What is the benefit of Christian infant baptism if the infant grows up to be an atheist??

Answer 1

Many of the answers that you received either state or infer that Christian Churches reject infant baptism. I guess that means that my Lutheran Church, and the Churches of my Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Moravian, and Anglican brothers that follow the Biblical teaching on baptism are not Christian? Then it would also follow that if the Biblical teaching is wrong then the Bible is not reliable, and therefore has NO authority.

When one is baptized, regardless of age, one receives the Holy Spirit, and forgiveness of sins. Faith is not something that we can merit or accept; it is a gift of God through the Holy Spirit. Original sin, something that the self proclaimed "Christian Church's" also deny or play down makes us want to rebel against God.

Baptism gives all who receive it a spark of faith that can and usually does grow throughout our life. However the stain of original sin can lead us through free will (the same free will that allowed Adam and Eve to defy God) to rebel and reject the gracious gift of our faith.

The atheist that has been baptized, just like the rest of us carries the stain of original sin. Likewise they carry the mark of Christs death and Resurrection given by the Holy Spirit through baptism.

Faith tells me that the mark of baptism will make it harder for a person to reject their faith in the first place, and easier to regain it if it is lost.

The devil has nothing to do with an unbaptized atheist, because they have no faith. Original sin is damning enough on its own. Being baptized P.O.'s the devil, and he will work all the harder to push that person away from God, just as we see he is at work in the Churches (as evidenced by some of the answers above).

From the long rite of baptism, Lutheran Service Book Agenda, "the little exorcism": Depart thou unclean spirit, and make room for the Holy Spirit". Very similar to the Orthodox and RC rite.

To reject infant baptism is to reject a gift of God's Grace. Are we mightier than God that we should presume to reject such a gift so freely offered?

Almighty God, merciful Father, in Holy Baptism You declared us to be Your children and gathered us into Your one, Holy Church, in which You daily and richly forgive us our sins and grant us new life through Your spirit. bi in our midst, enliven our faith, and graciously receive our prayer and praise; through Your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. (Absolution Prayer; Lutheran Service Book, divine Service Setting Four)

Your friend in Christ,

Mark

Answer 2

Kait,

There is absolutely no benefit for an infant to be "baptized." Infants are never baptized. They may be "christened" as by the Catholic belief and possibly the Episcopalians which consists of a sprinkling or pouring of water over the forehead.

Baptism (Greek ... noun - baptisma: baptism, consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, to dip) is used (a) of John's baptism, (b) of Christian baptism, (c) of the overwhelming afflicttions and judgments to which the Lord voluntarily submitted on the Cross.

Baptism (Greek ... verb - baptizo: to baptize, primarily a frequentative form of bapto, to dip, was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another, etc.

Water baptism is an ordinance that we follow just like Communion. Water baptism is to identify oneself with the Lord Jesus Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. We proclaim our faith in Him publicly with a water baptism. Nothing more. It can never save you from God's wrath to come.

An infant cannot make a decision to be water baptised. Therefore has no meaning whatsoever.

Answer 3

There is really no benefit to infant baptism even if the child grows up to be Christian. If he grows up to be athiest, no. When we come to God, we must have knowledge of what we are doing. How can an infant know whether they have sinned and need forgiveness? They won't know until they reach an age where they know of sin and forgiveness. God bless

Answer 4

I do not believe that infant baptism is a scriptural practise.

Jesus set the example of adult baptism (although he did no sin). The essence of baptism is that one should repent of ones sins and wish to go God's way.

The Ethiopian eunuch, who Philip helped to understand the scriptures, wanted to submit to the act of baptism. It has to be something a person does voluntarily because it is God's will and we wish to please him.

A baby cannot have any understanding of sin, repentance or the gospel. If 'baptism' is done to a child by sprinkling it is someone else who is making the decision for him or her. So, as you imply, this would put that growing child in a terrible position if he denied God in later years.

