Infant Baptism
Infant
Baptism is one of the most critical doctrines of the Catholic church:
"Born
with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have
need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and
brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all
men are called. The sheer gratuitousness of the grace of salvation is
particularly manifest in infant Baptism. The Church and the parents would
deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to
confer Baptism shortly after birth." Pg. 319, #1250
|
The
Catechism tells us where this cornerstone doctrine originated:
"The
practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church.
There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century
on..." Pg. 319, #1252 (Emphasis author's)
|
Here,
the Catechism admits that this doctrine is not based upon Scripture. It is a
man-made tradition. Paul's warning might fit well here:
"Beware
lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the
tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after
Christ." Colossians 2:8
|
Baptism
in the Bible
What
makes this practice especially disturbing is that the Bible does not record a
single occurance of an infant being baptized. On the contrary, every mention of
baptism involves people old enough to hear and receive the gospel.
Jesus
was an adult when he was baptized:
"...
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water..."
Matthew 3:16
|
Throughout
the Bible, baptism always followed salvation. The Ethiopian eunuch who was led
to salvation by Philip was an adult when baptized:
"...
they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he
baptized him." Acts 8:38
|
Others
were baptized after they believed:
"And
Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house;
and many of the Corinthians hearing believed,
and were baptized." Acts 18:8
|
After
people heeded John the Baptist's message to "repent," they were:
"...
baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their
sins." Matthew 3:6
|
Obviously,
newborn infants can not repent, believe or confess their sins. Therefore, they
are never qualified to be scripturally baptized.
The Philippian jailer
When
the Philippian jailer who guarded the Apostle Paul asked, "What must I do
to be saved?" (Acts 16:30), Paul answered,
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 31)." After the jailer
believed, Paul baptized him (v. 33).
When
Peter preached in Acts, chapter two:
"...
they that gladly received
his word were baptized: and the same day there were added
unto them about three thousand souls." Acts 2:41
|
When
Philip preached to the people of Samaria, men and women were
baptized, but no infants were baptized:
"But
when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus
Christ, they were baptized, both
men and women." Acts 8:12
|
If
God's Word is so explicit that only those old enough to hear and receive God's
Word should be baptized, then why does Catholicism demand that newborn infants
be baptized? Is it to bring people into bondage to the church from shortly
after their birth? You must settle this question in your own heart.
Conclusion
When
you were baptized as an infant, were you really baptized, or did you just have
some water sprinkled on you? It all depends on which side you will believe in -
the Word of God or the traditions of men. Please keep in mind the words Jesus
spoke to the religious leaders of His day:
"Full
well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own
tradition." Mark 7:9
|
In defense of Infant baptism
venial
sin Adam’s inherit sin The word never
condemns babes and sucklings. The original sin concept is never found in the
bible. You own sin be upon you own head, and the sin of others cannot be
inherited,
Utopia
As their masters would say "unless you change and become as little children(who needs baptism because they are sinners) you will never enter the kingdom of God" ....BUT
As my Master would say
KJV-R (Webster) Matthew 18:6 But whoever shall cause one of these little ones which believe in me, to sin, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
7 Woe to the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh!
So now what? The question is....,and what happens to the babes when it dies without being baptize or what may happen if the child is not baptize from the start, Is it really the Lord's teaching or rules/traditions of men, and motions of money, by the which when corrected they shall fall greatly, Mt7:26
prepare for his wrath ,for He shall ask you "who taught you all these things"...I don't know if you can dare yourself(ves)saying "YOU Lord taught us these things"
MV: the
soul that sinneth, Ez18:20
Bib1Yr:
Ac2Day
of Pentecost