Baptism is a very beautiful common sacrament between the Christian faiths, which started in the early Church. This sacrament is a sign of God's promise of salvation and marks the beginning of a person's membership in the Church. The Lutheran Church does allow adult baptisms, especially in cases where adults are joining a new congregation, converting to the Lutheran Church for the first time, or in order to reconfirm the promises made.
Baptisms are typically done as infants, however. Parents select two sponsors (or godparents) to stand with them as they make promises to God and their child. The sponsors must be confirmed members of the church and are also making a promise. However, the promise they make is to aide the parents in raising the child in a godly fashion and helping the parents to keep their promises. There are four promises made during this rite. They are: to live among God's faithful people; bring the child to hear the Word and participate in the Lord's Supper; place in their hands the scriptures; and finally teach them the Lord's Prayer, the creed and the Ten Commandments.
During the time of the early Church, many adult baptisms were preformed after a time of teaching (known as catechesis). These baptisms were usually by immersion signifying the sinner being drowned and a new man forgiven by God emerges. The traditions that are still prevalent today in adult baptisms that started during the time of the early Church.
Adults come before God as children, according to the Lutheran Church. There is nothing we can do or offer to God to make us worthy or prepared for God's love. We need the sacraments to bring us closer to God's love.
Interesting post! This system is similar to how it is in the Catholic Church.
ReplyDeleteThere is a practical reason for baptizing people as well. When babies are born, they come with the stain of original sin. Baptism removes that stain. So, it makes sense that you want to initiate the child into the church and remove this stain as soon as possible. That is why it is encouraged to baptize a child as an infant. :-)
It also makes some sense to m that as people age they would consider completing the sacrament again. I know of some women who have recommitted baptisms during their pregnancy if there is a chance the child won't make it. I hadn't heard of that until my sister was pregnant with my nephew.
ReplyDeleteWhat would be the reasons a church might *not* allow for adult baptism? Are there good reasons for saying no -- i.e., to show respect for the traditions and truths of other faiths, or to recognize (as the Creeds say), "ONE baptism for the forgiveness of sins"? What do you think?
ReplyDeleteWell, the Catholic Church teaches (and I agree) that you can only be baptized into the church once. If someone has been baptized in another religion, but then becomes Catholic, that person is then baptized again INTO the Catholic Church.
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