Can an infant be baptized, be raised by believing parents & later turn from the faith?

6/15/2014 | Laissez-Faire Capitalist

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

1.) An infant is baptized, is raised by believing parents and later when older turns from the faith.

2.) An infant is baptized, has no believing parents to be raised by, and when older doesn't turn from the faith.

Given that the antithesis exists for 1 & 2, wouldn't it be prudent for the priest to baptize the fortunate infant as well as the unfortunate, as either could remain faithful when older, show perseverance against high odds, and no priest knows the future - only God Almighty?

Given that only God knows the future, perhaps withholding baptism isn't an option at all for the priest. If the priest is unsure about 1, 2 or the antithesis for both, should they let God do their baptizing for them if they lack faith?

[driftdiver]

If they baby never accepted Jesus then they haven’t turned from the faith.

[Dallas59]

Baptism is NOT required for salvation...Example: The thief on the cross.

[Bryan24]

Baptizing an infant serves no purpose. They cannot believe, they are too young to recognize sin in their life.

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

Pity the priest, or pity the infant?

Who will take a stand for the little one?

“Suffer the little ones, for of such is the Kingdom of God.”

[Bryan24]

Are you on a cross?

Peter said baptism saves us.

[Misterioso]

How does a priest get his hands on a baby that has unbelieving parents? Where does the faith of the baby come from?

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

If an infant was baptized, would they be buried on sacred ground, or thrown into a cesspool by priests, and/or nuns?

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

So a priest should withhold baptism and toss them into a cesspool and not bury them in sacred ground?

[RoosterRedux]

Peter said baptism saves us.

Can you point to a verse on that?

[Dallas59]

"Most people are aware that there are different points of view on the question of whether baptism is required for salvation. Scripture, however, is abundantly clear. Baptism is NOT required for salvation.

Christian baptism has its roots in a much older tradition. Converts to Judaism were baptized in a ritual bath called a MIKVAH. This immersion was a public statement that you wanted to join a community of faith, that you believed as they did, and that you intended to live that way. There are other uses for MIKVAH, such as in preparation for beginning ministry as a Jewish priest, cleansing tools and utensils for use in the Temple, and so on.

When Jesus was baptized, He was beginning His ministry. When those who came after Him were baptized, they were making a public statement of their belief in Jesus as the Messiah, and of their intention to join the Christian community. There’s no part of the ritual that leads to salvation.

Of course, Christians were commanded to be baptized in Scripture…but not until they were Christians. While there are certainly a few verses that appear to teach that baptism cleanses a person from sin, closer inspection shows that they don’t. We have examples of people being saved before baptism, and that should clear things up. Certainly the thief on the cross comes to mind, as do the words of Romans 6:3-4 …

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Baptism symbolizes Jesus’ death and resurrection, and our decision to partake in the benefits of His sacrifice. Paul pointed to the fact that salvation doesn’t require baptism when he wrote to the Corinthians :

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel – not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

Paul definitely would not say that if baptism were necessary to go to heaven. Possibly the most damaging evidence against the belief that baptism is a requirement for salvation is found in Acts 10 :

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.

Then Peter said, “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.”

The Gentiles (non-Jews) believed the gospel and were saved…and then they were baptized. Again, Scripture is clear on the matter.

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

In a place where unwed, pregnant mothers have went to.

[Tax-chick]

1 Peter 3:21.

[driftdiver]

I have no idea what priests or nuns would do. I doubt anyone would do what you suggest these days.

Baptism doesn’t equal salvation in babies or adults.

[Bryan24]

1 Peter 3:18-22

For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

in ]which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,

who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.

Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.

[Popman]

An infant is baptized,

About the only thing that accomplishes is their head gets wet...

Infant baptism has absolutely nothing to do salvation...

Infants cannot have "faith" as in a belief system...

[Jonty30]

The simple answer to this question is that, if Adam can abandon his relationship with God, anybody can abandon their relationship with God.

[driftdiver]

Baptism doesn’t save you if you have not first accepted Jesus as your savior.

[narses]

In the Religion forum, on a thread titled Can an infant be baptized, be raised by believing parents & later turn from the faith?, Laissez-faire capitalist wrote:

“So a priest should withhold baptism and toss them into a cesspool and not bury them in sacred ground?”

So you continue to spread that unproven canard here? Why?

[narses]