Infant Baptism: Yes or No?
What is your opinion on infant baptism and why?
(And no, “I think it’s dumb” doesn’t count. Neither does, “Because it’s tradition!” I want good, thought-out reasoning as to why you believe what you believe.)
Ready? Go!
17 Responses to “Infant Baptism: Yes or No?”
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My thoughts on it is that I don't think infant baptism is invalid or anything, but I just don't see a Biblical foundation for it. I think we should strive to do things based on examples found in scripture and I don't see any clear examples of infant baptism anywhere in the Bible. It may not be *wrong*, but I'm not sure it's right, if that makes sense.
I had a similar post back here if you're interested:
http://www.newlutheran.com/2009/07/08/the-first...
Thanks for the post!
I feel like infant baptism is, yes welcoming and sealing the child in the body of Christ, but it is more important for the parents. It is a promise on their part to raise the child in Christ and teach them the Word and set the example. But it doesn't end there… I believe that the child still needs to make the conscious choice to accept and follow Christ. We can't make that for them when they are only infants…
Jesus was baptized as an adult, just sayin!
There is nothing in scripture that explicitly discourages or forbids infant baptism. Also nothing that commands it or explicitly prescribes it. It probably happened (households being baptized) in NT times, but I wouldn't bet my family's life on it. The “believe and be baptized” command is not necessarily sequential; could well be additive, and he was talking to an adult crowd in a specific situation not laying down eternal exclusivity for believers' baptism. In other words, all the arguments for and against are ALL implicit and not explicit (e.g. “feed the hungry” and “go and make disciples” etc.). This argument will never be solved.
I believe that the Holy Spirit is active in the waters of baptism regardless of the age of the person being baptized. You can be newly born or on your death bed, and God can work wonders through the word and water of Holy Baptism. I am fine with infant baptism because I think it acknowledges that we are not responsible for our salvation. It is the work of God that saves us, not some conscious decision we made when we were 14, or something along those lines. I don't see a problem with someone consciously choosing to be baptized when they are 14, however, as long as we realize that it is not our own doing or our own decision that achieves our salvation. I am also deeply affected at the thought of the parents, sponsors and congregation promising to raise the child in the faith, to teach them those creeds and prayers and Scripture that are important to the faith community. And then, when the child is around 14 years old, they stand before the congregation and say that those promises are important to them and that they will choose to live them out in their own lives. Sort of like the 14 year old deciding to be baptized, but different because they got to that point through the promises of the other people gathered there. And maybe that's the way the congregation gathered around the 14 year old who chooses to be baptized would feel, but I think infant baptism/adolescent confirmation expresses that idea and thought in a more intentional way.
This is an interesting discussion so far.
If we say we are only going to do things the way they are exactly laid out in Scripture, we get into the Regulative Principle. This says that church form relies on Scripture and Scripture alone for our church practices. This is good in concept, but can lead to trouble. Why is communion taken as a small piece of bread and a dip of wine? In the NT it was a full-on feast.
Church form and practice has evolved over time. There may be no direct reference to infant baptism in the NT, but does that mean doing it is wrong, or unpreferable? I dont think so. There are pros and cons to each side, and I think we need to go deeper than just Scripture. Remember that the NT only covers a generation or two. We don't really see examples of Christian children, so they may not have developed ideas about it quite yet.
Infant baptism, to me, is a sign and a promise of the church community and family to raise that baby with Christian values. Adult baptism is a sign of individual commitment to Christ when you are able to grasp the significance of that decision.
Is it wrong to practice both? Just throwin it out there. I know many many people who have been baptized twice, once as infants and again when they actually commit their lives to Jesus.
This falls into the category of theological and ecclesiological straw man (or straw baby if you prefer) for me. Infant Baptism and a few other select practices get a lot of hype, but if we're going to start picking at what parts of church praxis there is or isn't support for in scripture we're going to have do a crap-load of weeding in the proverbial garden – a lot more than most of us would be comfortable with I think.
Take communion, I pretty sure Jesus and his homeboys were not kicking back chewing on saltines and drinking a thimble full of a welch's grape juice. It was a meal, that's a far cry from our weekly, or first-week-of-the-month ritual. That doesn't make it wrong, but I have a hard time finding that in Scripture either.
So, perhaps I skirted the question, but I think my primary sentiment is what's the big deal? Does infant baptism assure something in the eternal sense for these children? I'm not sure, but I do think God makes it pretty clear that is something he's claimed responsibility for deciding (who knows him and who doesn't.) I think God has shown up to man repeatedly throughout history and continues to do so. I think we in turn, have tried to make sense of it all, and one of those ways that some have chosen to make sense of it is through a ceremony at the very beginning of their child's life. If that helps those parents, that community, and even that child make sense of God I say bravo.
I was just talking about this last night with some gals in my small group. I was baptized as an infant and because I believe that the presence of God is present in the sacraments, I don't think I need a “re-do” baptism (even though it didn't occur with my consent). BUT, I wish that I would have had the experience of a believer's baptism… because I wish I could remember the day and experience of being baptized. I think that the symbol of being put to death in the waters of baptism (“I've been crucified with Christ”) and raising again to new life (“it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me”) is something that I did not understand at 4 months old. I would love to have been baptized with Galatians 2:20 on my mind.
I am glad you wrote this
Amy … Love your thoughts. You mention wanting to experience “believer's baptism” while also believing that your infant baptism “took.” Do the two have to be mutually exclusive?
I don't think it's a matter of 'needing' a re-do baptism. But do you want one? Is God going to suddenly disown you because in your desire to grow closer to him and have a stronger experiential relationship you wanted a 2nd baptism? (of course not) If you want to get re-baptized, even if you don't 'need' to, you may want to consider doing it.
I'd say the benefit of going through a baptism with a recentering and richer understanding of what it means is far more beneficial than NOT getting baptized again…only because you were baptized previously.
What I mean, is that I see the benefits of getting re-baptized and do not see benefits of NOT getting re-baptized…though not getting re-baptized shows consequences of regret or longing over the lost opportunity, and getting re-baptized seems to have no consequences in my mind.
great points here. Good stuff
Straw baby. That's awesome.
That's an original just for you. I had high hopes you'd like it.
Feel free to use it with your friends. As in, “Don't come in here throwing straw babies around…give me something solid!” Ok, I'll stop.
I was baptized as an infant when I was 11 years old.
I agree Mark –
The meaning from baptism only comes when we realize that God does the work, and not us. As a parent, I believe that having my daughter baptized as an infant shows my promise to raise her up in Christ, but it is only the Father, though Christ, that can provide salvation.
Infant baptism is based on the Abrahamic covenant. I has Scriptural support.
You can also refer to:
http://dialogos-studies.com/Dialogos/baptism/in...
for more information.
Infant baptism is based on the Abrahamic covenant. I has Scriptural support.
You can also refer to:
http://dialogos-studies.com/Dialogos/baptism/in...
for more information.