Why baptize children?

 

It is best to leave everyone free choice? "Children should decide for themselves, when they grow up ", so repeat some parents. Some evangelical churches rather think that the baptism of children contradicts the order of the Lord: "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved" (Mc 16,16). This statement does not mean that the personal faith must precede baptism? How can a small child to receive "the sacrament of faith"? It also debated the question of whether infant Baptism was already known to the early Church, or it is not a late introduction of the "popular Church".

The baptism of children is documented from the second century. In the case of Baptism of whole families, documented frequently (for example in Acts 16:15-33), even children could receive Baptism. In the course of the third and fourth centuries, on the other hand, we can sometimes encounter an attitude of reserve towards infant baptism. The reason for this was probably the penitential practices rather severe, which provided for i sins serious long excommunications, also in life, and granted only once the possibility of absolution. certain, for this reason, They hesitate to take upon himself the yoke of Baptism: they, indeed, They preferred to wait for the aged to be baptized, when the enthusiasm of youth had passed.

Today the resistance against the baptism of children is no longer born from fear of the difficult duties that Baptism involves, but rather by the widespread feeling that the child does not need the Baptism. Behind both attitudes is the belief that baptism is a limitation of freedom. Both view the Baptism in an external way.

Baptism is a sacrament to children. Considering the "sacrament of rebirth" especially the work of Christ, his free grace that precedes us, Baptism to infants show that he has loved us first (1 Teacher 4:10): He died and rose for us all, and it makes us sharers in this gift in Baptism. Those who love their son can not deprive him of this gift.

The baptism of children clarifies another truth: all men need salvation, even the newborn baby. The "original sin" means that no one can save himself, but only in Jesus there is salvation (At 4,12). We all need his salvation, for all of us he became a man, our Savior. From childhood he gives us true freedom.

"Let the children come to me and don't stop them" (Mc 10,14)

How could we not bring children to him, who in Baptism welcomes them into his arms and blesses them (Mc 10,16)? Infant Baptism also involves the responsibility to bring the child closer to Christ in a conscious way through religious education. Where this is missing, then there is the danger that the grace of Baptism may not develop. For this reason, even more, we must feel the urgency of presenting our children to Jesus (Mc 10:13).

The position of the Reformed churches is the same as the Catholic one as regards Baptism. All Reformed churches are in favor of infant baptism, the Waldensian ones, Anglican, luterane, etc. Fundamentalist churches that have a legalistic attitude towards baptism are opposed; these are the Baptist churches, the Pentecostal ones (NAME, apostolic), He asked the brothers and all those free and independent evangelical churches that have formed over the past two centuries, and Jehovah's Witnesses. All these refuse to give baptism to the children saying that they have not yet received the gift of faith and can not testify. But what they do not understand is that salvation is not through baptism, which is only a "sign" an outward ritual, but only through faith. If your child baptized become as great atheist, that baptism received as a child he will not grant any grace. Opposite case, is the person, then educated in the Christian way, He has received the gift of faith in a more mature age, that baptism is to be considered effective and there is no need to repeat it in other churches. The Bible says that "there is only one baptism" (Ephesians 4:5). It makes no sense to repeat it. Forcing you to redo the baptism once in an evangelical church coming from the Catholic Church, eg, it's wrong, It goes against Scripture, and it is a sectarian attitude of the members and the pastor of the church in question! He has to do the believer is to witness his faith and not repeat a ritual already done.

Say without a doubt that Baptism is received only in adulthood is to say something that is not in the Bible. Jesus was baptized entire families, we can not believe you refuse to baptize children. We can not imagine Jesus, so tied to children (Marco 10:14), dire “No, children not baptized them, only adults ". Those who believe this have not understood the message of Jesus.

Baptism is the commitment made by the child's family that will educate your son or daughter in a Christian manner bringing / a to Jesus Christ. A new sign, a new covenant between God and his people.

What Baptism?

Rear of the Helvetic Confession 1566:

The baptism was instituted and consecrated by God, and John was the first who baptized, and he baptized our Lord Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. From there the baptism came to the apostles, who also baptized with water. The Lord has clearly commanded them to preach the Gospel and to baptize in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19). Is. Peter responded to the Jews who asked him what they should do, as it is written in the Acts of the Apostles: Each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (At. 2:37-38). Reason for which baptism has been called by some the sign by which God's people, that is, its elect , it is introduced into the Church and consecrated to God.

Being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ is in fact nothing more than being enrolled, introduced and received in the covenant and in the family, that is, in the inheritance of the children of God, and even be called from now on with the name of God, that is, son of God, having been purified from the filth of sin and endowed with various graces of God to lead a new and innocent life. Baptism therefore reminds us and vividly represents this great benefit of God and this inestimable grace given to mankind. In fact, we are all born with the stain of sin and we are children of wrath, but God, who is rich in mercy (If. 2:4), he cleanses and purifies us freely of our sins through the blood of his Son, adopting ourselves in him for his children, and unites us to himself with a holy and sacred covenant, enriching ourselves with various gifts and graces so that we can lead a new life (If. 1,:5). Now all these things are assured to us by baptism. In it, we are in fact internally regenerated, purified and renewed before God by the Holy Spirit, receiving externally a seal and a testimony of the great gifts received in the water of baptism, by which the very great benefits of our God are represented to us and as placed before our eyes.

One Baptism

There is only one baptism in the Church of God and it is enough to have been baptized or introduced into the Church, and consecrated to God, only once. Indeed, the baptism that has been received one day lasts and is enough for a lifetime and is also a perpetual seal of our adoption.

Oh immersion aspersione?

To be baptized by sprinkling (throw water on the forehead) or by immersion, it's the same thing, it does not change its meaning before God. We remember that baptism is only a rite, baptism alone does not save, baptism is an outward sign, so we must not give so much importance to how the water is poured on the head of the baptized person. One cannot be too legalistic, Jesus never was! The only instruction we are given on how to administer Baptism in Scripture is to baptize with water and to baptize in the name of the Father., the Son and the Holy Spirit.

What to think of those who condemn infant baptism?

Rear of the Helvetic Confession 1566:

We also condemn the Anabaptists, all of whom deny that infants, children of believers, are to be baptized. According to the evangelical doctrine fact Children are part of the kingdom of God and are included in the covenant of God. Why then, it would refuse them the sign of this covenant? And why not be consecrated to the Lord through the Holy Baptism, since they are in the Church of God as his conquest and treasure? then condemn the Anabaptists so in this article as in all the others that they profess in particular against the word of God. We are therefore not Anabaptists and have nothing in common with them.