Baptism. Continued.
Theologically speaking, the baptism, in the Christian religion, replaces the
Jewish circumcision. And circumcision was normally given to infants.
As for the claim that Jesus was baptized when he was an adult, as a reason to
refuse infant baptism, one should take into account that the Lord did not
receive Christian Baptism, in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit, but the baptism of John, for penance (which he did not need). It is
also well known that John the Baptist did not become a Christian but that some
of his disciples followed Christ. For infant baptism, one may quote Mk 10:14:
“Let the little Children come to me; do not stop them: for it is to such as
these that the kingdom of God belongs”. To refuse their baptism is topping
them from going to Christ. See also Mk 10:14, 16 and Lk 18,16.
Let us also read John 3:5: “I tell you most solemnly unless a man (i.e. a
human being, without any indication of age) is born through water and the
spirit he cannot enter the kingdom of God”. Thus, for example, if a young man
believing in Christ did not receive baptism, died at the age of 16 years, he
is not supposed to enter the kingdom of God.
Objection:
At times, priests christen children whose parents are anything but
Christians, except by name!
Answer:
The church requests from the parents a commitment to bring up their children,
after their baptism, in accordance with the principals of the Gospel. In
order to guarantee somehow this Christian education of future generations, the
Church asks the godfathers and godmothers to help the parents in the Christian
education of their children. Sometimes, when these conditions are not
present, some church ministers refuse or delay the baptism of the little ones
who would grow up in atheistic or religiously indifferent atmosphere.
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