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sunshineforever
Guest
Unfortunately that is why I’m on here… I’m starting to rethink our relationship since he said he would disown our children if they aren’t christened :crying:
Specific Inerfaith Marriage Questions (all the help I can get!!!!)
- Status
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rschermer2
Guest
Well if that is your biggest turn off, then you should look into it because your perception of it is completely wrong. If you have never asked another Christian to pray for you then I will believe you when you say you shouldn’t pray through a mortal…I’ll bet your pastor does it all the time. The Saints are fellow Christians (because as you know if you are a Christian and die on earth you live forever in heaven) when we ‘pray’ to them…we aren’t ‘praying to them’ we are asking them to pray for us. It isn’t praying to the Saint it is asking them to pray for us…just like you do when you ask your fellow church attendees to pray for you. The statues and pictures are nothing more than reminders of the people they were when they were alive on earth, just like your pictures of loved ones and loved ones who may have passed from this earth.
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dchezik
Guest
Shouldn’t you consider which faith is necessary for your children to have salvation? Do you think your faith is the only one that can save you? Or both? If both, then it really doesn’t make any difference, does it? If you think your husband’s faith will not lead to salvation, shouldn’t you be worried for him? Geez! Eternity in hell! But If you think it will lead to salvation, then why don’t *you *convert? But if both your faiths will lead to salvation, what difference does it make?
Why don’t you not indoctrinate your children at all until they get a little older and can think for themselves?
Let God lead them. Or don’t you think you can trust God to lead them in the best way?
As far as you and your husband having the same faith, why is that necessary? Do you and he have to be the same political party? Like the same movies? The same food?
Don’t let religion stand in your way!
Why don’t you not indoctrinate your children at all until they get a little older and can think for themselves?
Let God lead them. Or don’t you think you can trust God to lead them in the best way?
As far as you and your husband having the same faith, why is that necessary? Do you and he have to be the same political party? Like the same movies? The same food?
Don’t let religion stand in your way!
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4Squarebaby
Guest
The minutemen example is just an analogy. The point I’m making is that perhaps some close family or friends are against “outsiders” of any kind. Say like Archie Bunker if you have ever seen All In The Family.
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Redbaron998
Guest
If he is that determined to stay Catholic then you should point out the official church teaching that he MUST attend Mass weekly…no it isnt optional.
Perhaps its just the convert in me that makes me appreicate the beauty of the Church and how grateful I am for it that frustrates me that some cradle Catholics have no idea what they have.
Perhaps its just the convert in me that makes me appreicate the beauty of the Church and how grateful I am for it that frustrates me that some cradle Catholics have no idea what they have.
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sunshineforever
Guest
As a child I would ask for others to pray for me and my loved ones, however now I have no connection to any church and I don’t ask anyone to pray for me. I may have a group prayer with my family but other than that I have no religious ties to anyone other than God The Father. My relationship with God is personal and I don’t want any person (dead or alive) to come in between my relationship with him.
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jlhargus
Guest
JL: I suggest you BOTH go thru RCIA, which starts in September in most Catholic Churches. There is no obligation to become Catholic. You would a lest have a better understanding of the faith, and can make a better decision on marriage and children.
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sunshineforever
Guest
But that is the problem at hand! I have no problem with the differences in religion, I believe so long as you accept the Lord into your heart and have faith you will be saved.
Our disagreement came from me not wanting my children be forced into baptisim… He wants them baptized as infants but I want to show them the word of God and let them decide once they reach the age of accountability.
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sunshineforever
Guest
I like this idea
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sunshineforever
Guest
I would be open to this, hopefully he would be too.
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4Squarebaby
Guest
If any children are baptized there will be peace on his side of the family. What do you think will happen to a child who is baptized before they know what is happening and ask for the baptism?
If the children should come to a faith understanding close to what yours is right now when the time comes they may ask for a believer’s baptism. The question then becomes how do you feel about people receiving multiple baptisms, while your fiance and his faith may be against it are you?
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jlhargus
Guest
JL: I think you need to do some serious scripture study of baptism. To say baptized children are forced, is to miss what baptism is. The baptized child RECEIVES the indwelling Holy Spirit, thereby being BORN AGAIN by water AND the Spirit, becoming a new creature a real child of God united to Christ thru baptism. Christ tells us in Jn3 that born of flesh IS flesh, that born of Spirit IS spirit. ALL humanity are born of flesh and needd to be BORN AGAIN by water AND the Spirit. Why would anyone deny a child to be a member of the family of God?