The act of baptism is compared in scripture to the death and resurrection of Jesus, coming up to a new life with our sins blotted out.

Answer 5

You know that there is no benefit in infant baptism for the child, whether the child grows up to follow Jesus or reject Him. Jesus said to the people to repent and be baptized. Babies have nothing to repent for and cannot realistically repent. In my humble opinion infant baptism is just a religious ceremony that some people believe will secure a place in heaven for their child. You know that it is an outward showing to Christ and to others that you have repented, turned from your sins, are washed clean, and have risen to a new life in Christ.
Jesus love YOU.

Answer 6

The Word of God is abundantly clear that Baptism is only an ordinance, to be observed by each individual believer after salvation, as a public profession of one's faith in Jesus Christ. 

Being baptized doesn't make someone a believer, any more than walking into a garage makes someone an automobile.

Answer 7

Baptizing a baby is more for showing the parents intentions that the child grow up to be Christian.

It is a choice, though, that needs to be made by each individual when they are old enough to reliably choose to follow Christ. (After the age of accountability).

If you wish to be physically baptized in water, an adult baptism is preferrable when you want to make a statement to God and to your peers that you have accepted Christ as your Savior.

Of course it is all just an outward symbol of what has happened inside of you.

In this way, many are baptized twice, and many only baptized as an adult.

God Bless you.

Answer 8

The baptism of a child soon after birth is a commitment on the parents behalf to bring the child up in a Godly way. It gives a child a baptism while the child is not responsible for his/her own actions. Once of age of knowledge of right or wrong then that child or young adult is responsible for their choices. Our judgment we are to receive will be ourselves testifying against ourselves. the choices we made will either sentence us to hell or The fact we had faith in Jesus Christ will abolish all our sins and we get to enter Heaven's gates.

Answer 9

interesting question, considering i was baptized but am now atheist...to be frank, i think it helps the atheist realize really how incredibly widespread religion is, and how much people really depend upon it...see it was my grandmother whom baptized me, and she had been a real good evangelical christian woman during her life, and god thanked her by contracting her with Alzheimer's and putting her into a three day coma before dying. the point im trying to make here, is that there is really NO benefit to ANYONE when such an event occurs (a christian infant baptism leading to an atheist)

Answer 10

a million.some Christians do no longer baptize toddlers using fact they suspect that baptism is a witness to the grace of God, and it marks the initiating of a conscious option to stay with Christ and settle for His grace of their lives. toddlers don't have the potential to settle for Christ or decide to stay with Him, subsequently some Christians do no longer trust toddler baptism. there is not any helping evidence to coach that New testomony toddlers have been baptized different than the Scriptures that relay the reality that ‘entire families’ have been baptized. This fact ought to certainly comprise toddlers and toddlers, besides the reality that that's no longer stated somewhat as so. the different ingredient of toddler baptisms is that some believe it to recommend that that's a clean initiating in Christ and as toddlers devoid of the understanding to renowned what being a disciple of Christ is, they're going to as they advance be ‘undesirable’. Baptism does no longer absolve the toddler from each and every being undesirable as they advance, and there are people who sense that toddler baptism cheapens the grace that God gives you. there is not any Biblical beginning for toddler baptism and that i replaced into raised with the concept besides the reality that toddler baptism replaced into no longer incorrect, that person or people who had information of what they have been doing while being baptized replaced into of greater income. i believe that baptism is an indication which you're entering into right into a relationship with God the place you're shaking palms with God and asserting symbolically which you compromise to stay with Him and stay for Him. Baptism to me is an ‘person’ element and toddler dedication is for those too youthful to appreciate the cost of what baptism stands for. toddler dedication symbolizes to me, the dad and mom contract to develop their baby in Christ and in accordance to His holy observe. Then while the baby is sufficiently previous to appreciate the symbolism and value of what baptism potential, they could and could be baptized. that's for people who believe in Christ and intend to make an outward exhibiting of an inward decision for Christ.