So I emailed my pastor from my Lutheran Church and here is what I got back. I'm thinking about doing the same for my non-denominational church and then praying about it and hope God tells me what to do.
Quote:
We believe that in Baptism God frees us from sin and death by joining us to
the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. We are born children of a
fallen humanity; but in the waters of baptism we are reborn children of God
and inheritors of eternal life. As we live with God and with his people, we
grow in faith, love and obedience to the will of God. We base these beliefs
on the following scripture passages.
Matthew 28:19 - We become a child of God and are baptized in his
name.
Acts 22:16 - God washes us clean of sin. (Even though we sin daily
we are forgiven because of what Jesus did for us on the cross).
Titus 3:5 - We believe we are given God's Holy Spirit that helps us
follow Jesus as our Lord.
Mark 16:16 - Through baptism we are gifted with eternal life.
Now, infant or child baptism verses adult baptism. The reason we
baptize children is because we believe that baptism is a gift from God. We
believe it is God who chooses the person to become a child of God. This is
a bit different from churches who believe a person needs to cognitively make
the decision to accept Jesus and decide to be baptized. In the latter the
emphasis is on the individual making the decision - but we believe it is God
who offers the gift (and a gift is not a gift if you have to work for it).
So, because baptism is a gift from God and we believe that God chooses who
to offer the gift to, a child can receive it without understanding all that
baptism entails.
I liken it to baby gifts when a child is born. A baby gift doesn't
require the infant to know or understand who the giver is for the gift to be
legitimate. Over the years the child can be told the story of Aunt Susie
and the special blanket. The child learns of the giver and the wonderful
gift over time.
It is the same with infant baptism. The gift of Baptism with all of its
benefits (salvation, forgiveness, membership in the family of God etc.) is
received even though the child is too young to understand it. Over the years
the parents and the church family teach the child about the heavenly Father
who loved him so much that he would send his only Son Jesus to die for him;
how his sins are forgiven and how God has prepared a place for him when he
dies called heaven. As the child grows in years we as the church try to
help the parents and child grow in faith.
In Acts16:14-15 we read how Lydia came to baptism. It says that "she
and her household" were baptized. In this society a household would include
family members and slaves. This would mean children too. Another example is
in Acts 10. Cornelius and his family (which would have included children)
were baptized by Peter. Peter's comments in verse 47 supports the fact that
it is God who calls people to the waters of baptism.
As Lutherans and I must admit as a student of the Bible, I don't
believe in second baptisms. Again, it goes back to the sense of Baptism of
gift. Who am I to second guess God's choice. If God chose me to become a
child of God and to gift me with his Holy Spirit as an infant who am I to
tell God he was wrong. In a way it feels like I am rejecting the gift as it
was originally intended for me. So, from our perspective - baptism is for
life.
I must add that for those who were not raised in the faith adult
baptism can be a powerful event and should always be encouraged if they have
not been baptized.
It sounds to me like you have had a spiritual awakening and this is
wonderful!! God is busy working in your life and I am he sure has wonderful
plans for you. What I hear you saying is that you have a desire to tell
others of your new and deeper discovery of the one who chose you those many
years ago in Baptism. Perhaps there is a public ceremony where you can
reaffirm the promises made to you in Baptism and affirm your desire to
follow your savior in a new and closer relationship.
It is a little hard to share all this in an email but I thank you for
trusting me with your questions. I will pray for you and your quest.
Blessings to you in this holy season!
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