Then at the front the priest blesses the child. Then water is POURED on to the child’s head. Water is a sign of cleansing the child. It is necessary for the child to sustain life.
The child id then anointed with Chrism. It is supposed to remind us that the anointed person has been appointed to do the work of Christ.
The light of the Paschal candle is to keep away darkness and darkness represents evil so it is to keep away evil from us.
The white Garment is to represent innocence. It is also a sign of new life and faith in Jesus Christ.
In the Presbyterian Church instead of a child having water poured on to them they have it sprinkled. Presbyterian baptise infants.
However the Baptist tradition don’t believe in enfant baptism. They think baptising babies is a waste of time.
So when they denied infant baptism they deviated from the Protestant faith. The deviations were Infant Baptism, there were no hierarchy or handing on authority from Pope to bishop and they separated their church and State. The Baptist tradition believes that baptism marks out the person who is already a Christian. Jesus was not baptised as an Infant so this would be another reason for the Baptist tradition not to baptise babies. The Baptist church has roughly 30 000 000 members. The Baptist church believes that the new Testemate teaches that baptism is a response to God and his good graces.
In the Baptist Tradition the person who is being Baptised is immersed in water rather than the water being sprinkled on to their heads or poured. It says in a quote “when we descend into the baptismal water, that meant we died with Christ to sin. When the water closes over our heads that meant we lay buried with him. As Christ was raised from the dead by divine power so we must also henceforth conduct ourselves as men in whom has been implanted a new principal of life”.
A02
Explain the meaning and significance of baptism for Christians today?
Baptism in most faiths is the Initiation into the church. In other words it is when the church opens its doors to you and you take the first step to becoming a Christian.
Baptism is the first Sacrament we take and in the Roman Catholic Church they emphasise it is as important to take the sacrament as it is to keeping it. In the Baptist tradition you cannot be baptised until you are the age of thirteen or over and it is your choice to make the sacrament. I would say this is one of the stronger aspects of the Baptist tradition the fact that it is your decision whether you want to be brought up in the Baptist faith or not. When we are baptised we are made part of the Faith Family. It is very important to be baptised and we should be thankful that we have been baptised but it does not stop there because it is important that we stay in the faith and it is very important that we follow the ten commandments and we should also set aside one day that being Sunday because it was the day Jesus was resurrected and the Roman Catholic faith is Based on the resurrection of Jesus. It is important that we honour God and we honour God and respect him, as he is our leader. When we become a member of the church we also have to take into account its feelings towards things like contraception and abortion. Some of these things I agree with and some I don’t but if we don’t agree with a lot of these feelings we have to ask ourselves should we have been baptised. On the other hand we could be in the faith and not agree with some of these things but still want to be in the faith because for many it is an honour to be in the Christian faith. In some respects Believers baptism is better because we can decide if we want to follow the rules and regulations of the Church and I think this would be the opinion of a lot of people even people who were baptised as a child. Although I do think it is good to be a Christian because when you are in need it is helpful to be able to turn to faith and let it help you get through a time of tragedy.
A03
Q) “Baptising babies is pointless.”
Do you agree? Give reasons for you answer showing that you have thought of more than one point of view.
There are many points for and against each baptism whether it be infant or believers baptism. I find it very good that if you follow believers baptism you can choose whether you want to be baptised and if you do want to be baptised you can choose the age that you are baptised at so you are not under pressure to follow your religion. Although this can also be seen as neglecting babies and you are not allowing them to be baptised. You are also not giving them the opportunity to have their original sins washed away. In infant baptism you are given the opportunity to be washed away from original sin and you are letting the Christian faith guide you away from evil and when you are young your parents know what’s best for you so maybe it is in your own interest that you are baptised as a child. It is also good the way when you are born you are welcomed into the church and you are freed from original sin. Nowhere in the bible does it say it is wrong to baptise babies although Jesus was baptised as an adult.
After I have weighed all the points I have made I have decided that baptising babies is not pointless although I would emphasise people and their parents to do what ever they want to do as I think believers baptism is good as well.
