religion

oldngray

nowhere special
Well the best way I can describe it would be that all children will reach a time in life when they truly understand what it means to be saved it and what it represents. That age is different for each child. Before that time there is no way to hold them accountable for something they have no way of comprehending so thus makes them innocent of accountability. I can only use my experiences with the youth I have helped. It involved allowing them to ask questions as well as me asking them questions to see if they understand. If I felt they did, then I would hand it over to my pastor (or someone more qualified than I was) to help me. If they weren't ready then I would back off and go back to letting them learn more.
I used to go to a Lutheran church and they believed in infant baptism. When I asked what happened to the babies who hadn't been baptized they could only dodge the question and not give a clear answer. I had a real problem with that and I now belong to a Baptist church.

On a side note my parents were Methodists and they had a form of infant baptism called a Christening. That could count as your baptism or you could later have another baptism if you choose to do so. I was baptized when I joined the church I now belong to.
 

vantexan

Well-Known Member
I get it. I suppose you will be the one to decide that, oh wait no, it is not you it is the Bible that will decide that.
The point the Church of Christ simply makes is we should practice Christianity as we're directed through the Bible and as the First Century Church practiced it. You are free to do as you choose but if someone says something like infant baptism is found in the Scriptures then they should be able to point us to where to find it. You on occasion ask if I or someone else is aware of such and such doctrine. Sometimes a doctrine vs another. Being a New Testament Christian is easier than that. Hear, believe, obey, repent, and be baptized. Rise up.out of the water cleansed of your past sins and dedicate your life to living the Christian life. It's not complicated. And it's not a competition. Unfortunately in order to have what you want to believe about some things you reject some parts of the Bible. Again that's your choice but it may not be the right choice. We'll all know on the Judgement Day if we've been found acceptable or wanting. One can choose to believe the Bible or not. I choose to neither add to or take away from the Scriptures that were given to us as our guide.
 

Integrity

Binge Poster
I used to go to a Lutheran church and they believed in infant baptism. When I asked what happened to the babies who hadn't been baptized they could only dodge the question and not give a clear answer. I had a real problem with that and I now belong to a Baptist church.

On a side note my parents were Methodists and they had a form of infant baptism called a Christening. That could count as your baptism or you could later have another baptism if you choose to do so. I was baptized when I joined the church I now belong to.
I love the Baptist doctrines describing ”the Priesthood of All Believers” and their Congregational Rule Polity.
 

Integrity

Binge Poster
The point the Church of Christ simply makes is we should practice Christianity as we're directed through the Bible and as the First Century Church practiced it. You are free to do as you choose but if someone says something like infant baptism is found in the Scriptures then they should be able to point us to where to find it. You on occasion ask if I or someone else is aware of such and such doctrine. Sometimes a doctrine vs another. Being a New Testament Christian is easier than that. Hear, believe, obey, repent, and be baptized. Rise up.out of the water cleansed of your past sins and dedicate your life to living the Christian life. It's not complicated. And it's not a competition. Unfortunately in order to have what you want to believe about some things you reject some parts of the Bible. Again that's your choice but it may not be the right choice. We'll all know on the Judgement Day if we've been found acceptable or wanting. One can choose to believe the Bible or not. I choose to neither add to or take away from the Scriptures that were g
I believe differently.
 

vantexan

Well-Known Member
So what. Baptism is a ritual.
Acts 8:36-37

The Ethiopian eunuch, after being taught by Philip, saw a body of water and asked to be baptized. Out of curiosity do you think he chose to stop his chariot to be immersed in water because he thought it was a nice ritual, but totally unnecessary?
 

tourists24

Well-Known Member
So would you view a child who understands what it means to be saved and says they don’t believe your understanding as you teach it as going to hell?
Yes, I do believe at a point of time if a young person understands and stays separated from Christ runs a risk of staying separated after death. Only Christ will ultimately know that age though; it's impossible for us to be the arbiter of that (we can only speculate). All we can do is continue to reach out to them and try to lead them to salvation.
 

tourists24

Well-Known Member
I used to go to a Lutheran church and they believed in infant baptism. When I asked what happened to the babies who hadn't been baptized they could only dodge the question and not give a clear answer. I had a real problem with that and I now belong to a Baptist church.

