My friend and I were discussing this subject because she said that she got her daughter baptised at 10 months and she is about to baptise her son that is only a month old. She says that it isn't a religios reason she had to do it so I am not bashing her beliefs or nothing, but what do you think? Would you have your kids baptised? Or even if you aren't a christian, would you force your child to believe like you do? This is what I said to her:

Mia: I mean im baptist and i dont think a person should force their kids to be baptised, that should be their own decision otherwise it wouldn't mean anything. Or at least that is just my thinking. When you are baptised it means you are reborn and that you want god to forgive you for all your sins and that you turn your life over to him...but if u get them baptised they didnt make that choice, you made it for them... if anaya, (my daughter), wants to be a muslim i cant stop her because that is just what she would believe in. I would still try and make sure I pray for her and try to get her to be baptist still but it would be her decision and I will take her to church, but if she chooses not to be baptist like myself or her daddy then that is on her. But i still think it should be their decision though.

What about you, would you force your kids or have you forced your kids to get baptised and why? I think that its meaningless since they don't know what they are getting baptised for.


I didn't mean that I wouldn't raise her as a Christian, I just ment I wouldn't get her baptised cause I don't think she knows the significance of getting baptised now. There would be no point. I want her to choose for herself because she would understand the significance behind it when she is a lil older. So that she will be able to say she want to give her life up to Christ and know what it means.

I do not take answers personally neither do I want ANYONE to feel attacked. This is an open discussion for everyone to speak their minds and hearts and that is all that I am looking for. Nothing more, nothing less. So if it so happens something might seem to come out the wrong way I will not take it personally cause religion is a touchy subject for just about everyone. Everyone has their beliefs and they should ALL be respected. Whether you are Baptist, Catholic, Jehova's Witness's, Buddists, Muslims, or what have you. Everyone has the right to be heard and I hope that my question didn't cause too many problems.

alkalineangel

I think baptism is important. I have a belief that it cleanses them of all my sins, so that they can start new. I am raising my son as a christian right now, and will until the day comes that he can give me a real reason (besides "I just dont like church") to leave. If he wants to practice a different religion when he is older, that is fine by me. But I think raising your child with religion imposes faith in them, and that is what is important no matter what religion you practice. I figure, as a catholic, there will be a time when he is given the choice (confirmation) and he will decide if it is right for him. But until then, I know he has been baptised, and can continue on in the catholic faith if he so chooses. I hope that helps.

Fr_Chuck

The majority of Christains, ( catholics, orthodox, Anglican Episcoplian, Lutherans and a few others I am sure) all baptise infants, so basicly what you have is all the older orginal and the orginal churches that first broke away all follow orginal customs of infant baptism. The newer denominations have stoped infant baptism.

This is just alitle history,

First we have to look and remember that the orginal Christains were Jewish and many of our customes and traditions come out of the Jewish fath. For them there was the presenting at the temple to dedicate thier life and to name them. For the early christain dedicting them to Christ was baptism and we have reference although vaguely about a person and thier entire household being baptised. Also you have to remember that ceremonial cleansing was a big tradition for the Jewish faith, to extreme and this was why of course when John was baptising, it did not seem odd to the people of that time, everybody went though the cleansing process.

So you have both traditions being used in Christian tradition in the idea of baptism

Orginally all baptism even infants was done by immersion, only the Orthodox church still does that. At one time in the catholic church it had to be immersion also but that was changed over time, the churches that broke away in latter years have always used pouring of the water over the head and only immersion on occassion.

The idea of baptism comes from the idea of orginal sin, the sin of Adam, so that all mankind have sinned. Thus the baptism cleanses thier orginal sin.

Remember as Christ said that he would come back not to baptise with water but with fire, ( the accepting of the faith) So as a older youth or adult they still make that choice.

** an to answer your question directly I baptised all of my kids during thier first week of life. And I regularlly baptise babies and adutls if they are not baptised.

nottheonlycluelesstexan

I'm not Christian but I'll give you my take on things. As a parent I feel that it is important to teach your children about faith, God and redemption. If that means you want to have them baptized early because you think thats a way to protect them from the evils of this world then go for it. Whats more important, to me, is that they learn the message. Baptism is something that is chosen, either by the person or on behalf of the person depending on ones faith. Catholics do it early, Baptist chose later. Either way the point of it is that God washes away your sins. I don't believe the ALMIGHTY keeps tabs and upon ones death will see a person who lived their lives righteously but didnt have that one thing and curse them to eternal darkness. He is Love. He is Forgiveness. If a child is baptized too early or an adult is baptized to late God knows what was in the heart. THAT is what ultimately matters in my opinion.
As for my children, I raised them in my faith. It is what I know and what I believe to be right. They are almost full grown men now, and at any time can chose something else. I am not the same faith I was raised as but my parents supported my choice because my path to God is not, nor will ever be their path to God. My children's paths to God MUST be their own. I can only make sure they know about the path, know where they might be able to find it and pray that God's Will, not mine, be done.

alkalineangel

I wasnt trying to say you wouldnt baptise your child, raise them in faith, or that you find it wrong, I was just saying my beliefs. I in no way intended to push them or insult your personal beliefs.

nottheonlycluelesstexan

Angel, I think your answer was great. You spoke (typed? ) from the heart and with what you felt. I did the same. Hopefully that's the only way things are read here, with open minds and open hearts. Take care

NowWhat

I am baptist also. When my daughter was 3, we had her dedicated in the church. Which just means that we promised to raise her with Christian beliefs. She is now 6 and has asked Jesus into her heart. The next step is to be baptized.
That is what the Baptist believe. It is an outward expression of an inward decision.