Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sdd.hp.com!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ncar!gatech!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: wagner@karazm.math.uh.edu (David Wagner) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Infant Baptism, and a Few Oddments Message-ID: Date: 30 Nov 90 09:27:17 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Houston -- Department of Mathematics Lines: 59 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article farkas@eng.sun.com (Frank Farkas) writes: > An infant can't make a decision if it wants to enter >into the Christian community, or not. Such decision must be made by a >person who has reached the age of accountability, and can decide for her >or himself. Neither can an adult unbeliever make such a decision, for he is 'dead in his transgressions and sins' (Ephesians 2). Conversion is no less miraculous in the adult than it is in an infant. It might be more miraculous, because the adult has had plenty of time to harden his heart. >I believe that there is a contradiction in saying on one hand that infant >baptism is not really a requirement, and on the other hand to say that it >is a commandment of God. I may have made a mistake or a mistatement. Baptism is a requirement, but the real requirement is faith. If someone has faith but dies before he has the opportunity to receive baptism, I believe he is saved. My basis for this is Christ's statement to the believing thief on the cross, "Today, you will be with me in paradise." On the other hand, if someone says he has faith but claims not to need or want baptism, then I say he has no true faith, and is rejecting Christ's command. To try to make baptism an absolute requirement which can be satisfied by baptizing the dead is legalistic, unscriptural, and absurd. >Mark 16:16 >---------- >"He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not >shall be damned." Note that Christ did not say here, 'he that believeth not or is not baptized shall be damned.' David H. Wagner a confessional Lutheran "On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's cry Announces that the Lord is nigh; Come then, and hearken, for he brings Glad tidings from the King of Kings "Then cleansed be ev'ry Christian breast And furnished for so great a guest. Yea, let us each our hearts prepare For Christ to come and enter there. "For Thou art our Salvation, Lord, Our Refuge, and our great Reward. Without Thy grace our souls must fade And wither like a flow'r decayed." --"Jordanis oras praevia" v.1-3. -- Charles Coffin, 1736 --from 'The Lutheran Hymnal, #63 My opinions and beliefs on this matter are disclaimed by The University of Houston.