On a side note my parents were Methodists and they had a form of infant baptism called a Christening. That could count as your baptism or you could later have another baptism if you choose to do so. I was baptized when I joined the church I now belong to.
I know people that don't agree with me on this will take issue, but ultimately I think infant baptism is more ceremonial for the parents to show the church that they wish their child to be welcomed to their church family; and that they promise to raise their child in their faith. The church performs the ceremony to bless this.

I too grew up baptist and personally I feel there's nothing wrong with doing it so long as the intent is not thinking that it's their baby's ticket to personal salvation. I did not do it with any of my children but have nephews and nieces that have been
 

Integrity

Binge Poster
Yes, I do believe at a point of time if a young person understands and stays separated from Christ runs a risk of staying separated after death. Only Christ will ultimately know that age though; it's impossible for us to be the arbiter of that (we can only speculate). All we can do is continue to reach out to them and try to lead them to salvation.
I have heard this type of reason before. It always seems cringe to me when anyone believes anyone else is going to hell if they died.

My faith is only God can make that judgement no matter what anyone thinks they know. I firmly believe it is exclusively between the individual and God Himself.
 

tourists24

Well-Known Member
I have heard this type of reason before. It always seems cringe to me when anyone believes anyone else is going to hell if they died.

My faith is only God can make that judgement no matter what anyone thinks they know. I firmly believe it is exclusively between the individual and God Himself.
I understand that. It's not a fun thought. I don't sugar coat the reality of it, but it's not what I dwell on too much. Bringing people to Christ is the important part when you can. After that, I try to just get along the best I can, and I try never to lose hope
 

Integrity

Binge Poster
Do you think an infant remembers their baptism and, more importantly, understands the significance of the event?
Please just answer the question.
No I do not think an infant remembers their baptism and, or more importantly, understands the significance of the event while still an infant.
 

Pee Bottle

Well-Known Member
I used to go to a Lutheran church and they believed in infant baptism. When I asked what happened to the babies who hadn't been baptized they could only dodge the question and not give a clear answer. I had a real problem with that and I now belong to a Baptist church.

On a side note my parents were Methodists and they had a form of infant baptism called a Christening. That could count as your baptism or you could later have another baptism if you choose to do so. I was baptized when I joined the church I now belong to.

No one knows what happens to unbaptized babies. The point is more, baptize babies. Just do it. Christ gives us sacraments to use them. Everyone until the anabaptists did this unquestioningly.
 

Pee Bottle

Well-Known Member
I know people that don't agree with me on this will take issue, but ultimately I think infant baptism is more ceremonial for the parents to show the church that they wish their child to be welcomed to their church family; and that they promise to raise their child in their faith. The church performs the ceremony to bless this.

I too grew up baptist and personally I feel there's nothing wrong with doing it so long as the intent is not thinking that it's their baby's ticket to personal salvation. I did not do it with any of my children but have nephews and nieces that have been
It’s to be brought into union with Christ and become a child of God, which we do not become until our baptism. The problem with many on the Protestant end is they do treat the faith like a transaction on their salvation. Evangelicalism is the most egregious in this aspect.
 

FromOffTheStreets

Well-Known Member
Children are innocent until they're mature enough to know right from wrong.
Psalm 51:5 Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned
 

FromOffTheStreets

Well-Known Member
It’s to be brought into union with Christ and become a child of God, which we do not become until our baptism. The problem with many on the Protestant end is they do treat the faith like a transaction on their salvation. Evangelicalism is the most egregious in this aspect.
Galatians 2:16 Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
 
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