Can you be a Christian w/o baptism?

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Vivienne

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I have a question about grace. I converted to Catholicism several years ago when I was in my early 20’s. (Praise the Lord! - I love the Church!) Previously I was a Baptist with plans to become a missionary. I was very active in my faith and felt that I had a very close relationship with Christ. I asked Christ into my heart when I was 4 or 5 and helped “win” others to Christ as well. Several of these people are still very strong Christians.

For whatever reason I was never baptized (pretty funny since I was a Baptist). I had several opprotunities but I never felt “called” to be baptized until I decided to come home to the Catholic Church.

When I was in RCIA I felt like I was treated like nothing that had happened in my faith life really mattered because I had not been baptized. (not baptized = not Christian) Therefore I couldn’t have had God’s grace working in my life - since I never received this most important initial sacrament. But how do you explain the “good” I was doing and the relationship I felt like I had with Christ?

Could someone help me? I guess I feel like the Church uses terminology that doesn’t always apply to everyone’s situation. Is this right?

Is it possible to be a Christian without being baptized?

I guess I have always felt a little hurt (maybe I am overly senstive) But maybe I am just “proud” of my accomplishments and in need of some humbling? Or maybe the RCIA I was a part of was lousy?

I need to get over this - any help would be greatly appreciated!
 
It’s called baptism of desire… God’s Grace can work on anyone willing to let it. It brought you home to the CC.
 
I guess it all depends on how one chooses to define what it means to be “Christian.” Certainly one can be a follower of Christ without being baptized (Constantine was a “convert” for many years yet was only baptized a few days before his death). But, if being a Christian means being conformed to Jesus in his life, death and resurrection then, no, it isn’t possible without baptism since, as Paul notes in his letter to the Romans, it is through baptism that we are “buried with Christ” – that we are made a part of the Body of Christ.

Deacon Ed
 
Vivienne said:
I have a question about grace. I converted to Catholicism several years ago when I was in my early 20’s. (Praise the Lord! - I love the Church!) Previously I was a Baptist with plans to become a missionary. I was very active in my faith and felt that I had a very close relationship with Christ. I asked Christ into my heart when I was 4 or 5 and helped “win” others to Christ as well. Several of these people are still very strong Christians.

For whatever reason I was never baptized (pretty funny since I was a Baptist). I had several opprotunities but I never felt “called” to be baptized until I decided to come home to the Catholic Church.

When I was in RCIA I felt like I was treated like nothing that had happened in my faith life really mattered because I had not been baptized. (not baptized = not Christian) Therefore I couldn’t have had God’s grace working in my life - since I never received this most important initial sacrament. But how do you explain the “good” I was doing and the relationship I felt like I had with Christ?

Could someone help me? I guess I feel like the Church uses terminology that doesn’t always apply to everyone’s situation. Is this right?

Is it possible to be a Christian without being baptized?

I guess I have always felt a little hurt (maybe I am overly senstive) But maybe I am just “proud” of my accomplishments and in need of some humbling? Or maybe the RCIA I was a part of was lousy?

I need to get over this - any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Wow. A Baptist who was never baptized. You were a rare breed for sure. I received a couple of baptisms in my Baptist days.

Anyways, you should be proud of the work God did with you in your past. There is nothing wrong with that. Even if you were not baptized, God can certainly choose who He wants to work in and through. That said, we do know that the normative way for one to enter the Christian family – to be born again – is by water & the Spirit (baptism) as Jesus said to Nicodemus.
 
Jesus said, unless a man be born again of water and the holy spirit he shall not have eternal life. Catholics interpret that as the requirement for water baptism and confirmation (chrismation in the Eastern churches), sacraments established by Jesus. Yes it is possible he can save and claim anyone he wishes, even w/o baptism, but there is no guarantee. But he himself established baptism as the normal way to enter his Church, and guarantees those who believe and are baptized are saved. Would you rather your new Catholic parish hold out a possibility of salvation to you, or give you the certainty? Welcome home, and I am sure you are a blessing to all in the RCIA process with you. There is no accident you are there, as you are providing Christian witness to others present who need it.
 
