Baby Baptism (Jesus Christ, Earth, Kingdom, tradition, doctrine)

[I Panicked! At the Disco]

And how at all it is scriptual,

That's just it. It's not.

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by NetDoc

They were even trying to baptise dead people before the ink dried on the NT.

Actually, they weren't. I'm not aware of any of the early Christians who baptized dead people, but the Saints at Corinth clearly performed baptisms by proxy for and in behalf of their deceased ancestors, who would have a choice as to whether or not to accept this ordinance as they awaited their own resurrections. The Apostasy actually occured a bit later on, and the ancient practice was discontinued.

[PHOTOTAKER]

how do infents recive the holy ghost is there another part or do they recive the holy ghost right when they get baptized? why do they need baptisom when in the eye of God and Jesus Chritst they are all clean from sin? if you don't practice infent baptims please do not answer...

[Doktormartini]

I would like to know why when my mom getting babtized it was to remove original sin, but me getting baptized was like a promis to my mom, to raise me Catholic (which she obviously failed at).

My mom told me that they changed it!

[dawny0826]

We do baby dedications as opposed to baby baptisms, although in our church, our Pastor would NEVER oppose to full family baptisms...babies and all.

My children were dedicated about a month ago. In the dedication...my husband and I make a promise before God and our congregation that we will raise our children on biblical principles and raise them within the church.

Typically, we believe as many protestants do...that baptism represents the rebirth that one experiences when they accept Christ as their saviour. My children are not old enough to understand that.

BUT I see nothing biblically which suggests it would be wrongful to allow them to be baptized as infants. I think it's a BEAUTIFUL gesture. We simply chose a dedication over water baptism and pray that as they grow older and hopefully accept Christ...they will decide to be baptized in water.

I know my response here is pretty random...

I'm good at that...

[Katzpur]

Originally Posted by dawny0826

We do baby dedications as opposed to baby baptisms, although in our church, our Pastor would NEVER oppose to full family baptisms...babies and all.

My children were dedicated about a month ago. In the dedication...my husband and I make a promise before God and our congregation that we will raise our children on biblical principles and raise them within the church.

We do something similar to that, Dawny. We call it giving the baby a name and a blessing. It is done in front of the congregation. A prayer is offered, usually by the baby's father, stating the name by which the child will be known throughout his life and asking God's blessings of health, wisdom, righteousness, etc. upon the baby, and His guidance for the baby's parents in raising him.

[cardero]

NetDoc writes: Interesting Cardero,

I wonder how many of us remember that infant baptism? I was baptised in a small Columbian parish when I was 7 days old. I am not sure what signifigance the 7 days represented and my mother does not remember either (she was never Catholic).

Now, I DO remember that late night baptism during late Fall at the Crossroads church of Christ. I remember distinctly the sins I repented of and the sorrow and shame I felt for them. It was MY decision to die that night: not my Mother or Father's decision. Mine and mine alone! I remember how chilly the water was and how I just didn't care.

I was also baptized at an early age but later converted to Patrickism. I think this may have stemmed from my upbringing. My mother was disassociated with the church and was very lenient in me finding my own voice and my own path towards GOD. I believe this is a search that everyone must take when it becomes comprehendible. As far as baptism goes at an older age, I am also familiar that this is a practice that some religions require.

If I may share another passage in which the baptism of Jesus is referred to:

“As for baptism, this was Jesus' idea of establishing a covenant with ME. Was it important? He thought so. The symbolism of baptism has ALL(WAYS) been a cleansing or a fresh start, whether it BE through water or through fire. Is baptism necessary? That depends on the individual. Do I demand or expect it? No. I LOVE you either way.”

HELLO IT’S ME: An Interview With GOD
Chapter: Jesus The Christ
Pg: 120

[sojourner]

I have no problem with "believer's baptism." But, baptism may be more multi-faceted than we're giving it credit for. What is baptism for? Remission of sin? To seal a covenant? An initiation into the Body of Christ? It's all of those things (and more!) Basically, baptism is a sacrament -- an "outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace." Baptism is one of those places where God is expecially present to us, and in which our souls are revived and nourished.

My question for all of the die-hard "believer's baptism" folks to think about is this:

I think we all agree that all are in need of Christ. I think we all agree that all are in need of spiritual grace and spiritual nourishment. I think we can all agree that all need adequate food, if we are to live.

We feed babies because they need food. Yet, babies are unaware of the physical importance of food. They are unaware of the healthful benefits of food. They are unaware of how their bodies process food. But we still feed them, because we do know those things and we want to take care of them.

What's so different about baptism? And communing? Shouldn't we, as faithful parents, take care of our children spiritually, as well as physically, giving them the spiritual nourishment their little souls need, just as we feed their little tummies? Infant baptism isn't so much about "washing" as it is about "sustenance."

Many times we bathe infants, not because they are particularly dirty, but because baths revive the body...they feel good. Does not baptism revive the soul, whether it's dirty or not?

Something to think about...

[Scuba Pete]

Originally Posted by sojourner

Yet, babies are unaware of the physical importance of food.

Why on EARTH do they cry when hungry then? Sorry, but this alone disproves your entire premise.