Baptism

[AudreyNicole]

Just finished watching The Devil's Playground... really interesting... it's about the Amish lifestyle. When the children turn 16 they are allowed to go out into the "English" world and experience life the way we "normal" people do lol. This period lasts anywhere from a few months to a year, but at the end they have to make the decision whether to stay with the church and be baptized or leave the church to live in the English world.

They do this because they say people have to consciously choose for themselves whether to accept God and be baptized or not, as opposed to being baptized when they're babies and they don't even know who God is.

Well anyway... I was actually wondering about this for awhile. Is it wrong to be baptized when you are young and don't truly understand or know God? It seems like it would be like forcing religion on someone. Don't you personally have to accept Christ for yourself?

Hmmmmm......

 

[Giggles4God]

I was not baptized as a baby. In the Bible, baptism happened when the person was older. I believe we need to be able to profess that we are a follower of Jesus Christ before we can be truly baptized. Baptism is an outward sign of an inner decision. A baby can not choose that. I believe that anyone who is able to profess can be baptized. Age is not really a fact. It is the intent of the heart.

 

[El Hombre viejo]

I was not baptized as a baby. In the Bible, baptism happened when the person was older. I believe we need to be able to profess that we are a follower of Jesus Christ before we can be truly baptized. Baptism is an outward sign of an inner decision. A baby can not choose that. I believe that anyone who is able to profess can be baptized. Age is not really a fact. It is the intent of the heart.

I have to agree. Baptism is a thing of obedience on the part of the baptizee (my word). An infant couldn't make that choice. I think the nearest thing Christians have to infant baptism would be a dedication ceremony. Dedicating your child to the Lord.
On the other hand, I have been present at many Catholic baptisms and they amount to the same thing. Except that they think it washes away a sin already attributed to the child.

 

[RJ]

I have know people who believe that if a baby dies with out baptism, they will not go to heaven. That is of course ridiculous !

Furthermore, baptism by and adult is not a prerequisite for a person to receive God's free gift of grace and then salvation. If it were, that would be works and God said, specifically, salvation is not of our works!!!

Baptism can be a very nice thing and a wonderful public witness of dedicating one's self to God. If done properly, I would think that it would be pleasing to God but, not if it was done as a requirement for salvation!

 

[El Hombre viejo]

I have know people who believe that if a baby dies with out baptism, they will not go to heaven. That is of course ridiculous !

Furthermore, baptism by and adult is not a prerequisite for a person to receive God's free gift of grace and then salvation. If it were, that would be works and God said, specifically, salvation is not of our works!!!

Baptism can be a very nice thing and a wonderful public witness of dedicating one's self to God. If done properly, I would think that it would be pleasing to God but, not if it was done as a requirement for salvation!

While I agree that baptism is not a requisite for salvation it is a thing we need to do I think.

Can you explain this one? Acts 2:37-39

 

[RJ]

While I agree that baptism is not a requisite for salvation it is a thing we need to do I think.

Can you explain this one? Acts 2:37-39

I think that Baptism (with water) can be a wonderful thing and if one is compelled to do so, I think that is great! But to do as a requirement for salvation is a mistake and living in error. I have been Baptize but I fully know that my salvation comes from being "Born Again" ...Spiritual Baptism.

The way I understand Acts, is that it is a historical document and not meant as doctrine of the New Covenant of Grace.Luke recorded these events and was not the teacher of the New Covenant gospel that Paul was.

John The Baptist started this traditional while He was "Preparing The Way" and it grew in those days and Long after Jesus died as an initial rite of Christianity. It is not mention very much past Acts and certainly not in the context of grace and salvation.

Again, I know that you don't see it as a requirement but, others do and it is in direct conflict with salvation through grace:

Ephesians 2:8-9
<sup id="en-ESV-29221" class="versenum">8</sup>For<sup class="xref" value="(<a href=&quot;#cen-ESV-29221A&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference A&quot;>A</a>)">(A)</sup> by grace you have been saved<sup class="xref" value="(<a href=&quot;#cen-ESV-29221B&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference B&quot;>B</a>)">(B)</sup> through faith. And this is<sup class="xref" value="(<a href=&quot;#cen-ESV-29221C&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference C&quot;>C</a>)">(C)</sup> not your own doing;<sup class="xref" value="(<a href=&quot;#cen-ESV-29221D&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference D&quot;>D</a>)">(D)</sup> it is the gift of God, <sup id="en-ESV-29222" class="versenum">9</sup><sup class="xref" value="(<a href=&quot;#cen-ESV-29222E&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference E&quot;>E</a>)">(E)</sup> not a result of works,<sup class="xref" value="(<a href=&quot;#cen-ESV-29222F&quot; title=&quot;See cross-reference F&quot;>F</a>)">(F)</sup> so that no one may boast.