Christians - where do you stand on Baptism?

[harrisey]

I've been a christian for 20 years. I was christened as an infant but came to faith myself at the age of 16 adn joined the church at 18. But as I have always gon to churches that do infant baptism, the question about whether i shoud be baptised as a believer never came up. Neither dh or I agree wih infant baptism and our 3 children have not been baptised. But it never seemed to be a big deal.
We have recently moved house and have chosen to go to our local Baptist church - not baecause of their stance on Baptism but because we like the style of worship, the preaching, fantastic ministry team, the childrens work is excellent etc ... I went to the evening service tonight and 3 people were being baptised. It was an amazing service and they said that it was one of the few instructions that Christ gave to his disciples "..go into all the world and make disciples of all nations baptising them in the name ..." etc. And Jesus himself was baptised.
Totally confused. Would fell a bit weird to be dunked after all this time. I dont really feel any 'need' to do it, but it does seem to be an instruction.... It is something that both dh and I have thought about on and off for a number of years.
Have any of you been naptised as an adult? Or chosen not to be for any reason? Just wondered what youthought about it.

Hi again. Wow the discussion has fairly mushroomed! On the subject of what God decides about babies etc.. has anyone else read "Freedom in Christ" by Neil anderson? We did a series on it at church. Was amazing. The point being that one of the things I took away from it was that the KEY thing about God and who he is, is that his main characteristic is not actually love but HOLINESS. Ie complete righness and purity etc. This spills over into every decsion and characteristic of God. So God's love is holy, his decisions are holy etc. When I was 8 my dad died so I was facinated with death and afterlife as a child and my mum always told me that we can rely on God to make right choices because he wouldn't be God if he didn't. Hope that makes sense! God can't make decsions based on vindictiveness, wrongful anger or spite because those things are not part of who he is.

I thank God that the hard decisions of who and if we are saved is His. There will be people in heaven that I will be shocked to see and those I'll be shocked that I don't see. Jesus will, I believe, hold children close. He has understanding that we will never have, and that we will never be able to explain.

Lets face it, if it was up to us, how many would actually get in? Close family and friends. Thinking about the threads on here at the moment, about a 'sensative' sunbject I can think of a whole group of people I'd be waving on their way.

Sorry I've just changed the idea of the thread but hopefully you get my very fragile connection!!!!!sorry

havent read all the posts so sorry if repeat something.

The way I see it is this. Baby Christening is the parents saying that they would like the baby to grow up knowing God. Its the parents decision. Not right or wrong imo.

Adult baptism under water (like what Jesus did) is the actual person making a decision for themselves. Its a symbolic act showing others that you want to follow Jesus.

I was baptised as a teenager and it was an amazing experience. God really did something. Its a definite 'mark' in my walk with God.

Harrisey - I would say to you - talk to God about it. See whether he nudges you. But I certainly wouldnt feel bad about not being baptised as an adult.

TheQueenOfEyeSpy - yes I do understand the fragile connection, and your comments.

Thank you for your lovely post, you say it like I see it too.

Wow!
Everybody ..thankyou so much for your time and effort in replying, it has definitely given me a lot of food for thought.
I especially like the posts from people who have been baptised as an adult - for every one of you it seemed like such an important and moving experience.

I am going to go and talk to someone at church about it, along with dh, as we feel this is something that we ought to do together if we are going to do it at all.

Thanks for all your posts, I'll keep you informed!

Waswondering - college starts next THursday, so I'll let you knwo how I get on. Entrance exams were Fri and we find out this Thurs how we got on!

If there is an afterlife, then I believe we all get in. I don't believe faith is necessary because God's love extends beyond that. I can see why centuries ago the Church (in those days the only church) promoted infant baptism because so many chidlren died. I made sense to them. But our theology has moved on and I can't believe anyone believes baptising anyone (let alone a baby) guaranteeing them a place. That is not just, and God is just.

I suppose because the afterlife, even its existence, is so hidden from me, the main focus of my faith is on the here and now. I was baptised as a baby and our dds have been too. My baptism meant a lot to me and the only way I can describe it is that I am sure it was what made me aware of the presence of God in my life. I suppose I was aware of it as a sacrament, IYSWIM. And the carrying-out of any sacrament allows God into the world a bit more, I think it makes the world more full of his/her presence..

