Not allowed a baptism if I was christened as a baby?

[Questionsaboutchrist]

I’m not from a Christian family but when I was 6 months old, my mum decided to have me Christened.


I’m now 21 and have recently found Jesus and have been talking with my church (Anglican) about baptism. We’ve been preparing for about 2 months and it would have been on Easter Sunday. I recently got an email asking for me to send my testimony draft and also emailed to double check that I wasn’t baptised as a child. I explained that I was christened but only due to tradition, not due to any faith.

The reverend then called me and explained that the Church of England wouldn’t allow me to get baptised because they believe the christening was baptism.

I thought baptism required us to believe, repent and then be baptised.

I’m obviously heartbroken as I was looking forward to this, I’d invited loads of people along and been getting all excited. I’ve written my testimony and was so excited. I’m so disappointed and confused.

I’m worried because I don’t understand about christenings and baptism. This was going to be really special for me. I just don’t understand why I’m not allowed.

Does anyone have any wisdom/ advice that might make me feel any better?

 

[RandyK]

I’m not from a Christian family but when I was 6 months old, my mum decided to have me Christened.


I’m now 21 and have recently found Jesus and have been talking with my church (Anglican) about baptism. We’ve been preparing for about 2 months and it would have been on Easter Sunday. I recently got an email asking for me to send my testimony draft and also emailed to double check that I wasn’t baptised as a child. I explained that I was christened but only due to tradition, not due to any faith.

The reverend then called me and explained that the Church of England wouldn’t allow me to get baptised because they believe the christening was baptism.

I thought baptism required us to believe, repent and then be baptised.

I’m obviously heartbroken as I was looking forward to this, I’d invited loads of people along and been getting all excited. I’ve written my testimony and was so excited. I’m so disappointed and confused.

I’m worried because I don’t understand about christenings and baptism. This was going to be really special for me. I just don’t understand why I’m not allowed.

Does anyone have any wisdom/ advice that might make me feel any better?

probably not. I really hate traditions that are inflexible. But I do understand. To discount child dedications, such as I had, would mean that my parents weren't serious in raising me up as a Christian.

But you're right. Water Baptism was initiated by John the Baptist who baptized a people of faith, Israel! It was designed to show that though they were dedicated as children, they had not lived the life of faith, and needed to portray themselves publicly as needing to be spiritually cleansed.

But rest assured, God sees your repentance. And the best way you can show your public contrition is by telling *all* of your friends in the pagan world that you're no longer going to sin with them. Then start exhibiting the tell-tale signs of true repentance, which is grief when you act unloving and joy when you are able to witness to your new life.