I really don’t have time now but will give you some info on baptism. I am going to mass now and will pray for you.
Christ was circumcised as an infant, thereby being brought into covenant family relationship with God and his people. Christ was born and lived under the old covenant law, that’s how HE FULFILLED the law. Then he instituted a NEW COVENANT. His sacraifice fulfills all the OT sacrifices and Baptism FULFILLS circumcision. Bringing the NEW COVENANT child and adult into covenant family relationship with God and his people.
Peter tells us in [Acts2:38 Then PETER SAID unto them, REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR the REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall RECEIVE the gift of THE HOLY GHOST.]
Peter is speaking to adults, telling THEM, what ADULTS must do, REPENT, BE BAPTIZED, FOR REMISSION OF SINS, RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST. Peter also tells those ADULTS, the PROMISE is to YOU and YOUR CHILDREN. The word here for children includes infant and up. Infants have no sins of which to REPENT, of such is the kingdom. They have been born of flesh and are still in OLD ADAM, they have NOT been BORN AGAIN. Their soul needs to be REGENERATED to bring them into the NEW ADAM and the kingdom.
An ADULT must believe have faith, (spiritual CONCEPTION), repent (trun from their sins to God), after repentance, be baptized FOR REMISSION OF SINS, RECEIVE the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT This is when an ADULT is BORN AGAIN of water and the Spirit as Christ tells us in Jn3:3-5. By water baptism one is born again and DELIVERED a child of God.
Also notice in [Acts2:37 Now WHEN THEY HEARD this, THEY WERE PRICKED IN THEIR HEART, AND SAID unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, WHAT SHALL WE DO? 38 Then PETER SAID unto them, **REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. THE PROMISE IS UNTO YOU, AND TO YOUR CHILDREN, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.] The word for children is teknon. Teknon would be children from infant up, We see the same word teknon (children) used in Act21:21 in reference to circumcision, we know infants were circumcised at 8 days old. The promise is to adults and to THEIR children. These were Jews of the diaspora, they all understood that children were brought into God’s covenant on the basis of the parents faith. Children have no sin of which to repent, they LACK the Holy Spirit, their faith is the faith of their parent.
The PROMISE is to those PRESENT and far away. There were three thousand PRESENT, who where baptized and the odds that whole families where PRESENT and baptized can’t be refuted. Also notice those baptized RECEIVE the GIFT of the HOLY GHOST. Are we born with the GIFT of the HOLY GHOST or of flesh only? Wasn’t that GIFT, of the Holy Ghost, lost for ALL humanity by Adam’s original sin?
Gn17:14 And THE UNCIRCUMCISED MAN CHILD whose flesh of his foreskin is NOT CIRCUMCISED, that soul SHALL BE CUT OFF FROM HIS PEOPLE; he hath broken my covenant.] Circumcision is a foreshadowing of baptism. Baptism fulfills, circumcision and brings an infant or adult into covenant family relationship with the people of God, otherwise they are cut off from their people. [In the OT women were ALWAYS under the guardian protection or covenant household of a male.]
When a Gentile adult converted to Judaism he had to believe, repent, be circumcised. Yet infants were brought into the people of God, old covenant on the merits of it’s parents or guardians faith, just as in the new covenant. Circumcision was an outward sign only it did not give grace or the indwelling Holy Spirit as THE SACRAMENT of BAPTISM does.
J
jlhargus
Guest
I hope you find this helpful?
[Col 2:9 For IN HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY. 10 And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 IN WHOM also YE ARE CIRCUMCISED with THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF SINS OF THE FLESH BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST: 12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, BEING DEAD IN YOUR SINS AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH, hath he QUICKENED together WITH HIM, having FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES; 14 BLOTTING OUT the handwriting of ORDINANCES that was AGAINST US, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS;]
Phillip 3:3 For WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
In Ezekiel we have an Old Testament prophecy, according to the foreknowledge of God, of something better than circumcision made by hands to come.
Ez 36:24 FOR I WILL TAKE YOU FROM AMONG THE HEATHEN, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 THEN WILL I SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER UPON YOU, and YE SHALL BE CLEAN: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, I WILL CLEANSE YOU. 26 A NEW HEART also WILL I GIVE YOU, and A NEW SPIRIT WILL I PUT WITHIN YOU: and I WILL TAKE AWAY THE STONY HEART out of your flesh, and I WILL GIVE YOU AN HEART OF FLESH. 27 And I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, and I WILL BE YOUR GOD.
