Thread: Baptisms
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Old 12-17-2004, 11:30 AM   #20 (permalink)
crapshoot
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Location: Valdosta, GA
The sacrament of Holy Baptism is held as an important aspect of “faith” in the Christian beliefs. However, the proper way to baptize differs as much as the denominations themselves. I too was baptized as an infant in the Lutheran Church. My baptism symbolized the promise of my family and the church to raise me in a Christian household. When I was older I participated in my First Communion and eventually went through Confirmation where I made my statement of faith.

Baptism, whether you were baptized as an infant or adult, is a sign of God’s love towards you and you towards God. The sign of the cross is made on the forehead signifying God’s sacrifice for us. If a person is baptized as an infant and proceeds to live a life outside of the church they are not going to be accepted into heaven based on the fact that they were baptized. The opposite is also true. If a person is never baptized but they live a life inside the church then the person is not going to be rejected because they are not baptized.

Your baptism means only what you want it to mean. Baptism, while sometimes a public occasion, is a personal sacrament. Nobody can tell you if your baptism means more if you are an infant verses an adult and visa versa. My suggestion is to do whatever would be meaningful to you. Personally I have “remembered my baptism” through a smaller ceremony while on a retreat weekend. However, if you want to get baptized again do not hesitate. I don’t think you would be denouncing your first baptism by getting baptized again. Many people, even in the Lutheran Church, are baptized more than once. If you still have reservations I would contact a Lutheran pastor or even a Lutheran Seminary.
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