Paedobaptism

[McCulloch]

Question for debate, "Is the baptism of babies and children justified?"

There are no instructions or examples of the baptism of babies or children in the Bible, yet many Christian churches (Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist and others) perform baptism on babies. Why?

Other Christian churches (Baptist, Anabaptist, Restoration, Mormon, Pentecostal, Orthodox and others) will only baptize those who can themselves profess belief.

Can either practice be taught biblically? Should one or the other side of this division between Christians give up their practice for the sake of Christian unity?

[Nyril]

1) Does an individual who was baptised as an infant require another baptism when s/he reaches an age of reason (i.e., when s/he can profess a positive belief)?

Yes. At least for the Catholics. They call it confirmation which occurs at about the age of 14.

[McCulloch]

This bring up two questions:
1) Does an individual who was baptised as an infant require another baptism when s/he reaches an age of reason (i.e., when s/he can profess a positive belief)?

As far as I know, generally not. paedobaptists often have another rite, often called confirmation, which serves the purpose of baptism in churches which have believers' baptism.

2) Should/Do Christian churches accept the baptisms of other denominations?

I know of a number which do not. Often infant baptism is not accepted as valid in churches that have believers' baptism.

[c.o.c.]

I know of a number which do not. Often infant baptism is not accepted as valid in churches that have believers' baptism

.

I see a lot of "I believe this or that" in regards of baptism, yes but what does the bible say, that is if people really believe what it says concerning certains truths. Some like to cross there Testaments or Covenants to clarify certain things such a baptism being just a ritual act as in the Old covenant, but what does the New covenant say in regards to baptism?

Starting with John who makes way for the Lord who administered a baptism of repentance unto the remission of sins.

He said one would come "Jesus" who would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

Some how through the years people have drawn many conclusions in regards to this baptism, whether miraculous til the end of time or they say since it was baptism of the Spirit it is never water .

As far as children go what does the bible say about this matter?

Baptism needs to be defined as one thing, God did not leave it up to man to figure out what baptism is. Eph. 4 says there is one baptism, so how many baptisms are there today?

If we go to the great commission and verify what Jesus said, go into the world teaching and baptizing the nations and lo I am with you till the end of the age.

If we are administering Holy Spirit baptism then how is it being done today, since there is one baptism and it would continue till the end of the age it must still be in effect today.

Notice the order in which Christ our Lord places things. Teaching then baptizing, as far as I can tell infants cannot be taught.

As far as the purpose of baptism, I look at the scriptures and see the word defined for me time and time again as being an entry way to Christ, for the remission of sins, a washing away of sins, something that we are commanded to do for ourselves as to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:38 clarifies admittance to His church through obedience to His words given to me by inspired Apostles. Also c.f. Acts 22:16; Acts 8; Romans 6:3,4; Gal.3:27; Col.2:12; 1 Peter 3:19-21 and so on and so on....

Children are not born condemned to hell because of some false accusations about inheriting there fathers sin, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like these, referring to children, pure and innocent, how merciful would God be if He condemned a child before it even had a chance to live and come to faith. Eze.18 makes it clear that we do not inherit our fathers sin, Romans 5 teaches that death passed on to all men not sin. If we look logically at this things we can conclude without a doubt what baptism is for to whom it is administered and why.

I have asked this question a thousand times but no one will give a straight answer:

How does one get into Christ?

If one is in a car he must first get into the car before he can be in the car, no one ever was in a car without first getting into the car.

So it is well said that in order to be in Christ one must first get into Christ HOW?

please refrain for the faith alone junk that distorts the truth, no one has ever been saved by faith alone not me or certainly no infant.

Let the bible speak where the bible speaks, let us remain silent where the bible is silent.

[trencacloscas]

Quote:
1) Does an individual who was baptised as an infant require another baptism when s/he reaches an age of reason (i.e., when s/he can profess a positive belief)?

Yes. At least for the Catholics. They call it confirmation which occurs at about the age of 14.

Which is double hypocrisy. If you are not ready when you are a baby, you are probably not ready either when you are only fourteen... Why is it that they don't want to wait until you are fully adult? Guess!

[c.o.c.]

All this nonsense talk about baptizing babies, the word itself in the Greek will define that babies are not immersed for the remission of sins. Babies first of all do not sin, sin is transgression against Gods law 1 John 3:4, do you know any babies that know Gods law and have transgressed it?

Baptism is an immersion look it up up in Vine's:

BAPTISM, BAPTIST, BAPTIZE
A. Nouns.
1. baptisma NT:908, "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,"

How many people are immersing there babies after they repent of the sins they did not commit? Let's get into line with scripture and proclaim the things that the word proclaims and stop debating the things we do not even find in scripture.

How does one get into Christ, scripturally?

Gal 3:27
27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

How were we baptized into Christ? Do we force our children to be baptized into Christ?

[scottlittlefield17]

Baptizing babies is absolutely wrong. Baptism is a voluntary statement of faith that babies do not have the understanding or knowledge to make. To believe that babies are dammed if they are not baptized before they die is very very wrong and has caused many many parents much unnecessary grief.

[Heterodoxus]

many Christian churches (Catholic, Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Methodist and others) perform baptism on babies. Why?

I frequently asked this question in seminary. Usual response: "That's the way we've always done it" (or words to that effect).

Other Christian churches (Baptist, Anabaptist, Restoration, Mormon, Pentecostal, Orthodox and others) will only baptize those who can themselves profess belief.

Can either practice be taught biblically?

When I got into the field, I learned real quick that--Bible teaching or not--you didn't baptize for the welfare of the child, but to appease the consciences/opinions of their parents.

My POV: if it puts meat in the seats and money in the church's bank account, then why not baptize babies and infants? And if there's no specific pro or con Bible teaching for the practice (of which I could find none), then who's to say it's wrong?

[scottlittlefield17]

The reason many Protestants baptize babies is because of the state church idea. That if you are born into a state church then that is where you stay. It gave them a lot of power in I believe that is the only reason they did it. At first Martin Luther was against infant baptism. Until he saw the power benefits it provided.

[kayky]

In the Episcopal church, we baptize infants to welcome them as full members of the church and enable them to partake of the eucharist as they grow up in the church.

[TXatheist]

In the Episcopal church, we baptize infants to welcome them as full members of the church and enable them to partake of the eucharist as they grow up in the church.

I do not understand what good it does to baptize a baby who has no idea what is going on. Isn't baptism only meaningful when it is voluntary and desired by the one being baptized? It seems to me that the baptism of an infant is for the benefit of the parents and congregation and is nothing more than a ceremony for show.