Zech12:10 And I WILL POUR UPON THE HOUSE OF DAVID, and UPON THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, THE SPIRIT OF GRACE and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. Zech13:1 IN THAT DAY THERE SHALL BE A FOUNTAIN OPENED TO THE HOUSE OF DAVID and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem FOR SIN AND for UNCLEANNESS.
[Isa52:13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: 15 **SO SHALL HE SPRINKLE MANY NATIONS; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.]
[1Pt 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT, unto obedience and SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy HATH BEGOTTEN US AGAIN unto a lively hope BY THE RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead,] How are we sanctified of the Spirit? How are we sprinkled with the blood of Jesus? How are we begoten again by God? BAPTISM.
ACTS 19:1 And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and FINDING certain DISCIPLES 2 HE SAID unto them HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YE BELIEVED? And they said unto him WE HAVE NOT SO MUCH AS HEARD whether THERE BE ANY HOLY GHOST 3 And HE SAID unto them UNTO WHAT then WERE YE BAPTIZED? And THEY SAID UNTO JOHN’S BAPTISM 4 Then said Paul, JOHN verily BAPTIZED WITH the BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE SAYING unto the people that they should BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH should COME AFTER HIM that is ON CHRIST JESUS 5 When they heard this THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS 6 And when PAUL had LAID his HANDS UPON THEM THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM and they spake with tongues and prophesied ACTS 19:1 And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and FINDING certain DISCIPLES 2 HE SAID unto them HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YE BELIEVED? And they said unto him WE HAVE NOT SO MUCH AS HEARD whether THERE BE ANY HOLY GHOST 3 And HE SAID unto them UNTO WHAT then WERE YE BAPTIZED? And THEY SAID UNTO JOHN’S BAPTISM 4 Then said Paul, JOHN verily BAPTIZED WITH the BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE SAYING unto the people that they should BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH should COME AFTER HIM that is ON CHRIST JESUS 5 When they heard this THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS Evidently more is needed than BELIEF and faith in Christ, to be born again, because John’s baptism of WATER, was of repentance, believing or having faith in the one to come, Christ. They needed the sacrament of Christian baptism to be born again by water AND the Spirit. The Holy Spirit and Christian water baptism go hand and hand else why would Paul ask about baptism when he found they had not heard of the Holy Spirit? We receive the indwelling, of the Holy Spirit, in the sacrament of Christ’s baptism and a strengthening in the sacrament of confirmation, by laying on of hands or confirmation is Pentecost for the baptized.
[Col 2:9 For IN HIM DWELLETH ALL THE FULNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY. 10 And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power: 11 IN WHOM also YE ARE CIRCUMCISED with THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, in PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF SINS OF THE FLESH BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST: 12 BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 13 And you, BEING DEAD IN YOUR SINS AND THE UNCIRCUMCISION OF YOUR FLESH, hath he QUICKENED together WITH HIM, having FORGIVEN YOU ALL TRESPASSES; 14 BLOTTING OUT the handwriting of ORDINANCES that was AGAINST US, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, NAILING IT TO HIS CROSS;]
Phillip 3:3 For WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
In Ezekiel we have an Old Testament prophecy, according to the foreknowledge of God, of something better than circumcision made by hands to come.
Ez 36:24 FOR I WILL TAKE YOU FROM AMONG THE HEATHEN, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 THEN WILL I SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER UPON YOU, and YE SHALL BE CLEAN: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, I WILL CLEANSE YOU. 26 A NEW HEART also WILL I GIVE YOU, and A NEW SPIRIT WILL I PUT WITHIN YOU: and I WILL TAKE AWAY THE STONY HEART out of your flesh, and I WILL GIVE YOU AN HEART OF FLESH. 27 And I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and YE SHALL KEEP MY JUDGMENTS, and do them. 28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and YE SHALL BE MY PEOPLE, and I WILL BE YOUR GOD.
Zech12:10 And I WILL POUR UPON THE HOUSE OF DAVID, and UPON THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, THE SPIRIT OF GRACE and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon. Zech13:1 IN THAT DAY THERE SHALL BE A FOUNTAIN OPENED TO THE HOUSE OF DAVID and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem FOR SIN AND for UNCLEANNESS.
