 22:16) by bringing us “into Christ” and figuratively into contact with His death, where the saving blood was shed (Romans 6:3-4, Galatians 3:27, Colossians 2:12). It is that blood that washes away sins (Romans 5:8-10, Revelation 1:5), yet it is through baptism that we contact the blood, therefore, “baptism now saves… through the resurrection of Christ” and baptism is “for the remission of sins”. (1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16)

Finally, it is at baptism that we “rise to walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-13, Colossians 2:12). We cannot be saved if we are not “born again” into this new life in Christ.

Infants, however, do not need to be baptized, and they are not candidates for scriptural baptism, for the following three reasons:

First infants are not born with the guilt of inherited sin, so they do not have any inherited sin (guilt) that needs to be forgiven. Ezekiel 18:20 says, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” Infants are born in a safe condition.

We will each be judged based on what we have done, not based on how anyone else has lived. 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”

Secondly, infants do not have any sin of their own. 1 John 3:4 says, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

Since “sin is the transgression of the law”, if a baby is guilty of sin, what law have they transgressed, or which law are they even capable of transgressing or even understanding? Clearly, a baby has transgressed no law!

Finally, baptism in the New Testament is preceded by belief and repentance. (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38)

In Acts 8, the eunuch asked, “…What hinders me from being baptized?” (verse 36) The answer was, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” (verse 37)

An infant is not able to believe, therefore, they are not candidates for baptism.

An infant has no personal or inherited sin (guilt), so they do not need baptism. Also, since they do hot have the capacity to believe and repent (and they have nothing to repent of), they do not meet the requirements in order that they may be baptized.

You can get a baby wet all you want, but for it to be truly Scriptural baptism, it must be done according to the Scriptures. The Bible does not instruct that infants are to be baptized.

Answer 5

I must answer your question with a question for you-

Where does it say TO baptize infants in the bible? I

I cannot think of one reference specifically that speaks of a command to baptize infants. The bible DOES mention several times, however, that believing in Christ comes BEFORE baptism.

Mark 16:16 "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved..."

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 wil receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Acts 8:12-13 "but when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized."

It's not so much that some are against infant baptism as much as the fact that the bible doesn't support it. It does, however, have great support for being baptized once you have repented and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. So if someone wants to baptize their infant child they may do so but the bible makes it very clear that this does not save them- only a repentant heart and belief in Jesus Christ and his unmerited gift of grace will save them.

I was baptized as an infant and then chose to be baptized again when I made a personal commitment of faith in Christ. The second baptism was the only one that mattered to me and the only one commanded in Scripture.

Answer 6

Two problems with infant baptism have arisen in recent times within the Church of England. The first concerns “indiscriminate” baptism, which one cleric described as some sort of “spiritual inoculation.” The second is the refusal of an increasing number of clergy to baptize babies whose parents do not actively support the Church of England.

Many clergy realize that parents often have no desire to attend church and would not want their children to do so either. Why then baptize infants? “They want a christening for their babies,” comments The Times, “just as they want to give or receive birthday presents, decorate their homes at Christmas . . . It is part of their culture: it does not have to have a reason.”

One clergyman resigned because he reached the conclusion that infant baptisms should not be performed. He said: “The only person who can make that commitment to Christ is the person himself.” He could have added that Jesus Christ was 30 years old when he was baptized and that the Greek word for baptism, ba‧pti′zo, means to dip or immerse. After being baptized in the Jordan River, Jesus came “up out of the water.” (Mark 1:10; Matthew 3:13, 16) Nowhere does the Bible refer to the sprinkling of water on infants. Since baptism is a symbol of one’s dedication to God as a footstep follower of Christ, it is not a decision an infant can make.

Answer 7

The Bible does not specifically prohibit the baptism of infants. On the other hand, the Bible does not provide any specific example of infant baptism.

Answer 8

Bravo!! With the way the Jews would have understood baptism to replace circumcision and therefore include infants, there would HAVE to have been a specific, stated prohibition against babies getting baptized. There was not!

Answer 9

If you want to baptize an infant, then go ahead and do it.

It means nothing until that child is of age to understand why he/she is being baptized and what it stands for. Seems it is just for the parents sake anyway.

Most Christians probably say it is not scriptural because everyone that has ever been baptized in the Scriptures were full grown and made the decision on their own. No one is against the practice, we just say it is better to dedicate your child to God. In the end, it will still be that child's decision, once an adult, to accept or reject Christ.

Answer 10

The baptism of infants is a healthy start to their spiritual life. It creates a real spark in their conscience where today it is really needed. Why even worry about God or sin if you have no conscience? This is what is wrong with more and more people today---they have no conscience. This is what Jesus did when he healed lepers as the first sign of leprosy is numbness or the loss of "feeling: (conscience) by healing he restored their conscience or gave them one to start with---this is what Baptism does. Why deprive that from a baby? As they grow without baptism the sin within them becomes stronger and then they end up with monstrous distorted egos like Chris and his ilk.

Answer 11

Right - it's not in the Bible. No mention of baptizing infants.

What is baptism? Water Baptism is a ceremony that symbolizes an internal change when we asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior.

1 Peter 3:21 Baptism, which is symbolized by that water, now saves you also, not by removing dirt from the body, but by asking God for a clear conscience based on the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

I don't know any infant capable of asking God for a clear conscience. If so, go ahead.