I don't think God intended to 'wash' away our sins like this. And it's very frightful for the child. Our church doesn't baptize a child until they're at least 13 yo and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior first. Then they are plunged backward into the water while the Preacher says, " I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Buried in the likeness of his death, raised in the likeness of his Resurrection." This would even cause my Pastor to go off.
My daughter was baptized not long after birth. The preacher sprinkled a tad bit of water on her head.
My grandson is now 12. And he thinks he wants to be baptized. My son-in-law wanted him to make a choice.
My twin cousins who are Catholic were 'sprinkled' above a basin when they were tiny; probably not a month old. I saw their pictures and asked my Mom what were they doing. She told me and then told me that we would be 'immersed' completely because we are of Baptist faith and that's how they do it. I was baptized in a 'horse trough' underneath a 20 foot tall cross. It was rugged as our small old church has no baptismal and the people driving down the road could watch; but it was well worth it. Amen.
I don't think God intended to 'wash' away our sins like this. And it's very frightful for the child. Our church doesn't baptize a child until they're at least 13 yo and have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior first. Then they are plunged backward into the water while the Preacher says, " I baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Buried in the likeness of his death, raised in the likeness of his Resurrection." This would even cause my Pastor to go off.
I was NOT countering your statement but agreeing on the first principle.
The downvote throws the baby right out the window.
It's okay. I get it.
It's already admittedly symbolic....something deeper than the surface practice.
'Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater' is an old saying that comes to mind for some reason.
I thought of that old saying too.
My daughter was baptized not long after birth. The preacher sprinkled a tad bit of water on her head. My grandson is now 12. And he thinks he wants to be baptized. My son-in-law wanted him to make a choice.
My twin cousins who are Catholic were 'sprinkled' above a basin when they were tiny; probably not a month old. I saw their pictures and asked my Mom what were they doing. She told me and then told me that we would be 'immersed' completely because we are of Baptist faith and that's how they do it. I was baptized in a 'horse trough' underneath a 20 foot tall cross. It was rugged as our small old church has no baptismal and the people driving down the road could watch; but it was well worth it. Amen.