Now we have a dilemma over ds's baptism as I am no longer a member of the Anglican church and would be a hypocrite to have him baptised there. At the same time, having been to dedication ceremonies which were very lovely, I am aware that is not what I want for ds. Part of me would like to pop him down to the river and get dh to do it.

I am glad that I had the option of confirmation as an adult. Right now I couldn't imagine wanting to be rebaptised, but I have renewed my vows often. Harrisey, I think you have to trust that the Spirit will guide you for what is the right way for you. As you can see from our answers, there is no one way - we are all diffferent and so is how we express our faith.

For the record, Harrisey:-
I was christened as a child.
Became a Christian when I was 13 - wanted to be baptised then, mother was very much against it.
At 17 when I had joined a church (not the one I was brought up to go to) and others in my youth group wanted to be baptised, mother was still against it so there was no point in going to the preparatory course of classes which explained it all. Very sad about that. Pretty devastated in fact, but attended my friends' baptisms with mixed feelings - delight for them, sad for me.
Roll on the years........circumstances and events meant I left the church for a considerable time - but later returned to another one, and got back into really enjoying church life again in a deep way. My age didn't figure in it this time and I was baptised when I was 40. Actually at the same time as M who I described earlier. A lady of 80 got baptised at the same church earlier this year, age really isn't a barrier, LOL.

nearlythree - some Anglican vicars understand that some parents wish to celebrate their child's safe arrival in the world and to mark it in a special way. There is an offer of a ceremony which is not a baptism (as the parents are not seeing things that way) but a respectful celebration of thanks for the child's life. I respect that option, because it allows a celebration without the parents making promises they don't believe. Just a thought.

Nearlythree if we all get in then what is the point of being saved? Why do we have to go out and 'make disciples of all nations'?

Anyway getting back to op I believe that baptism is an outward sign of the innercommitment we have made. The real work is done when we accept God into our lives.

Different denominations have different ceremonies to become members and baptism is one of those methods.

As for babies my dc were dedicated as I believe God accepts those unable to make decision for themselves, so we commited them to God and promised to bring them up to follow God in the hope that when old enough they would make their own decision.

Even though my church does not practice baptism they would not have a problem with one of their members being baptised and I can see how it is important if thats what works for you and if it is what God is asking, but also if God wants you to be a member of a church that doesn't practice baptism then thats fine too.

I believe we all have an afterlife too, but it is our decision as to who we spend that afterlife with. It absolutely does not rest on baptism; baptism is a symbol and a sign, not a spell or a password.

You've got me thinking too Harrisey about whether it's my responsibility to stand up and be counted as Christ's. Because I am His, but have I ever really declared it in such a special way?

I became a Christian when I was 13 and joined the Church of Scotland when I was 21 which involved a lengthy Alpha type course (fortunately my minsiter was a Christian) and a public declaration in front of the church that I was committing myself to follow Christ. It was important for me, but definitely not a baptism.

I was christened as a child by my non-Christian parents because it was the done thing. That was irrelevant to me and personally meant nothing - my parents certainly had no intention of bringing me up as a Christian.

I've never been baptised and it comes up in conversation every so often. I don't understand why I've never just gone for it. I suppose like Harrisey I've been a Christian for so long that to suddenly say I was getting baptised would feel a bit weird. But it is also one of Jesus' instructions!

It would be a fab opportunity to get some of my family to hear me speak about my faith "legitimately" IYSWIM. My mum is very keen that Christianity should be kept within the four walls of a church building.

I like Bloss' analogy to walking down the aisle with someone you've been living with for years. In which case I guess it would be good for me to just go for it.

We've had dedication services for both our children for the same reasons that most Christians here have already said. Certainly in my experience of many many denominations and different circles of friends it is very rare for a committed Christian family to choose to Christen their children. Most have a dedication, thanksgiving, celebration or blessing service because becoming a follower of Christ is a personal decision.

I do pray my children make that decision but it's their call. Or rather it's God's call, but that's a whole 'nother thread!!!

Ramble ramble....

