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Thursday, August 28, 2008

Infant Baptism Redux

If you were baptized as an infant, please understand that that did not save you. You have to be of an old enough age to understand that Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins. If you didn't understand and believe on this before you were baptized, then your baptism was in truth, nothing more than your getting wet.

I have to second Elena on my appreciation for how repetitive Candy can be. We're three weeks into the homeschooling year at my house, and planning a big painting project this weekend. I'm glad to be able to say that we wrote about infant baptism previously here.

Still waiting for the promised article on where the Bible discusses the age of accountability. I see we have a few born again readers, if you can help me out on this, please leave a comment. I'm very curious about it.

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6 comments:

Laura Ashley said...

I'm sure if you google it you can find plenty of people's opinions on the subject.

Barb said...

Kelly,
The age of accountability is taken from the passage in 2 Samuel 12:23 - "But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.”

At least this was always the passage that I was given to show it's "proof".

I was raised in an IFB church and they definitely believe in it. We (my husband any myself) no longer believe in it. We have gone from being 100% IFB'ers to more a Calvinist view.

If I've completely misunderstood what you were asking, please accept my humble apologies in advance. It seems as the further along I get in this pregnancy, I truly have no brain cells left for thinking. :-P

Kelly said...

Thanks Barb, that makes sense. It doesn't mention a specific age, though.

Barb said...

Kelly,
There is no specific or set age for the "Age of Accountability". I was always told that it varies from child-to-child, depending upon their level of maturity, etc. Some people would through out 5 as a number. I'm not sure why.

Kelly said...

Oh, I see. Hearing "the age" made me think that there was a specific age, but I think leaving it to the individual child does make more sense.

I believe 7 is the considered the age of reason in the Catholic Church, but that wouldn't mean the same thing as an age of accountability.

Barbara C. said...

That was my understanding as well. After talking to friends and co-workers who were raised Southern Baptist, most people are expected to be "saved"/baptized in their early teens at the latest. After that, there tends to be some pressure and questioning why you aren't saved yet. And some have admitted to me being baptized because they felt pressure to avoid reaching that pressure point.

A similar thing happens in Catholic schools that wrongly teach that Confirmation is about accountability and choosing Catholicism for yourself; those who do not feel ready to choose feel pressured to do so because they don't want to be the "oddball" among their peers.

Interestingly, 13 is the age of accountability in Judaism, although they don't call it that. That's really what bar/bat mitzvah is whether there is a ceremony or not. It is also falsely considered an really an "adulthood" ritual.