Even Christians disagree on many topics regarding Christianity, and infant baptism is one of them. I strive to keep my beliefs as simple as possible, desperately trying not to get caught up in many things that tear Christians apart and cause arguments. Infant baptism is one of the beliefs that I disagree with.
I believe that since a baby cannot make decisions, they should not be baptized. An infant cannot choose to accept Christ yet, therefore what reason do the parents have to baptize them?
Why do I believe this?
Baptism is supposed to be a special day between only Christ and you. It is your proclaimation that you are a Christian. You are telling everyone in your church that you have become saved. Many people think that it is the act of being baptized that saves you. I, however do not believe this. As a born again believer, I believe that a person must accept the gift of salvation in order to be saved. If baptism were required, it would no longer be a gift. All a person has to do is take it. I believe that one should be baptized after being saved. This obviously does not include infants since they cannot make this decision.
About Me
- PixieSunBelle
- I am a 22 year old Journalism major at PSNK. I am a Christian and write poetry and songs. My boyfriend and I celebrated our three year anniversary on Halloween.
6 comments:
Dear Pixie,
You ask what reason parents baptize infants? I think it is the same reason that churches with believers baptism "dedicate" their infants. The parents are publicly proclaiming thier commitment to raise these children to follow God.
Then at an age of conscious thought and decision, the believer accepts God. Some churches baptize them at this age, while others "confirm" them.
Dedication /or/ Infant baptism.
Believer's baptism /or/ Confirmation.
They are not so different as many Christians would have us think!
I had gotten this idea from a forum I belong to and while trying to understand the full idea behind baptizing infants, i had thought of dedication. Of course, many had thrown this idea out of the window. I know Christians (as I am one) parents dedicate to raising their children with God. Essentially, promising to raise them with Biblical beliefs. I see no problems with this at all. I really have a problem with people saying that it is essental to being saved- as it is not. People who say, "those who have not been baptized as a baby can never be saved" rubbish.
I had started to think that it was all the same thing, only done a different way with different traditions.
I get your point but I want to get your take on more than one baptism. If someone changes denominations and they were baptized as a child should they be required to get rebaptized?
Dennis,
Churches may require a public profession or reaffirmation of faith but as far as I know, the different denominations do not require re-baptism. After all, if we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, how many times must one join the family?
Elsie
Here is my take: All Christians are in one brotherhood, we all go to the bottom of the same cross, and we just get there via different paths. I'm for the Public profession of faith. Actually I try to get my pastor to do the Affirmation of Baptism (Public profession of faith) rite in the service numerous times a year.
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