[Isa52:13 Behold, my servant shall deal prudently, he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high. 14 As many were astonished at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: 15 **SO SHALL HE SPRINKLE MANY NATIONS; the kings shall shut their mouths at him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider.]
[1Pt 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT, unto obedience and SPRINKLING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 3 Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy HATH BEGOTTEN US AGAIN unto a lively hope BY THE RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the dead,] How are we sanctified of the Spirit? How are we sprinkled with the blood of Jesus? How are we begoten again by God? BAPTISM.
ACTS 19:1 And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and FINDING certain DISCIPLES 2 HE SAID unto them HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YE BELIEVED? And they said unto him WE HAVE NOT SO MUCH AS HEARD whether THERE BE ANY HOLY GHOST 3 And HE SAID unto them UNTO WHAT then WERE YE BAPTIZED? And THEY SAID UNTO JOHN’S BAPTISM 4 Then said Paul, JOHN verily BAPTIZED WITH the BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE SAYING unto the people that they should BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH should COME AFTER HIM that is ON CHRIST JESUS 5 When they heard this THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS 6 And when PAUL had LAID his HANDS UPON THEM THE HOLY GHOST CAME ON THEM and they spake with tongues and prophesied ACTS 19:1 And it came to pass that, while Apollos was at Corinth Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus and FINDING certain DISCIPLES 2 HE SAID unto them HAVE YOU RECEIVED THE HOLY GHOST SINCE YE BELIEVED? And they said unto him WE HAVE NOT SO MUCH AS HEARD whether THERE BE ANY HOLY GHOST 3 And HE SAID unto them UNTO WHAT then WERE YE BAPTIZED? And THEY SAID UNTO JOHN’S BAPTISM 4 Then said Paul, JOHN verily BAPTIZED WITH the BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE SAYING unto the people that they should BELIEVE ON HIM WHICH should COME AFTER HIM that is ON CHRIST JESUS 5 When they heard this THEY WERE BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS Evidently more is needed than BELIEF and faith in Christ, to be born again, because John’s baptism of WATER, was of repentance, believing or having faith in the one to come, Christ. They needed the sacrament of Christian baptism to be born again by water AND the Spirit. The Holy Spirit and Christian water baptism go hand and hand else why would Paul ask about baptism when he found they had not heard of the Holy Spirit? We receive the indwelling, of the Holy Spirit, in the sacrament of Christ’s baptism and a strengthening in the sacrament of confirmation, by laying on of hands or confirmation is Pentecost for the baptized.
J
jlhargus
Guest
Who now are the circumcision
Phil 3:3 For WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
What must we do to be saved by Christ? How do we receive remission of sins by Christ? How do we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost?
[Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, **REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR the REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall RECEIVE THE gift of the HOLY GHOST.]
Acts3:19 REPENT ye therefore, and BE CONVERTED, THAT YOURS SINS MAY BE BLOTTED OUT, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
What must we do to be saved if we believe?
[MK16:16 He that BELIEVETH and is BAPTIZED shall be SAVED but he that believeth not shall be damned.]
What do we do after we believe? What is that, born of God power, he gives us to become children of God?
[1Jn 1:12 But AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, to them GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them THAT BELIEVE on his name: 13 WHICH WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD, NOR of the will of THE FLESH, NOR of the WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD.]
How do we enter the kingdom of God? How are we born again of God? Jn3:3 JESUS ANSWERED and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be BORN AGAIN, he CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Jn3:5 JESUS ANSWERED, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be BORN OF water AND of the Spirit, he CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
**How do we become children of God? How do we put on Christ? How do we get in Christ? How do we become a new creature? **
[Gal 3:26 For YE ARE all the CHILDREN OF GOD by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For AS MANY of you AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED into Christ HAVE PUT ON CHRIST.] If we put on Christ then we are IN CHRIST and a NEW CREATURE.
2Cor5:17 Therefore IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Gal6:15 For IN CHRIST JESUS neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, BUT A NEW CREATURE.
**Does baptism save? **How does baptism now save us? ****
[1Pt3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, EIGHT SOULS WERE SAVED BY WATER. 21 THE LIKE FIGURE whereunto even ]B]BAPTISM DOTH also NOW SAVE US (NOT the PUTTING AWAY of the FILTH OF THE FLESH, BUT THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE toward God,) BY THE RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ:]
**How is our conscience purged? **
Hb9:14 How much more shall the BLOOD OF CHRIST, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, PURGE YOUR CONSCIENCE from dead works to serve the living God?]
