Babtism

[Thruthseeker]

Why is it Important to baptize a child in the Catholic Church?

 

[JonNC]

Why is it Important to baptize a child in the Catholic Church?

I believe Catholic and Lutheran teachings are similar. From the Augsburg Confessions

Article IX: Of Baptism.

1] Of Baptism they teach that it is necessary 2] to salvation, and that through Baptism is offered the grace of God, and that children are to be baptized who, being offered to God through Baptism are received into God’s grace.

3] They condemn the Anabaptists, who reject the baptism of children, and say that children are saved without Baptism.

Jon

 

[Jean_1958]

Hi Truthseeker,

Welcome to CAF! I hope this link helps: usccb.org/catechism/quizzes/baptism9.shtml

The way I see it, we all belong to God’s family. Just because a baby is too young to understand God, does that mean that the baby is not a member of God’s family? Why would you wait to baptize? When a child is born into your family, do you wait so many years to recognize and welcome the child into your family? Or is that child immediately accepted into your family? I probably did not express it the best way, but that is how I feel about infant baptism.

Again welcome to CAF.

Jean

 

[fermat]

So, I have to ask. Are you Truth Seeker123 who managed to get banned? I have to ask because this question has the same flavor as the other TS posts. If you are not, please accept my apology. If you are, you might want to warn the nice folks ahead of time.

 

[Julian0404]

If you are Catholic, you must baptize in the Catholic Church. If you are not Catholic, as long as you baptize with water and the spirit, then the Catholic church recognizes the baptism as valid.

 

[dnu]

“Baptism now saves you”–1 Peter 3:21

That’s why

 

[jmcrae]

Why is it Important to baptize a child in the Catholic Church?

So that he can begin immediately to live the Christian life, without delay - a child who is raised in the Christian faith will not stray from it when he is old.

 

[RoryMcKenzie56]

Why is it Important to baptize a child in the Catholic Church?

Hi Truthseeker.

I like the way one of the popes of the Middle Ages explained it. Pope Innocent III contended that to appreciate the reason for infant baptism, we have to reflect upon our fallen nature. Catholics, as most Christians, hold that each of the offspring of Adam contracts what is commonly called “original sin”. The objection to infant baptism is that an infant is unable to consent to be baptized. Clearly. But if the affliction of original sin is contracted without consent, the affliction of original sin may be remitted without consent.

Here are his words:

We say that a distinction must be made, that sin is twofold: namely, original and actual: original, which is committed without consent; and actual, which is commited with consent. Original, therefore, which is committed without consent through the power of the sacrament; but actual, which is contracted with consent, is not mitigated in the slightest without consent.

—Denz. 410, The Effect of Baptism (and the Character), Pope Innocent III (1198-1216)

There is also the biblical argument which draws the parallel to circumcision of the Old Testament whereby infant males were made part of the covenant. St. Paul in his letter to the Colossians ties circumcision with baptism:

In whom also you are circumcised with circumcision not made by hand, in despoiling of the body of the flesh, but in the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, in whom also you are risen again by the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him up from the dead. And you, when you were dead in your sins, and the uncircumcision of your flesh; he hath quickened together with him, forgiving you all offences:

Col. 2:11-13

 

[Roblox84]

I know there is much debate about baptism and children. So I would like to ask, where does the bible prohibit baptizing children? And correct me if i’m wrong, but wasn’t adult-only baptism a new teaching that was the product of the Anabaptist movement?

 

[RoryMcKenzie56]

If you are Catholic, you must baptize in the Catholic Church. If you are not Catholic, as long as you baptize with water and the spirit, then the Catholic church recognizes the baptism as valid.

Maybe you could clarify what you mean by saying that “if you are Catholic, you must baptize in the Catholic Church.” I thought there would be no difference at all. If a baptism performed in a Protestant church on a Protestant infant is valid, would the same baptism on a Catholic infant be invalid?

I would think that it would be illicit to take your Catholic child elsewhere for baptism, but I cannot see how the Catholic Church could reject the validity. Have I misunderstood what you are trying to say here? Thanks.

Rory

 

[schaick]

Why is it Important to baptize a child in the Catholic Church?

It is important for all Christians to have their children baptized!

God’s promises, covenant given to faithful Abraham extended also to his children -

Genesis 17
12 For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring.
13 Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant.

A new covenant, baptism is in a sense spiritual circumcision.

