Nonbelievers' Infants Baptized???

[enoob57]

 

Infant Baptism in some denominations is the same as dedication in others. When baptized it is the parents and the congregation that promise to bring the children up in the nurture and admonition of God - though the greater role applies to the parents.

It is merely symbolic as is dedication and also symbolic of passing through the first water - at birth obviously the child when of a certain age is accountable for himself until then it is the parents who are accountable. As in the Jewish tradition it is the age of 12-14.

I like this answer. In our church parents dedicate infants (actually themselves), to raising the child in a Christian manner. Both the infant "baptism" , or the dedication of the parents are good things, as long as it is understood that there is no "saving" going on, if you get my drift.....

 

The only problem I have is that God says there is only one baptism Eph 4:1-6... confusing the issue of the great commission! Love, Steven

[Sevenseas]

I was baptized as an infant....obviously not of my choice...but then again when I was I think 13 or 14?  It was a while ago.

 

What I have seen Christian churches do for infants, is have a dedication service where the parents bring their child to the front and dedicate him/her to the Lord

 

That, should be a very weighty decision and not entered into lightly, IMO, because it sure puts the onus on mom and dad to bring up the wee folk in the fear of the Lord (word fear in the biblical

sense and not looking over their shoulder for the Bible thumping   )

[LadyKay]

I would have to ask them why. There could be any number of reasons. Some families have a big family gathering with food and stuff after an infant is baptized. Maybe grandma is harping on the parents to get her grandbaby baptized. So they do it to shut her up LOL.

[Willa]

I know people who send their kids to church, send them to christian schools, but never go themselves. They may have been baptized believers when they were younger but have backslid. Still they want their kids to do better than they are doing. But kids do what their parents do,, not what they say. Sadly, I have never known this to work out well.

[Diatheosis]

Baptizing counts for God whose children are baptized, it's another thing are they given solid teaching how to walk that path. Thank God people still do that even they do not believe themselves. In some ways it is understandable to question this practice. Why do they do that if they do not believe there is some validity in it other than becoming part of the congregations. That's the weirdness of this world, why do they even belong to one?

 

But, I can tell you, the baptizing of our fourth child especially was so mercy filled that I understood God is operating during these events and most certainly confirms His children every time, but because He is not tyrant He lets them later on choose by themselves what they want to believe in. That's what I tell my own kids as well, that we don't want them to believe in God and Jesus just because we do, and they never should try complaining about that in their teens etc.  We tell them instead that God and Jesus do things even today and they have gotten that pretty nicely confirmed too.

 

But yeah, God loves everyone and Jesus said let the children come to me.

[coheir]

 

Just to clarify, I'm asking about a couple who are not believers, wanting their children baptized. If they don't believe in Christianity, what do they think they're protecting their children from?

 

 

Is this an actual couple or just a generalization?

 

there are many people who believe in God as the creator but only follow a couple concepts in the Bible. When I was growing up I heard every cuss word there is from adult family members, however if one of the kids said anything close to using Gods name in vain ( or other cuss words)

you got a spanking and sat in the corner. On Easter an aunt may take you to church. They believed but did not live it. It would appear they like living their lifestyle and figure at least i can save my child even though they may not save their self. The bad part is having a child baptized I dont believe will save the child; as a child or when he is grown. baptizing does not save believing saves.As a child, God will save you until you reach the point where you realize you need to ask for forgiveness your self, then if you believe and ask God he will save you.