How can you believe the teaching but have doubts. The two are contradictory.I have been having some doubts about Infant Baptism, and weather or not it is valid without the consent of the recipient. I believe the teaching, and i know some of what has been said on it, like it is the Circumcision in Christ and that the church has done it since the beginning, but there is also the fact that the sacraments are not magic, and that we must receive them, so answers/explanations would be much appreciated, thanks!
“Ten thousand difficulties don’t make one doubt.” It sounds like this person is having difficulties understanding his faith, not actually doubting it, despite some imprecise language.How can you believe the teaching but have doubts. The two are contradictory.
If you have doubts then you don’t believe it.
Baptism always requires the consent of the person who has responsibility over the person’s soul, either the person him or herself in the case of an adult or a parent or guardian in the case of an infant.I have been having some doubts about Infant Baptism, and weather or not it is valid without the consent of the recipient. I believe the teaching, and i know some of what has been said on it, like it is the Circumcision in Christ and that the church has done it since the beginning, but there is also the fact that the sacraments are not magic, and that we must receive them, so answers/explanations would be much appreciated, thanks!
Great thanks!Baptism always requires the consent of the person who has responsibility over the person’s soul, either the person him or herself in the case of an adult or a parent or guardian in the case of an infant.
Sacraments are not magic, but they are gratuitous and they are efficacious as long as the individual does not put up something to block the grace of the sacrament. An infant is innocent, and so puts up no such block. Therefore parents may legitimately choose to have their children baptized, and there is nothing to prevent the baptism from being valid.
as the other poster stated it was something i had had difficulty understanding, but one of the challenges was trusting the Church in the face of the uncertainty.How can you believe the teaching but have doubts. The two are contradictory.
If you have doubts then you don’t believe it.
Sacraments are outward/physical signs that point to inward/spiritual graces. Would Christ fail to act just because one refused to acknowledge him (intentionally or unintentionally)? Would the Eucharist be any different if it were received by an atheist who believes it is just bread? Why would an infant not be able to receive the graces from God?I have been having some doubts about Infant Baptism, and weather or not it is valid without the consent of the recipient. I believe the teaching, and i know some of what has been said on it, like it is the Circumcision in Christ and that the church has done it since the beginning, but there is also the fact that the sacraments are not magic, and that we must receive them, so answers/explanations would be much appreciated, thanks!
One could claim that it is in our nature to seek God (“my soul is restless until it rests in you”) but that Original Sin and human sin take us off course. Thus the infant yearns and seeks God by its very nature even though it cannot express it. Baptism in this sense would not need to be asked for but rather it simply needs to not have an impediment placed in its way.I have been having some doubts about Infant Baptism, and weather or not it is valid without the consent of the recipient. I believe the teaching, and i know some of what has been said on it, like it is the Circumcision in Christ and that the church has done it since the beginning, but there is also the fact that the sacraments are not magic, and that we must receive them, so answers/explanations would be much appreciated, thanks!