Galatians 3
26You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Acts 2
39The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."

the household = everyone

Acts 16
15When she and the members of her household were baptized,

1 Corinthians 1
16(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.)

all nations = everyone

Matthew 28
19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 

[Julian0404]

Maybe you could clarify what you mean by saying that “if you are Catholic, you must baptize in the Catholic Church.” I thought there would be no difference at all. If a baptism performed in a Protestant church on a Protestant infant is valid, would the same baptism on a Catholic infant be invalid?

I would think that it would be illicit to take your Catholic child elsewhere for baptism, but I cannot see how the Catholic Church could reject the validity. Have I misunderstood what you are trying to say here? Thanks.

Rory

No, you have not misunderstood.

 

[Thruthseeker]

So, I have to ask. Are you Truth Seeker123 who managed to get banned? I have to ask because this question has the same flavor as the other TS posts. If you are not, please accept my apology. If you are, you might want to warn the nice folks ahead of time.

No, Your apology excepted… I am Doing research. because I am not Catholic yet my significant other and I have a daughter together. She wants to Babtize and I want to know how much of a commitment that gives her (the baby) to the Catholic church. I am open minded and would like to expose her to “all types” of christianity. As I am a believer but do not want to instill a certain believe in my child. I can lead them to RiverS but I can’t make them drink.

 

[schaick]

No, Your apology excepted… I am Doing research. because I am not Catholic yet my significant other and I have a daughter together. She wants to Babtize and I want to know how much of a commitment that gives her (the baby) to the Catholic church. I am open minded and would like to expose her to “all types” of christianity. As I am a believer but do not want to instill a certain believe in my child. I can lead them to RiverS but I can’t make them drink.

My children were all baptized as infants-sprinkled.

My son decided a couple of years ago that he wanted to make the decision to be baptized. He knew it was not needed but wanted to experience it as an adult.

He was always the child that could not be told or warned about anything- he had to experience for himself.

He was dunked. It was cool.

I have some friends that were sprinkled as infants and as adults wanted to experience being baptized in a creek- like the really old days. It was a very moving experience for them.

In regards to commitment to the Catholic Church it is more important to decide where she will go to school!!

 

[Thruthseeker]

Hi Truthseeker.

I like the way one of the popes of the Middle Ages explained it. Pope Innocent III contended that to appreciate the reason for infant baptism, we have to reflect upon our fallen nature. Catholics, as most Christians, hold that each of the offspring of Adam contracts what is commonly called “original sin”. The objection to infant baptism is that an infant is unable to consent to be baptized. Clearly. But if the affliction of original sin is contracted without consent, the affliction of original sin may be remitted without consent.

Are You suggesting that the Blood of Jesus Christ which washed away all the sins of man Failed to wash away the original sin? I am a believer but I see no Biblical basis for a child to be babtized until he or she can consent.

 

[fermat]

No, Your apology excepted… I am Doing research. because I am not Catholic yet my significant other and I have a daughter together. She wants to Babtize and I want to know how much of a commitment that gives her (the baby) to the Catholic church. I am open minded and would like to expose her to “all types” of christianity. As I am a believer but do not want to instill a certain believe in my child. I can lead them to RiverS but I can’t make them drink.

Very good!

It is important to view baptism as the new covenant circumcision. We know that the old testament contained a shadow of the good things to come. Baptism is the good thing to come in the new testament. If you look at the age when an infant entered into covenant with God, it was at 8 days. An infant. Baptism is no different. We want to see our kids united to the Body of Christ as soon as we can.

If we required a full understanding of what baptism does for us before we did it, none of us could ever really be baptized. We need to entrust our children to God and this is the way to do it.

In the gospel story of the Roman solider who asked to have his servant healed, it was the Romans faith who impressed Jesus. That soldiers faith is what prompted the healing. As parents, we can vouch for our children.

When a child is baptized, the parent(s) make a public promise to raise that child in the Catholic faith. If you have your child baptized in a Catholic church, it will be with the express understanding that you will do all you can to raise that child Catholic.

There is nothing wrong with exposing your child to ‘all types’ of Christianity. All Christians (for the most part) are at least imperfectly united with the Body of Christ. Most Christian traditions contain at least a partial truth and can be helpful in leading a believer to Christ. But if you want the fullness of what Christ gives us, you need to dwell in the Catholic church. You said that you are not Catholic yet. I hope that means that you are at least looking into Catholicism. This place is a great resource for any questions you might have.

