A person usually chooses which type of Baptism they have because of their family religion. If their family was catholic they would obviously follow what there family had had done to them. Problems can come through when your family has never been baptized or follows no religion. Then it would be your decision. Whatever path you choose will always be relatively the same. Obviously if you where a small child or baby and you where baptized it would be your mother and fathers choice, but if you where a lot older, you would be able to make the decision yourself. However the Catholic Church mainly adults get baptized by pouring water over the head. If a person wanted to become a Catholic they would go through the Rite of Christ Initiation of adults. Christian groups which follow Believers’ Baptism and Baptism churches, Pentecostal Churches and other Evangelical traditions. These people are old enough to make their old decision. (481)
AO2
Baptism started when Jesus was baptised. Jesus was baptised as an adult and this started of his public ministry. He was baptised along the River Jordan by John the Baptist who was his cousin. John was a powerful prophet and preacher who was calling people to prepare for the coming of the messiah. At the baptism the grace and power of God was shown by three signs, which told us that Jesus was the Messiah. The three signs was the heavens opening as Jesus was coming out of the water and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove. God then said’. This is my son, the beloved! Whom he is well pleased with.’ We must not forget that Jesus was without sin and there would be no point in forgiving his sins when he was baptised. Jesus was baptised as an example for us and that we should have our past sins forgiven.
Christians are baptised for many different reasons. These reasons can be found in different parts of the Bible. In Mark 16:15-16 it is shown that baptism is necessary for salvation. In Matthew 28:19-20 it says that baptism should be shown in the name of trinity (father, son and holy spirit). In Luke 24:47 it is shown that forgiveness and repentance should be preached as the faith is spread. Finally in Acts 2:38 it presents a baptism of repentance in Christs’ name as necessary for salvation as means to obtain the gift of the Holy Spirit. Basically Baptism could be a sort of test to see if you are a true Christian. Obviously when you are young your parents decide that for you. But if you are old enough to make your own decision then you could be tested. For Believers Baptism every person who is going to be baptised should attend a special group for guidance and teaching which can help people make there decisions on what faith to choose.
The actual service starts off with hymns, general prayers and bible readings. Before the person enters the pool, he/she may be asked to give a testimony (arranged beforehand) where he/she recounts how he/she came to the decision of following the faith. Some churches ask questions about basic beliefs and then ask ‘Do you accept Jesus as the Lord and Saviour?’ The candidate is let into the pool and pulled forward or back under the water. The minister then says ‘I baptise you in the name of the father son and the holy spirit.’ The candidate is filled with the Holy Spirit and leaves the pool. Finally Holy Communion often follows and a hymn is sung to finish the service.
Baptism in a Roman Catholic Church usually starts with the priest, parent and selected Godparents making the sign of the cross on the person’s forehead, a sign that the person belongs to Christ and has been saved from death. The priest removes evil spirits and anoints the person; a sign that in the future the person will reject evil. The parents and Godparents make promises and declare their faith on behalf of the person. The priest then pours water from the font on the person’s head three times while saying ‘I baptise you in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit.’ The priest pours water over the persons head because it shows a sing of cleansing, removing your sins. The priest follows by anointing the person with Chrism, which is a sign that the person is now part of the catholic faith and most importantly Christ. Finally the person receives a candle, which is lit from the Paschal candle is a sign, which will lead you in the good ways of Christ. (624)
AO3
Baptising babies is good in some ways but bad in other ways. I think that every person should have his or her own right to what faith to follow. Baptising babies is good because then they can grow up in the good ways of Christ but you could just as easily take them to church and bring them up in the good ways of God and then when finally they are able to make their own decision they can decide what faith to follow. Then they can get baptised. Plus babies don’t really sin so its pointless for having there sins forgiven. I do understand that parents of children may want there babies baptised because it is a family religion or tradition and also the worry of there baby dying while a child. The parents would not know weather the child has gone to heaven or not. But everyone should be free for free choice. One thing to also think about is, what happens if when they are older they find out that the religion they are is not really for them? They wouldn’t really be able to do anything about it. Another point would be that Jesus was baptised as an adult and maybe people really should follow him. John the baptised called adults to repent of there sins and be baptised.
People are baptised because they believe in God and they want to follow the religion that they have chosen. They have chosen to commit to that religion for the rest of their life, commit their life to God. Also people want their sins forgiven so they can live a happy after life in heaven with God. How really can a baby decide all of that all by itself? My opinion is that we should be left till at least 10 or 11 before we decide what we believe. (312)
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