Vivienne said:
I have a question about grace. I converted to Catholicism several years ago when I was in my early 20’s. (Praise the Lord! - I love the Church!) Previously I was a Baptist with plans to become a missionary. I was very active in my faith and felt that I had a very close relationship with Christ. I asked Christ into my heart when I was 4 or 5 and helped “win” others to Christ as well. Several of these people are still very strong Christians.

For whatever reason I was never baptized (pretty funny since I was a Baptist). I had several opprotunities but I never felt “called” to be baptized until I decided to come home to the Catholic Church.

When I was in RCIA I felt like I was treated like nothing that had happened in my faith life really mattered because I had not been baptized. (not baptized = not Christian) Therefore I couldn’t have had God’s grace working in my life - since I never received this most important initial sacrament. But how do you explain the “good” I was doing and the relationship I felt like I had with Christ?

Could someone help me? I guess I feel like the Church uses terminology that doesn’t always apply to everyone’s situation. Is this right?

Is it possible to be a Christian without being baptized?

I guess I have always felt a little hurt (maybe I am overly senstive) But maybe I am just “proud” of my accomplishments and in need of some humbling? Or maybe the RCIA I was a part of was lousy?

I need to get over this - any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Baptism is what incorporates you into the Mystical Body of Christ, Baptism =Christian. Unless death occurs and Baptism of Blood or Baptism of Desire apply
 
Aramis said:
It’s called baptism of desire… God’s Grace can work on anyone willing to let it. It brought you home to the CC.
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Good point. Most of our catechumens already have Baptism of Desire which brings them into the Christian Life, which they are living very well. However, it must be completed with water baptism to enable them to receive the rest of the sacraments and continue their spiritual growth.

I tended to regard my role in RCIA as enabling, and encouraging, them to find the way to that growth; and trying to stay out of the way of that growth.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
Good point. Most of our catechumens already have Baptism of Desire which brings them into the Christian Life, which they are living very well. .
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Baptism of Desire is only possible when the person dies with the desire for Baptism, but without the opportunity to recieve it.

Given that, it’s pretty doubtful that most of your catechumes have recieved the Baptism of Desire 😉

I think you are confusing that with Actual Grace.
 
Joe_Kelley said:
Good point. Most of our catechumens already have Baptism of Desire which brings them into the Christian Life, which they are living very well. However, it must be completed with water baptism to enable them to receive the rest of the sacraments and continue their spiritual growth.

I tended to regard my role in RCIA as enabling, and encouraging, them to find the way to that growth; and trying to stay out of the way of that growth.
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Quite true. Now, let’s get him dunked… and end the doubt. 👍
 
Joe_Kelley said:
Good point. Most of our catechumens already have Baptism of Desire which brings them into the Christian Life, which they are living very well. However, it must be completed with water baptism to enable them to receive the rest of the sacraments and continue their spiritual growth.

I tended to regard my role in RCIA as enabling, and encouraging, them to find the way to that growth; and trying to stay out of the way of that growth.
Click to expand...
If your Catechumens are not dead, then Baptism of Desire does not apply to them.
 
Note that the Rite of Acceptance joins the catechumen to the church, but not in the same way as the regular faithful.

Can. 206 §1. Catechumens, that is, those who ask by explicit choice under the influence of the Holy Spirit to be incorporated into the Church, are joined to it in a special way. By this same desire, just as by the life of faith, hope, and charity which they lead, they are united with the Church which already cherishes them as its own.

§2. The Church has a special care for catechumens; while it invites them to lead a life of the gospel and introduces them to the celebration of sacred rites, it already grants them various prerogatives which are proper to Christians.
vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PT.HTM
 
Aramis said:
Note that the Rite of Acceptance joins the catechumen to the church, but not in the same way as the regular faithful.

Can. 206 §1. Catechumens, that is, those who ask by explicit choice under the influence of the Holy Spirit to be incorporated into the Church, are joined to it in a special way. By this same desire, just as by the life of faith, hope, and charity which they lead, they are united with the Church which already cherishes them as its own.

§2. The Church has a special care for catechumens; while it invites them to lead a life of the gospel and introduces them to the celebration of sacred rites, it already grants them various prerogatives which are proper to Christians.
vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PT.HTM
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That is correct a Catechumen AFTER the Rite of Acceptance in which they make a public profession if intent to seek Baptism for themsselves, who dies before being able to be Baptized, is granted Christian Rites and Burial.
 
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