SORTING OUT THE REASONS

WHY SHOULD WE BAPTIZE INFANTS CHILDREN AND/OR ADULTS?

SOME WRONG REASONS                                        SOME CORRECT REASONS

1.       WE DO IT TO PLEASE OUR                             1.       AS CHRISTIAN PARENTS

              GRANDPARENTS                                                  WE BELIEVE THAT IT IS

                                                                                            OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO

                                                                                            GUIDE OUR CHILD INTO

                                                                                            THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.                                                                                             WE ACCEPT THAT                                                                                             RESPONSIBILITY                                                                                             GLADLY AND

                                                                                            FREELY.

2.       WE DO IT BECAUSE WE ARE                          2.       AS CHRISTIAN PARENTS

          'EXPECTED' TO DO IT.                                              WE BRING OUR CHILD                                                                                              TO  IT IS A GOOD CUSTOM.                                            THIS SACRAMENT WILLING­

          AFTER ALL, WE TOO WERE                                     LY. FOR WE RECOGNIZE

          ONCE BAPTIZED.                                                       CLEARLY THE SPIRITUAL

                                                                                            BLESSINGS WHICH GOD

                                                                                            PROMISES TO US.

3.       WE DO IT--JUST IN CASE;                                3.      AS ADULT CHRISTIANS,            WE   NEVER KNOW, THE CHILD                               KNOW AND BELIEVE THAT

          MAY, GOD-FORBID, DIE IN                                        BAPTISM BESTOWS PRIVIL­

          SOME, UNEXPECTED WAY.                                     EGES UPON US FROM             OUR GOD,                                                                  BUT ALSO IT PLACES

                                                                                           DEMANDS ON US.                                                                                              BAPTISM IS NOT A WAGER                                                                                              OR 'BET.'

4.       WE CAN THINK OF NO FINER                          4.       WE KNOW THAT IN               THING, THAN TO HAVE OUR CHILD                           BAPTISM WE ARE                IDENTIFIED WITH A CHRISTIAN                                ADOPTED BY GOD

             CONGREGATION.                                               AS HIS CHILDREN. THE

                                                                                           CHRISTIAN CONGREGATION

                                                                                           IS SECONDARY, IN IT, WE

                                                                                           ARE NURTURED, TAUGHT

                                                                                           AND LIVE OUR FAITH.

 PROMISES MADE BY PARENTS AND SPONSORS AT BAPTISMAL TIME:

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IN CHRISTIAN LOVE, YOU HAVE PRESENTED THIS CHILD FOR HOLY

BAPTISM. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE, FAITHFULLY BRING HIM/HER TO

THE SERVICES OF GOD'S HOUSE, AND TEACH THEM THE LORD'S

__                   PRAYER, THE CREED, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. AS THEY GROW IN

                       YEARS, YOU SHOULD PLACE INTO THEIR HANDS THE HOLY SCRIPTURES ,

AND PROVIDE FOR THEIR INSTRUCTION IN THE CHRISTIAN FAITH,

THAT LIVING IN THE COVENANT OF THEIR BAPTISM AND IN COMMUNION

WITH THE CHURCH, THEY MAY LEAD GODLY LIVES UNTIL THE DAY OF

JESUS CHRIST.

 DO YOU PROMISE TO FULFILL THESE OBLIGATIONS? I DO!