Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!uunet!shelby!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: lvron@earth.lerc.nasa.gov (Ronald E. Graham) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Infant baptism and bible interpretation Message-ID: Date: 3 Feb 91 03:44:06 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center Lines: 81 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , CONS.ELF@AIDA.CSD.UU.SE (Ake Eldberg) writes... [regarding perspectives on infant baptism...] >Baptism was once a problem for me, because I saw that many parents >who were not churchgoers and had very weak links to Christianity >were having their children baptized because it's tradition, but >without knowing what it means. This made me think a baptist >approach was better. Let the kids choose for themselves. Having once adhered to the Baptist church (does it matter which one?), I was used to having the same view of the more liturgical groups which practice this. It was my reasoning that, since baptism was supposed to be a sign of Christ's work in the believer, I should support and practice the "believer's baptism." > [...] >Several Lutheran (C of S) parishes are now employing a special >programme to bring the parents to awareness of what baptism >really means. Meaning, we get them to go to church and some >"school" meetings before their children are baptized. Even after my family joined the Episcopal (American Anglican) church, I retained my belief in believer's baptism as the acceptable manner. This was due, in part, to Episcopal pastors choosing to base their defense of the practice of infant baptism primarily on tradition rather than on Scripture. The only references from the Bible applied to the defense were generally from Acts, describing individuals who believed and were baptized along with their households. I felt these passages to be necessary, but not sufficient, for a defense from Scripture. In short, I wanted to be able to *defend* decisions I make on my children's behalf, especially decisions of this nature, even if nobody cares to listen to the defense. So a class like Mr. Eldberg describes above, if they can make a Scriptural defense, would IMPO be essential for sincere Christian parents who want their children baptized. Too bad most of us parents aren't sincere, innit? :-( >On principle, however, I am still convinced that children can >validly and rightly be baptized into a community which their >family already is in. They were born into a Christian family, >and there is nothing to say that any level of knowledge or >any amount of faith is necessary to be received by God. Let >the children come to me! said Christ. Well, now I agree with this statement 100%, although I didn't just one month ago. I was loaned a book put out by the Presbyterian Reformed Church on infant baptism, which outlined their defense. It was from Scripture, and where there were gray areas in their logic, it was pointed out that those who follow the believer's baptism doctrine have the same gray areas to deal with as well. The book is called "What Christian Parents Should Know About Infant Baptism." It's only about 30 (short) pages long. Because of the defense of this book, I have changed my stand. My children will both be baptized on 02/03/91, and I understand why I'm allowing it. If anybody gives a rip, I'd be glad to discuss it. >But it gives me trouble that many parents who have no intention >of caring about God want their children baptized because it's >a neat tradition and nothing more. Amen. I wish I knew how to deal with this myself. G'dae, Mr. Eldberg. RG [Having children baptized simply because it's the custom is a continuing problem. However many churches insist that those bringing a child for baptism must be active Christians. This can sometimes be a way of bringing people back into the church. It's pretty common for people to fall away in college, and come back only as they begin to have a family of their own. So there are both good and bad sides to the situation. On the one hand, we need to do our best to prevent baptism from turning into a cultural event or superstition. On the other hand, it's possible to go too far in suspicion of parents' motivations, and become self-righteous. People may in fact be moved to reconsider their priorities in a serious way when they become responsible for children. --clh]