Hello All,
Thank you for your most sincere prayers.
I have an update to share.
My brother with autism was baptized without his consent on the morning of June 3, 2017, even though he is 22 years old.
Later throughout the day, there was a mandatory church fellowship (I don’t really enjoyed this fellowship, but I still live with my parents even though I am currently employed full-time while still looking for a job in my chosen field and trying to finish/overcome the obstacle of getting a driver’s license with the support I need as in help outside of the family to achieve this. However, I still live under their roof and their rules; so I have to do what I am told) and the leader of the church fellowship (this is my parent’s church, not mine) was forcing to get baptized. This male individual was of African descent.
I’'m VERY far from being an expert on brothers condition. However if he is determined not to be mentally competent to make such a decision on his own; then the “forcing” by intent was proper and essential for brothers POSSIBLE salvation; hence a very good thing.
He said to me: “You and I are going to get baptized next week.” I firmly stand my ground and told him that I will get baptized when the time is right. When it is God’s time (divine timing). The male individual was telling me, “God’s time is now” and was attempting to use the Protestant bible as evidence to coerce and convince me to be baptized.
The church my parents and brother goes to see baptism as the way to solve all of your problems, witchcraft, occultism, and anything that comes in to mind.
I respectfully and firmly told this person that I will be baptized on my own time - meaning when the time is right. Human timing and divine timing are not the same.
I told him simply no. I told him that one day I will be baptized. That time is not now, not tomorrow, not next week, not this year, not this month, not next month and etc. That time will be in the future when I am ready (with RCIA and everything - meaning when I have full 100% freedom and independence from my parents and living independently on my own and out of from their control/power/home).
I’m presuming this was not a Catholic Baptism; still so long as it was a TRUE Christian Baptism: Mt 28:19-20 "
Matt.28 Verses 19 to 20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them [WITH Water in the sign of the Cross AND] in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” the is is a Valid Christian Baptism.
The effects of a Christian Baptism are a One TIME [up to the point of the Baptism] remission [removal and complete forgiveness of ALL prior sins and the effect of all sins up to that point [the temporal punishment ALL sins accrue] …so at that point the Soul is made literally PERFECT, until and or unless that Soul sins again
Catholics have the gift and grace of Sacramental Confession [GODS DESIRED METHOD FOR SIN FORGIVENESS]for any and all sins committed after Baptism, for complete sin forgiveness as well as Indulgences to offset the temporal punishment those sin acquire:thumbsup:.
Please continue to pray for me that I will one day be baptized with the Roman Catholic church and successfully complete RCIA with the willingness to be baptized when the time is right.
Thank you, and please continue to pray for me.
My dear friend, you are putting your eternal salvation at unnecessary [and from GOD"S perspective, unwanted risk.
The Bible [BOTH the Catholic and Protestant versions] are precisely clear that Baptism is a ABSOLUTE [as the NORM] requirement for ones Salvation.
John.3: 5 "
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Because GOD, not you, not me, none of is in control of our death; ONLY God knows when it will be… So to presume upon God’s MERCY; that He will permit you to be Baptized when it is convenient to YOU, is a serious sin of presumption… And as you desire to become a Catholic, you would be able to take advantage of Sacramental Confession; one of the truly GREAT reasons to be an informed and fully practicing Catholic [the Other is the Eucharist], Jesus, GOD Himself in Person.
So my friend, you would be wise to PRAY about your Baptism, and listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings to you

…
God Bless you,
Patrick