I have also never baptized anyone who didn’t have an understanding of the gospel, evidence of being born again and a basic understanding of what baptism/immersion symbolizes. I would not sprinkle a person and call it baptism/immersion, no matter how unintelligent they might be.
I have baptized one infant/toddler and I did so because:The child was born with multiple health issues that were going to and did lead to the child not living very long (less than four years).I believe Baptism to be a command of the Lord but symbolic in nature. The symbolism was most important to the grieving young mother and grandmother. I believe the child to be still without the age/understanding of accountability.I consulted church history, including our own, as well as conversations with both COG pastors as well as friends pastoring in the Episcopal and Lutheran churches.My resolution was to have the mom and the hospice nurses to hold the child while I gently washed his face using a cloth and basinet.Much like a baby dedication, it meant a lot to his family. Something they cherished when it came time for his funeral. I view it as an act of compassion. Jesus will decide if he was truly saved or not________________Proverbs 3:5-6; John 13:34-35; Acts 1:8
Many years ago, a family that had come out of Catholicism attended our church. A baby was to be dedicated and their tradition was for their to be a baptism (sprinkling). My dad (the pastor) worked with them to do this, ALL WHILE EXPLAINING DURING THE SERVICE THAT IT DID NOT SAVE, THAT THE CHILD WOULD NEED TO BE LED TO THE LORD, ETC.This allowed people to be told a greater truth, all while honoring their long-standing traditions.
Scripturally, baptism is linked to repentance and the remission of sins. A baby has no knowledge of sin and cannot repent. Therefore it would not be scriptural to baptize them________________
Acts 16:33Acts 18:8Not that it matters to those who have made up their mind on this topic but for those that are interested in why some Christians practice infant baptism, I have included TWO instances in the N.T. Church where entire households were baptized. I do not practice infant baptism with the one exception I mentioned earlier in this thread but I do find learning the entirety of Christian history fascinating________________Proverbs 3:5-6; John 13:34-35; Acts 1:8
Again, you cannot cite these passages as proof texts for infant baptism. Other scriptures clearly link baptism to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Thus the laws of hermeneutics rule out the possibility of infant baptism. Those entire households who were baptized did so because each individual member of that household believed the gospel thus fulfilling Christ’s own words, He who
Again, you cannot cite these passages as proof texts for infant baptism. Other scriptures clearly link baptism to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Thus the laws of hermeneutics rule out the possibility of infant baptism. Those entire households who were baptized did so because each individual member of that household believed the gospel thus fulfilling Christ’s own words, He who
Again, you cannot cite these passages as proof texts for infant baptism. Other scriptures clearly link baptism to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Thus the laws of hermeneutics rule out the possibility of infant baptism. Those entire households who were baptized did so because each individual member of that household believed the gospel thus fulfilling Christ’s own words, He who
Re: Would you baptize a baby?
Yes, if they confessed their faith in Christ.
If the baby confesses his faith in Jesus and really understands the Gospel and can give an ‘answer of a good conscience before God’….________________
I have also never baptized anyone who didn’t have an understanding of the gospel, evidence of being born again and a basic understanding of what baptism/immersion symbolizes. I would not sprinkle a person and call it baptism/immersion, no matter how unintelligent they might be.
Re: Would you baptize a baby?
Yes, if they confessed their faith in Christ. Sprinkle, pour, or immerse? I think the Greek Orthodox actually immerse babies________________
So now anyone who says go ahead and sprinkle someone is unintelligent? What’s wrong with you people?
Yes, if they confessed their faith in Christ. Sprinkle, pour, or immerse? I think the Greek Orthodox actually immerse babies.
I have baptized one infant/toddler and I did so because:The child was born with multiple health issues that were going to and did lead to the child not living very long (less than four years).I believe Baptism to be a command of the Lord but symbolic in nature. The symbolism was most important to the grieving young mother and grandmother. I believe the child to be still without the age/understanding of accountability.I consulted church history, including our own, as well as conversations with both COG pastors as well as friends pastoring in the Episcopal and Lutheran churches.My resolution was to have the mom and the hospice nurses to hold the child while I gently washed his face using a cloth and basinet.Much like a baby dedication, it meant a lot to his family. Something they cherished when it came time for his funeral. I view it as an act of compassion. Jesus will decide if he was truly saved or not________________Proverbs 3:5-6; John 13:34-35; Acts 1:8
Many years ago, a family that had come out of Catholicism attended our church. A baby was to be dedicated and their tradition was for their to be a baptism (sprinkling). My dad (the pastor) worked with them to do this, ALL WHILE EXPLAINING DURING THE SERVICE THAT IT DID NOT SAVE, THAT THE CHILD WOULD NEED TO BE LED TO THE LORD, ETC.This allowed people to be told a greater truth, all while honoring their long-standing traditions.
Re: Would you baptize a baby?
Only if it was a Jesus Only young’un an had spoken in tonguesl
Ole Timer, by tha looks of ya time date on ya post, ya stayed up all night tryin ta figure out how to answer that.
Scripturally, baptism is linked to repentance and the remission of sins. A baby has no knowledge of sin and cannot repent. Therefore it would not be scriptural to baptize them________________
Acts 16:33Acts 18:8Not that it matters to those who have made up their mind on this topic but for those that are interested in why some Christians practice infant baptism, I have included TWO instances in the N.T. Church where entire households were baptized. I do not practice infant baptism with the one exception I mentioned earlier in this thread but I do find learning the entirety of Christian history fascinating________________Proverbs 3:5-6; John 13:34-35; Acts 1:8
Again, you cannot cite these passages as proof texts for infant baptism. Other scriptures clearly link baptism to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Thus the laws of hermeneutics rule out the possibility of infant baptism. Those entire households who were baptized did so because each individual member of that household believed the gospel thus fulfilling Christ’s own words, He who
Again, you cannot cite these passages as proof texts for infant baptism. Other scriptures clearly link baptism to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Thus the laws of hermeneutics rule out the possibility of infant baptism. Those entire households who were baptized did so because each individual member of that household believed the gospel thus fulfilling Christ’s own words, He who
Again, you cannot cite these passages as proof texts for infant baptism. Other scriptures clearly link baptism to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Thus the laws of hermeneutics rule out the possibility of infant baptism. Those entire households who were baptized did so because each individual member of that household believed the gospel thus fulfilling Christ’s own words, He who