I
am writing this because I was contacted by a member of my old
church(Christ Ev. Lutheran Church-WELS)
and was told that since my child was not baptized as an infant that
if he died before he made the choice to be baptized that
we wouldn't be reassured that he would go to Heaven.
As a parent this is
heartbreaking that people would think that way. Deep down I think
this was God's way of having me dig into his word more, research, and
educate not only myself but Matt, who grew up ELCA. Although it hurt
me at first and I'm glad I went through this, I have learned a lot
more in the last week than what I remember of the 8 years of a
private school setting. I'm not saying it wasn't a good school, I
just saying I personally didn't get a lot out of it.
I
have so many friends that feel the need to baptize their child as an
infant because that's what they were taught, but when asking them why
they
choose to do so they weren't
really sure why they were doing it. I hope this benefits them as
well!
Baptism
should be the choice of the person not of the parents, as it is the
person who is being baptized repenting, fully
assured that they have already been saved
and a believer of the gospel.
Matthew
28:19 “Therefore go and make disciples
of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Acts
2:38-39 Peter replied,
“Repent and be
baptized, every one of
you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise
is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all
whom the Lord our God will call.”
Acts
8:12 But when
they believed,
Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the
name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Complete
immersion is the understanding we have the word “baptize” and is
called a “burial” by Paul in 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.
and
we know that when a dead person is buried, they do not have just a
few handfuls of dirt sprinkled on them, but are completely covered/
baptism symbolizes death, burial, and resurrection - our death,
burial, and resurrection with Christ. As in death, one stops
breathing and eyes are shut, so in baptism one stops breathing, and
the eyes are shut. Then they are “Buried” in the water, and
lifted up again in a symbol of resurrection to
new life, to open their eyes and breathe again! Being “buried”
backwards is a beautiful symbol of submission, as to allow someone to
lay you on your back in water is really to put your life in their
hands more so than to go forward/(you go forward after you rise
again!) This living illustration can be applied daily as we remember
our baptism-we know we are dead to sin and live to the Lord Jesus.
Jesus is living His life in us. –
http://www.gracelifewc.com/uploads/2/6/7/3/26731815/water_baptism_explained.pdf
As
far as “you need to be baptized to be saved”
Mark
16:15-16 He said to them,
“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
Whoever believes and is
baptized will be saved,
but whoever does not
believe will be condemned.”
John
3:16 “For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that
whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans
5:1-2 Therefore, since we
have been justified through faith, we have a peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gain
access by faith into
this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the
glory of God.
Ephesians
2:8-9 For
it is by grace
you have been saved, through faith
– and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by
works, so that no one can boast.
All
in all I feel like this was all part of God's plan for strengthening
me as a person and Christian. I still 100% support the decision Matt
and I made as parents and could not be happier at the church we are
at.
