Describe and Explain the Central Features of Infant and Believers Baptism.

The priest asks the parents and Godparents the baptismal promises and they answer on behalf of the child. In these promises they reject all sin and declare the basic Christian teaching. The priest pours water over the child’s head three times saying ‘I baptise you in the Name of the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit. This represents the importance of the Holy trinity in our faith. Also the use of water is very symbolic because without water there would be no life, but it can also kill example rough seas. This symbolises death to sin and the new life with God and the Christian community.

Now that the child is baptised it is anointed again this time with the oil of Chrism. This is a symbol of the child having been chosen for a special task, to live as a Christian. The oil of Chrism is a symbol also, as its aroma reminds us of the beauty of life and a child of God.

The child is now dressed in white, as a sign of their new life and a symbol of purity, innocence and rejection of sin that takes place due to baptism. A candle is also given to one of the parents who lights from the great Paschal candle. The Paschal candle represents Jesus rising from the dead and light is a symbol of life and knowledge because we associate darkness and death with ignorance.

  Now the blessings over those in the child’s life take place. The Lords’ prayer is said as representation that the child can now call God his father.  

Believers Baptism is a tradition that follows the example of the New Testament.  Those that practice Believers Baptism are usually Baptists.  They originate from a group of Anglicans that broke away because they disagreed with baptising infants.  Baptists request baptism when they are ready to show that they have repented for their sins and as a public sign that they have been born again through Jesus.

        The candidate to be baptized wears white clothing as a sign of new life and of Gods forgiveness.  They read a relevant passage from the bible then gives a testimony about how they became a Christian.  After this they are brought into the baptistery where the minister leads the candidate down a set of stairs into the pool.  The descent into the pool is a sign that the candidate is leaving their old, sinful life behind.  The minister then immerses the person completely into the water.  This symbolises the association between Jesus’ burial in the tomb for three days and the death and burial of the candidate’s old life.  Then the candidate leaves the pool via another set of steps this represents Jesus raising from the dead. In the same way the candidate rises from the pool ready fro their new life as a Christian. The ceremony ends with the minister giving the candidate ‘the right hand of fellowship’ (handshake) and the congregation welcoming the person into their Church.  

        Above I have outlined all the important aspects of both Believers baptism and Infant baptism.