Being Baptised As Babies?

[IcePrincessKRS]

It was my parents decision, NOT MINE!

Yep, it was my parents decision to Baptize me as a baby, and to teach me about and to love and pray to God, and about the Catholic faith.

It was MY choice to continue that teaching/learning and remain Catholic and to grow in my faith as I practice it day in and day out. The main reason I have the relationship with God that I do is because my parents started my life out right by Baptizing me.

To quote my good friend Azriel:

It is my role in God's kingdom to give my child the best start possible. Why should I not set them on the path of God as a child? That is what the sacrament of baptism is for.

My baby girl is getting Baptized. Soon. :D

[Robyn]

My parents baptised me when I was a baby - they thought theywere doing the right thing.

Then when I was old enough to understand, I made my OWN decision to be fully immersed. It's a powerful thing! :)

[Cure of Ars]

My parents baptised me when I was a baby - they thought theywere doing the right thing.

Then when I was old enough to understand, I made my OWN decision to be fully immersed. It's a powerful thing!

By baptizing babies we are not saying that having a commitment and faith in Christ is not necessary when they grow up and able to do this, because it is. I teach a confirmation class to Junior High kids and I tell them that it is time for them to make a personal commitment to Christ (if they have not already) and to deepen their relationship with Him. I tell them that if they are not willing to do this that they are wasting their time in the class and missing the whole point of being confirmed.

Edited August 29, 2003 by Cure of Ars

[Azriel]

By baptizing babies we are not saying that having a commitment and faith in Christ is not necessary when they grow up and able to do this, because it is. I teach a confirmation class to Junior High kids and I tell them that it is time for them to make a personal commitment to Christ (if they have not already) and to deepen their relationship with Him. I tell them that if they are not willing to do this that they are wasting their time in the class and missing the whole point of being confirmed.

Curs, you bring up an excellent point. I have a feeling our new protestant friends don't know much about Confirmation. That may be another excellent thread.

[Robyn]

hehe... I know I'm going to hell coz my mum didn't force us to be confirmed!

Seriously though, my grandparents are Catholic and think mum has ruined our lives.

And the Confirmation Class... I have nothing against that... what you said abt making our own commitment and stuff is pretty much what I was meaning...similar idea

and talking abt me being baptized as a baby... I have nothing against that either. I have good parents! :D

[cmotherofpirl]

My parents baptised me when I was a baby - they thought theywere doing the right thing.

Then when I was old enough to understand, I made my OWN decision to be fully immersed. It's a powerful thing!

Your baptism as a babyt was the one that counted.

[Cure of Ars]

if I forget to post it, remind me. I have to find it

Not 100% sure abt the wording, but basically it says there is a point in our lives where we are not accountable because we're not mentally capable of understanding our actions.

Robyn, have you found that quote yet?

[Robyn]

It doesn't exist!

I did my research and discovered it was probably somethign a preacher said once and I thought it was in the bible. Ah well. Although I still believe the concept. At least to the point that there are people who are mentally incapable of understanding the gospel message. In that case, God is the judge

Thanks for your patience

Oh! Cure of Ars - I just saw your post! Was too busy trying to reply to see that you reminded me! :rolleyes:

[Joolye]

To be baptised is to have water poured over you with the words" I baptise you in the name of the Father, of the Son a nd of the Holy Spirit".

this is taken directly from matthew 28:18-20.

Matthew 28:19 "Therefore fo and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Gather and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

This is what Baptist and Pentecostal churches practice. They make disciples and then they baptise them. They do not baptise infants who are too young to understand and commit to being a disciple.

However, I too was Christened as a baby and then baptised (Believer's baptism) at 16, and our church practices infant dedication rather than baptism.

The other thing with infant baptism is that the parents commit to bringing up the child in the Catholic faith, yet many people just get their child 'done' and don't regularly take them to church/mass or teach them to obey God's commands.

[jasJis]

Joolye,

The early Church clearly understood that God granted significant and permanent graces through Baptism. We don't have to "earn" these baptismal graces with works of intellect. One of the graces we recieve is the gift of the Holy Spirit. This grace enables us to respond to other graces God showers upon us. This grace is the faith of the little child that Jesus tells us about. Children don't have to intellectualize about sin and repentance. They respond to good and trust what is good quite easily.

Another grace is a seal given by God that marks us as His child.

Just as parents have always taken responsiblity for their children, parents do so in matters of faith. As adults, it is then our responsibilty to utilize these gifts of grace with our intellect and will. When we are children, we act like children. When we mature and become adults, we must also work to mature the gift of faith we were given.

God bless,

jasJis

[cmotherofpirl]

This is what Baptist and Pentecostal churches practice. They make disciples and then they baptise them. They do not baptise infants who are too young to understand and commit to being a disciple.

However, I too was Christened as a baby and then baptised (Believer's baptism) at 16, and our church practices infant dedication rather than baptism.

So what happens to your babies if they die before being old enough to join your Church?

What about disabled people, where will there souls end up, since you can't baptise them?

[Robyn]

I personally believe that you MUST be mentally capable to understand the gospel...

to MAKE A DECISION. If you can't make that decision (to be 'born again') then God looks at the heart. It's HIS decision.

John 3:3 talks abt "unless man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God"

John 14:6. I am the way the truth and the life, nobody comes to the father except through me.

Have you ever tried to explain this to a baby?

A mentally disabled person?

(I have but I've been picky about their mental capacity)

With regards to dedicating children, dedication is entrusting the child to God's care and protection UNTIL THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION.

God will look after them because he values children.

[dUSt]

I personally believe that you MUST be mentally capable to understand the gospel...

to MAKE A DECISION.  If you can't make that decision (to be 'born again') then God looks at the heart. It's HIS decision.

John 3:3 talks abt "unless man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God"

John 14:6. I am the way the truth and the life, nobody comes to the father except through me.

Have you ever tried to explain this to a baby?

A mentally disabled person?

(I have but I've been picky about their mental capacity)

With regards to dedicating children, dedication is entrusting the child to God's care and protection UNTIL THEY ARE OLD ENOUGH TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION.

God will look after them because he values children.

It sounds like you replaced baptism with "dedication", and replaced confirmation with baptism.

I'm confused. Are you saying that a mentally disabled person cannot be baptised because they don't understand? I guess you don't believe baptism is necessary then? So why do it?

[[jas]]

Why bother?

Out of obedience to God.

If it's no choice of your own (ie, you're a baby or you're mentally disabled) then you're not really making the choice to obey are you?

[cmotherofpirl]

,Sep 4 2003, 08:30 AM] Why bother?

Out of obedience to God.

If it's no choice of your own (ie, you're a baby or you're mentally disabled) then you're not really making the choice to obey are you?

If you deny baptism to a baby who dies before being old enough to decide for himself, you have condemned that baby.

Is that how to treat a child?

Would you hold off vacinating a baby til its old enough to decide if he really wants it?

If you care about a babys body, should you not be concerned about a baby's soul.?

Dedication is not biblical. Jesus said go baptise he didn't say go "dedicate".