How on earth can we decide who we spend our afterlife with?

Longwaytogo, I don't believe in salvation as is usually meant by the church. But I know my universalist beliefs are not usual church doctrine. If God is just then he/she isn't just going to let in members of his/her club. As for thsoe we regard as beyond redemption, I agree with Bobsmum about each of us choosing who to spend the afterlife with, and if there is an afterlife then God is so full of love for anyone to be able to say no.

It frightens the life out of me when people talk about being 'saved'. What happens to my soul is of surprisingly little importance to me. (surprising to me, that is, given how selfish I am). When I think of saving others, I think about putting food in their bellies or getting them out of a destructive lifestyle. But am getting off the point.

dazzlincatz, I think dedication/thanksgiving services are lovely and I fully understand why people choose them but it's not what I want for ds. I totally believe in the sacrament of baptism for infants, I just no longer believe in the church. Probably have some very unChristian attitudes on this and should be more humble and forgiving, but I disagree so fundamentally with what the CofE currently stands for that I am at a loss what to do.

Well, notasheep. You either give your life to Jesus, and go to heaven. Or you don't!

(Disclaimer..... This is my belief and the teachings of the bible)

I was brought up Roman Catholic but after 2 recent bereavements( 2 girlfriends) not sure what there is to come

This is the best thread I ever started!

Why aren't you sure sheep?

Harrisey

Every time I see this thread title in Active Convos I want to say

"next to the font!"

Sorry

Why couldnt they live to 75yrs old?
One of them is in an urn on top of a bookcase-i just dont get it,but then she isnt there is she?

No, she is not. If she was a christian then she is in Heaven with the Lord.

It was Satan who took them hun, not God.

I dont believe that my baptism or ot has anything to do with me being saved, or a christian, I have been one since I was 16 and cant see God not recognising that.

I really think God will judge each and every one of us with consideration to the chances we have had to respond to the gospel - he is not going to send babies to hell because they have not responded, because they never had the choice (have thought this through a lot as have had 3 m/c).

But when I look in the gospels and Acts, I see a lot of people being baptised. Even Christ himself - if he needed it, then how much more do I need it?

Dh and I are going to talk to some people at church and see what comes of it.

And whoever said we have founf a great church - you are right. After 10 years of living in a very very remote rural situation with no real choice about church (well yes, we could choose between the traditional Church of Scotland, the traditional Free Church of Scotland, the very very traditional Free Church of Scotland and the traditional Anglicans - Scottish Episcopalians, which is where we ended up) we are ina city where we can find anything we like and we are able to go to a church where the teaching is brilliant, the worship is charismatic and lively and fabulous (though I cant quite get my head round the flag waving!! - funny I can deal with the speaking in tongues no bother but the flags freak me out), the childrens work is just amazing, (from the way they are taught to the professsionalism of the childrens workers to the way they are learning about how God can speak to even little kids), to the pastoral care I have received (though I have only been going for a few weeks and had one big crisis in that time which the senior pastor has dealt with so well) .

Baptism is certainly on the cards. But me and dh need to pray about it and decide what is right for us as a family, as a couple, as individuals.

ooo Harrisey sounds like a fab church. We used to do flag waving in our church too but that seems to have died down a bit now. I used to like it. Lots of colour and movement

Let us all know what you decide re the baptism thing.

Hi Harrisey ...

I think you have a good point there about Jesus. Baptism marks a transition from one way of life to another, and when he started his ministry, Jesus knew that for the sake of those around him, an outward sign of the change was important.

It's good to note that when he insisted that John baptize him, Jesus said it was fitting to do it, not that it was in some way essential - for Jesus of course, baptism was a declaration of a change in the pattern of his life, not a baptism of repentance. He had nothing to repent of! Baptisms of various kinds were not uncommon in that time and place.

I would say to any Christian who has never taken the step of obedience that is baptizm, what reason have you got not to do it? Jesus did it! And, of course, it is one of the few occasions you can get your non-Christian friends and relatives through the door of the church and share the Gospel with them. That's got to be a good thing.

Brilliant discussion. Is making me think, particularly Roisin's comment about being anti re-baptism. I will ponder as I work

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