What is the sacrament of baptism and what is it for? The official Catholic position is that baptism cleans the soul of all sins (including original sin) and is the sacrament whereby one becomes a member of the Catholic Church and a Christian. Babies will only be baptized if the parents promise to raise the child Catholic, and the baby has two Catholic godparents who promise to assist the parents in raising the child Catholic. The Catholic Church recognizes baptisms of most Protestant denominations but not Mormon baptism. https://www.ewtn.com/library/theology/mormbap1.htm The Catholic Church has no official teaching on what happens to babies who die without being baptized. The concept of Limbo has been rejected, and never was official Church teaching but merely a hypothesis. http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0506867.htm The Baptists believe that only one who consents can be baptized. There are Baptist churches that actually "rebaptize" converts who were baptized as babies. The Catholic Church baptizes babies in obedience to Jesus Christ's words "Suffer the children come unto me and do not hinder them." In other words, Christianity is not for adults only. This is a thread about what baptism means to Christians. Please show respect and do not change the topic to something you'd rather talk about.
As long as you follow Acts 15:29 you're good to go: You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”
This is the best thread I have ever seen you start. I don't have a position on it, but I am hoping people will respond, as it is one of the most interesting issues in Christianity.
The idea for baptism came from India where people immersed themselves in the Ganges to wash away their sins. The early cultists followed suit by doing baptisms in the Jordan River.
Southern Baptist view: Baptism is a demonstration to others that you accept the gift of forgiveness and confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. To be baptized is to be obedient---Jesus himself was a role model that lead the way. Living a life of eternity with God---is not dependent on Baptism. Baptism is done after a conscious decision to follow Christ is made. We dedicate children to the Lord--basically a commitment to bring up the baby in the Lords teachings and to be with that child as a church family---but it isn't Baptism.