Thank you for being so gracious in your understanding on my original post! There are occasionally folks here who are wolves in sheep’s clothing who try to lead people astray. I have no issue with folks who don’t agree with me, but I do have an issue with those who attempt to use deceit to draw people away from Christ.

God bless you!

 

[RoryMcKenzie56]

RoryMcKenzie56;6397181:

Hi Truthseeker.

I like the way one of the popes of the Middle Ages explained it. Pope Innocent III contended that to appreciate the reason for infant baptism, we have to reflect upon our fallen nature. Catholics, as most Christians, hold that each of the offspring of Adam contracts what is commonly called “original sin”. The objection to infant baptism is that an infant is unable to consent to be baptized. Clearly. But if the affliction of original sin is contracted without consent, the affliction of original sin may be remitted without consent.

Are You suggesting that the Blood of Jesus Christ which washed away all the sins of man Failed to wash away the original sin? I am a believer but I see no Biblical basis for a child to be babtized until he or she can consent.

I have been many kinds of Christian from Baptist to Catholic. I am familiar with not a few others. Aside from Mormons, I don’t know of anyone calling themselves Christian who thinks original sin is washed away prior to a regenerative event which occurs through an act of faith or baptism. Are you suggesting that the blood of Jesus Christ willy nilly washes away “all the sins of man”, including original sin, without reference to any mode of application?

Rory

 

[sixofseven]

Hi Truthseeker,

Check out biblechristiansociety.com/download and look up ‘Infant Baptism and Original Sin’ - this should help explain things.

Basically (and I’m summing up the talk you will hear) in Adam all die, in Christ all have life. When we are born we are born of the flesh (which John 6 tells us is of no avail), Christ tells us we have to be born again of water and the spirit (baptised) to enter the Kingdom of God (Again, John 6, it is the SPIRIT that gives life).

It just comes down to the question of why you would want to deny a child baptism?

You said you see no biblical basis for infant baptism - how old did you have to be to enter into the Old Testament Covenant???..eights DAYS! Only eight days old and you could enter into God’s Covenant with Israel. Of course babies can’t profess their own faith, but parents could profess on their behalf. This is all through the NT as well where Jesus heals people based on the faith of their parents, their master, and their friends. We also hear that Lydia had her entrie household baptised - it doesn’t specify but do you think there could be children and babies in her household?

We know the OT is a foreshadowing of the NT so if babies could enter the OT Covenant at eight days old, why wouldn’t babies be allowed to enter the NT Covenant?

I hope you listen to the talk, my non-Catholic husband listened to it and he was pretty impressed!

 

[Thruthseeker]

Hi Truthseeker,

Check out biblechristiansociety.com/download and look up ‘Infant Baptism and Original Sin’ - this should help explain things.

Basically (and I’m summing up the talk you will hear) in Adam all die, in Christ all have life. When we are born we are born of the flesh (which John 6 tells us is of no avail), Christ tells us we have to be born again of water and the spirit (baptised) to enter the Kingdom of God (Again, John 6, it is the SPIRIT that gives life).

It just comes down to the question of why you would want to deny a child baptism?

You said you see no biblical basis for infant baptism - how old did you have to be to enter into the Old Testament Covenant???..eights DAYS! Only eight days old and you could enter into God’s Covenant with Israel. Of course babies can’t profess their own faith, but parents could profess on their behalf. This is all through the NT as well where Jesus heals people based on the faith of their parents, their master, and their friends. We also hear that Lydia had her entrie household baptised - it doesn’t specify but do you think there could be children and babies in her household?

We know the OT is a foreshadowing of the NT so if babies could enter the OT Covenant at eight days old, why wouldn’t babies be allowed to enter the NT Covenant?

I hope you listen to the talk, my non-Catholic husband listened to it and he was pretty impressed!

It makes sence but I do not want to commit myself to baptizing my child Catholic if that is not were I plan to be. I can’t profess a faith for my child in good conciense when I can’t or won’t profess the faith myself can I?

 

[Thruthseeker]

By Far you have given me the best solution to my problem. Now, that being said… Do I not become a part of this ceremony? and what if the church I belong to (I don’t belong to a church, but for educational purposes, let’s say I did.) What if they required me to present my child and bring him up in my teachings? Would the Catholic church have an open mind towards my child?