tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post9111992885922082242..comments2023-07-08T02:43:16.150-05:00Comments on Philanswers: Why baptize infants?Phil Sandershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17730256837717993061noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post-10947127897506945222008-05-23T21:31:00.000-05:002008-05-23T21:31:00.000-05:00We do not need confirmation, because we expect our...We do not need confirmation, because we expect our people to believe before they repent and are baptized. We certainly teach and train our children long before they obey the gospel. The Bible teaches each person must give an account for himself and act on his own. The idea that a parent may pour water on the head or sprinkle as some do takes away the child's right to decide for himself to become a Christian. As a matter of history, the Council of Ravenna officially accepted sprinkling as a valid substitute for immersion in 1311 AD.Phil Sandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17730256837717993061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post-54605068195084879552008-05-23T20:06:00.000-05:002008-05-23T20:06:00.000-05:00Catholics do not sprinkle infants, and never have....Catholics do not sprinkle infants, and never have. The holy water is poured over the infant's forehead. Today, Catholics have the choice of pouring or full immersion. We also have confirmation, which your church does not have. Confirmation is very similar to renewing baptism at the age of acknowledgment. Each Catholic studies from age 6 for Reconcilation, First Holy Communion, and then preparation and study for Holy Confirmation at around age 13 or 14.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post-47635833879411935052008-05-16T08:34:00.000-05:002008-05-16T08:34:00.000-05:00Guy,great question! Roman Catholics like the Ortho...Guy,<BR/>great question! Roman Catholics like the Orthodox church baptize "for the remission of sins." While Catholics believe in original and inherited sin (Augustine), the Orthodox church rejects the notion that babies are born in sin. Orthodox churches reject the concepts of purgatory and limbo.<BR/><BR/>Even admitting that babies have no sin, they believe the baptism looks forward to later times. Their thinking is that the baby also needs the help of God growing up. They believe, of course, that the infant receives the Holy Spirit at the time of baptism. They regard the Spirit and God's presence in their lives as a blessing.<BR/><BR/>While Catholics permit sprinkling, the Orthodox Church immerses infants. Most Orthodox Churches have fonts big enough to immerse. There is sometimes a preference for living water (river, lake, sea) for adults who are immersed.<BR/><BR/>I may be inaccurate on some of this information, since I have only a little knowledge on this matter.<BR/><BR/>PhilPhil Sandershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17730256837717993061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post-13948380840577299782008-05-15T18:28:00.000-05:002008-05-15T18:28:00.000-05:00do you happen to know just what is the Eastern Ort...do you happen to know just what is the Eastern Orthodox position on the need for infant baptism? i've always understood that they differed greatly from the Catholics on the spiritual state of infants, namely that they don't believe in original sin. if not, i wonder why they insist on baptizing infants. do you know?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15839039.post-82235270223717805442008-05-12T01:29:00.000-05:002008-05-12T01:29:00.000-05:00Thanks Phil, we can't preach Jesus without preachi...Thanks Phil, we can't preach Jesus without preaching baptism. This is as basic as it gets. Without Christ no baptism / Without baptism no Christ. Continue to preach the truth!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com