Heb10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our HEARTS SPRINKLED FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE, and our ** BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER**.]****
Phil 3:3 For WE ARE THE CIRCUMCISION, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
What must we do to be saved by Christ? How do we receive remission of sins by Christ? How do we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost?
[Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, **REPENT, and BE BAPTIZED every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ FOR the REMISSION OF SINS, and ye shall RECEIVE THE gift of the HOLY GHOST.]
Acts3:19 REPENT ye therefore, and BE CONVERTED, THAT YOURS SINS MAY BE BLOTTED OUT, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.
What must we do to be saved if we believe?
[MK16:16 He that BELIEVETH and is BAPTIZED shall be SAVED but he that believeth not shall be damned.]
What do we do after we believe? What is that, born of God power, he gives us to become children of God?
[1Jn 1:12 But AS MANY AS RECEIVED HIM, to them GAVE HE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD, even to them THAT BELIEVE on his name: 13 WHICH WERE BORN, NOT OF BLOOD, NOR of the will of THE FLESH, NOR of the WILL OF MAN, BUT OF GOD.]
How do we enter the kingdom of God? How are we born again of God? Jn3:3 JESUS ANSWERED and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be BORN AGAIN, he CANNOT SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Jn3:5 JESUS ANSWERED, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, EXCEPT a man be BORN OF water AND of the Spirit, he CANNOT ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
**How do we become children of God? How do we put on Christ? How do we get in Christ? How do we become a new creature? **
[Gal 3:26 For YE ARE all the CHILDREN OF GOD by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For AS MANY of you AS HAVE BEEN BAPTIZED into Christ HAVE PUT ON CHRIST.] If we put on Christ then we are IN CHRIST and a NEW CREATURE.
2Cor5:17 Therefore IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST, HE IS A NEW CREATURE: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Gal6:15 For IN CHRIST JESUS neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, BUT A NEW CREATURE.
**Does baptism save? **How does baptism now save us? ****
[1Pt3:20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, EIGHT SOULS WERE SAVED BY WATER. 21 THE LIKE FIGURE whereunto even ]B]BAPTISM DOTH also NOW SAVE US (NOT the PUTTING AWAY of the FILTH OF THE FLESH, BUT THE ANSWER OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE toward God,) BY THE RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ:]
**How is our conscience purged? **
Hb9:14 How much more shall the BLOOD OF CHRIST, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, PURGE YOUR CONSCIENCE from dead works to serve the living God?]
Heb10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our HEARTS SPRINKLED FROM AN EVIL CONSCIENCE, and our ** BODIES WASHED WITH PURE WATER**.]****
S
SonCatcher
Guest
Being baptized as a child does not take away the necessity to choose God later in life. Every day, for those who have reached the age of accountability, we have the choice to follow God or to deny Him. Catholics believe that one who has been baptized can still be lost by choosing sin over God. That is why we have another sacrament to repair our relationship with God.
I understand that doesn’t align with your upbringing but it is why Catholics can baptize children without taking away their ability to chose their own lives.
S
Sufjon
Guest
Hi SunshineForever: I had the very same situation, with something of a different twist. I let my wife raise the children in her church and I supported that.If she thought I felt strongly otherwise, we would have worked out a compromise.I am much more concerned about the statement your fiance made about not having more children if you were to have a say in how they were raised. This is not the 14th century and you are an equal partner. If you cave on this, I bet it will only be the start. Personally I would have no problem raising my children Catholic if that’s what my wife wanted. I would have no problem with raising them Protestant either. If it matters to her, then it matters to me. I don’t see any harm in accommodating your fiance’s wishes, but I see a lot of trouble with your fiance not honoring yours. It sounds like you offered a compromise about maybe waiting until they were older. Was your compromise accepted or considered? If not, I would think about who you want to be in this relationship. To me it has nothing to do with religious affiliation. That’s just the matter of the moment. There will be other matters, and the very best way to predict future behavior is past behavior. When I interview people, I don’t ask them to tell me their opinion or hypothetical questions. They can tell you anything they want you to see. I ask them to tell me real life stories. Then you know who you’re talking to. You have some real life stories with this person. What are they telling you? Listen to yourself and go with your best judgment.
