Is a protestant baptism valid if the protestant sect does not recognizes the significance of baptism?

[Lead_Me_Home]

I have two questions. One pertains to me and the other to my cousin. I was baptized in a protestant church, it was a trinitarian baptism, but I heard the reverend describe baptism as a mere “outward sign” of faith. I intend to convert at 18, and was wandering if I should be “re-baptised” (I know that is not doctrinally possible). I know any one can baptize and the baptism is valid if the intentions are the same, but these intentions aren’t exactly the same.

Second, my cousin will be baptized again in another protestant church. Do I have to respect her decision, but would I be right to question her or state that she shouldn’t be “re-baptized”? She was baptized in the same church.

 

[LilyM]

Baptism is to our souls, on my understanding, what physical birth is to our bodies.

Now you can’t be unborn or reborn in a physical sense merely because you or your parents didn’t understand the significance of that birth at the time. What parent truly DOES understand the full significance of birth when they have their first baby? Not many!

So I’d venture to say that the same applies for baptism. Canon Law stipulates that the intent to baptise must be necessary. But does that mean a full understanding and acceptance of the significance of the rite is necessary? Since even an atheist can validly baptise, it would seem not.

 

[Lead_Me_Home]

Thank you. I guess i’ll have to consider my cousin’s "re-baptism"an unnecessary act, but her personal decision. All though it could be considered an act of repentance more than a baptism, such as when John baptized many Jews before he baptized Jesus. I guess this would not apply to Catholics since we have the sacrament of penance and reconciliation.

 

[JerryS]

Baptism is not an action of the baptizer or of the baptized. It is God’s action of forgiveness and promise. It’s efficacy does not depend on the spiritual condition of the minister, nor of the recipient. It depends on the trustworthiness of God. To submit oneself to re-baptism is to declare one’s mistrust of God. John did not baptize anyone twice. Neither, of course, did he baptize infants, but that’s another discussion.