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trustinyou
Guest
Some denominations say you should not baptize your children until they are of age,or when they are old enough to decide on their own…Is there any biblical references to this??? I personally see none.
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Singinbeauty
Guest
I think a lot of it comes from Matthew for starter… Look at Matthew 3:6,11 when John was talking to the crowds before Jesus started His main ministry (emphasis mine):
6Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River
11"I baptize you with[a] water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
Baptism is an act of obedience to God. It is for us to choose to seek and obey Him. We can’t make that decision for anyone else. How could an infant repent if (1) they have nothing to repent of and (2) they can’t know what repentance is?
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MarcoPolo
Guest
Verse 6 just says the people who were baptized there confessed their sins (it was also not a Christian Baptism, which didn’t begin until v. 16). And verse 11 says Baptism imparts the Holy Spirit.
So I don’t see where children are forbidden as the OP asked.
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Singinbeauty
Guest
I never said it forbade it… I only offered some verses as to where the thought process comes from. Verse 11 may invoke the Holy Spirit but it specifically says that John was baptizing for REPENTANCE, then he tells of Christ who will come and baptize with the Holy Spirit. Water baptism is for repentance according to John.Verse 6 just says the people who were baptized there confessed their sins (it was also not a Christian Baptism, which didn’t begin until v. 16). And verse 11 says Baptism imparts the Holy Spirit.
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believers
Guest
If it wasn’t a Christian Baptism, then what was it?Verse 6 just says the people who were baptized there confessed their sins (it was also not a Christian Baptism, which didn’t begin until v. 16). And verse 11 says Baptism imparts the Holy Spirit.
Also, would you mind quoting your Bible where it says Baptism imparts the Holy Spirit?
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Syele
Guest
I don’t Think “children are forbidden” is accurate, Children of 6 and 9 are old enough to know what sin is and be sure they want to repent and follow God.
I find it interesting that when baptism is discussed in Scriptures it lists Repentance as coming before Baptism:
This one says make them a disciple first another that you must believe first:
Mark 16:16:
The main arguments I hear of FOR infant baptism point to the household baptisms in the Bible and stuff about not denying little children.
A child of 6 or 8 is still a little child. Do I don’t see how having them wait till they understand is denying them. We are certainly not forbidding them to go to Jesus when we take them to Church and teach them all we can about him from day 1.
The household baptisms are found in Acts 10:46-48, Acts 16:15, Acts 16:33, and 1 Corinthians 1:16. But from those passages we have no mention of them having infants and they say that the entire house converted too(Except for Lydia whom we don’t even know for sure she was married much less her having an infant). And if you are baptizing the infant because the head of a household is converted, why do you not also baptize their spouse and servants based on these passages? Did the spouse suddenly cease to be in their household?
I find it interesting that when baptism is discussed in Scriptures it lists Repentance as coming before Baptism:
Acts 2:38 said:
This one says make them a disciple first another that you must believe first:
and
Mark 16:16:
I don’t know of any that ever say it the other way around. You first repent or becomes a follower of Christ and THEN you get Baptized.
The main arguments I hear of FOR infant baptism point to the household baptisms in the Bible and stuff about not denying little children.
A child of 6 or 8 is still a little child. Do I don’t see how having them wait till they understand is denying them. We are certainly not forbidding them to go to Jesus when we take them to Church and teach them all we can about him from day 1.
The household baptisms are found in Acts 10:46-48, Acts 16:15, Acts 16:33, and 1 Corinthians 1:16. But from those passages we have no mention of them having infants and they say that the entire house converted too(Except for Lydia whom we don’t even know for sure she was married much less her having an infant). And if you are baptizing the infant because the head of a household is converted, why do you not also baptize their spouse and servants based on these passages? Did the spouse suddenly cease to be in their household?
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mozart-250
Guest
I assume you really mean baptizing infants, not children (which is a separate issue).
The pastor at my previous church, when teaching on baptism, stated that although he did not consider infant baptism unscriptural, that he considered it not wise. This seems reasonable.
The pastor at my previous church, when teaching on baptism, stated that although he did not consider infant baptism unscriptural, that he considered it not wise. This seems reasonable.
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tealblue
Guest
Well the text refers to repenting and being baptized not necesarily repent then be baptized.Also there is an issue when you are talking of someone who is an adult and being converted.Nowhere in the text does it exclude infants but scripture does indicate entire crowds and households.If you want to asume no infants or small children were present but I think that asumes too much into the text.As Catholics we belive Baptism is a sacrament for washing away the effects of original sin not just sign of repentance.
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trustinyou
Guest
Is this an infallible teaching? or is this just a “what I believe in”?
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LutheranDK
Guest
You are forgetting that the baptism that John the Baptist practised was NOT the Baptism that Jesus commanded the Apostles to give to people.
John was the last prophet who was under the Old Covenant - Jesus gave us the New Covenant, which, like the old one, also has an outward sign - baptism.
Now, if children were given the sign of the old covenant while they were only newborn, why should there be anything different about the sign of the new covenant? And if there HAD been - then the Apostles were very very poor at expressing themselves in writing - because then their writings must be taken as to having the excact opposite meaning.
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Syele
Guest
Because God said it would be different!
So right off it tells us the new covenant will NOT be the same as the one before it and that all people under it will know God and be forgiven.
The first part refers to the old covenant, He came to those who were His own through that covenant, but they didn’t receive him, the second part is about the new Covenant that replaced it, God will allow people who believe in Him to be Born of him as His children.
The new covenant is not like the old one. If they were the same, what would the point be of changing it?
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justinthemartyr
Guest
the bible says nothing concerning not baptizing infants.
but the book of mormon has a hilarious one in the section titled moroni.
very funny.
but the book of mormon has a hilarious one in the section titled moroni.
very funny.
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MarcoPolo
Guest
Can you link to that Justin?
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Syele
Guest
I’m not Justin but… scriptures.lds.org/moro/8
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Daniel_Marsh
Guest
Didache
7:1 But concerning baptism, thus shall ye baptize.
7:2 Having first recited all these things, baptize {in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit} in living (running) water.
7:3 But if thou hast not living water, then baptize in other water;
7:4 and if thou art not able in cold, then in warm.
7:5 But if thou hast neither, then pour water on the head thrice in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
7:6 But before the baptism let him that baptizeth and him that is baptized fast, and any others also who are able;
7:7 and thou shalt order him that is baptized to fast a day or two before.
How many babies you know, choose to fast a day or two?
All the examples of baptism in scripture are Adult ones.
There is no example of a infant being baptised in scripture, and to my knowledge in early christianity.
7:1 But concerning baptism, thus shall ye baptize.
7:2 Having first recited all these things, baptize {in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit} in living (running) water.
7:3 But if thou hast not living water, then baptize in other water;
7:4 and if thou art not able in cold, then in warm.
7:5 But if thou hast neither, then pour water on the head thrice in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
7:6 But before the baptism let him that baptizeth and him that is baptized fast, and any others also who are able;
7:7 and thou shalt order him that is baptized to fast a day or two before.
How many babies you know, choose to fast a day or two?
All the examples of baptism in scripture are Adult ones.
There is no example of a infant being baptised in scripture, and to my knowledge in early christianity.
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Syele
Guest
Daniel, Do you have a link to the whole Didache? I used to have one but it is no longer available. 
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Rolltide
Guest
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Syele
Guest
Thanks!
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mozart-250
Guest
None of the pastors of any churches I have attended are incapable of being incorrect.
For that matter none of the doctors who have performed surgery on me or have administered radation therapy on me are incapable of being incorrect.
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