D
dchezik
Guest
And what would be the harmful consequence of your children “being forced into baptism”? If it’s necessary for salvation, no harm done. If it’s not necessary for salvation, no harm done, either! Remember Pascal’s wager? What difference does it make?
I’m sure when we get to the pearly gates, Gabriel (or whoever is on duty that day) is not going to say, “Ok, all those who haven’t been baptized form a line to left, everyone else go right in! Not so fast there, Herman! Let me see your baptism certificate! No certificate? I’m sorry, you have to go to hell.”
Do you really think it’s possible that if parents decide not to baptize it’s going to determine whether they get into heaven? Isn’t this insistence on sacraments overlooking the important criterion to go to heaven?
Is God going to shake his head sadly and say, “I just wish the parents had baptized their children! I just can’t let them into heaven without being baptized. I know I did it once for the thief on the cross, but I have to draw the line somewhere!”
The only problem I see with such a marriage is that it will create a constant source of friction on Sunday morning. It will be very hard for either of you to give up beliefs that have been conditioned into you from childhood! I know it was for me! If you can’t, go ahead and convert and baptize the kids. God really doesn’t care!
It took me till when I was 30 to look at my fundamental Protestant beliefs and say, “You know, if you’re going to have any intellectual integrity, you’ve got to go with what’s most probable. You have to, no matter how gut wrenching it is.”
At that point I realized all the stuff I had believed since childhood was all made up to make people feel better and give them a purpose. Interestingly enough, at that point, I felt an incredible burden lifted off me. The verse, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” came to me with great force. I was free! FREE! FREE!
To this day, I puzzle over what was different about me that I could do this, and others, equally smart and well-read, couldn’t. What was the difference? I called a Catholic friend from 20 years back and asked him if he still believed. He said he had given up “that stuff” a long time ago. Two other friends from back at Wheaton College still hang on to it. I’d like to know why.
Anybody got any answers? Why do you all still believe it?
J
JRKH
Guest
Answering your question here would be completely off topic.
I suggest that you start a new thread, and I am sure that there will be many who will be happy to answer your question.
Peace
James
J
JHow
Guest
Sunshineforever:
To address your orginal concerns, I am a former Protestant that married a Catholic (15 years of marriage and counting!). I had some of these same feelings and concerns about infant baptism in the beginning. One of the things that helped me understand it better (And you can try this risk free!) was to attend the baptism of a child of some family friends. What I realized at that time was how much the rite is geared towards the parents obligating themselves to raise a Christian child. Sure, the child has not made a choice. Sure, he/she will make a choice(s) later on (every day, really) to follow Christ or not. But the rite is really laying a heavy obligation on you the parent, more than the infant. Whether you want to take that on only you and your husband can say, but I do know that you two need to be of one mind to raise children. Whatever you decide, be together in that decision.
Peace,
Jim H.
To address your orginal concerns, I am a former Protestant that married a Catholic (15 years of marriage and counting!). I had some of these same feelings and concerns about infant baptism in the beginning. One of the things that helped me understand it better (And you can try this risk free!) was to attend the baptism of a child of some family friends. What I realized at that time was how much the rite is geared towards the parents obligating themselves to raise a Christian child. Sure, the child has not made a choice. Sure, he/she will make a choice(s) later on (every day, really) to follow Christ or not. But the rite is really laying a heavy obligation on you the parent, more than the infant. Whether you want to take that on only you and your husband can say, but I do know that you two need to be of one mind to raise children. Whatever you decide, be together in that decision.
Peace,
Jim H.
H
HollyDolly
Guest
If this is the truth and he truly feels this way,than maybe it would be better if you two don’t get married.Not trying to be mean, but you come from different faiths,even though christian, and you have problems with certain aspects of the Catholic faith, than this is just going to cause problems down the line.
My grandmother was lutheran, but when she married Grandpa, she agreed to raise the kids, my dad and Uncle Tom as Catholics.I don’t know if her family as a girl went much to church,and later in life she converted to the Church.
But to disown your own child because your wife doesn’t believe in infant baptism is ridiculous,it’s your kid.Not like they were 18 years old and when to jail for drug dealing!
I don’t think that you two are going to be able to surmount this problem. Somewhere in the bible St.Paul mentions baptising a whole household,which everyone takes as Going from adults, parents and servants, all the way down to children and infants.It’s from this I believe the Catholic custom of infant baptisim came from.
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