- Dec 11, 2010
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I want to preface this discussion saying that I am not interested in debating whether or not infant baptism is Biblical or not. I believe it is Biblical and will stick with that. That is not my question. What I do want to try to understand is how those of us in the paedobaptism group reconcile some things that I encountered today.
Baptism for me has been probably the most mysterious/mystical parts of our faith. I find it easier to grasp the concept of Trinity. I grew up in the Catholic church and today am of the Lutheran persuasion and both denominations believe in infant baptism. I honestly believe that Scripture does not contradict itself so when encountering what appears to be something that is in contrast, I believe that I am likely looking through a glass dimly. I also believe that we are to take the whole of Scripture into account and avoid proof texting to form our theology.
In the Lutheran church we believe that baptism is a means of Grace together with the God's Holy Word for which God creates the gift of faith in a person's heart. We also understand that Scripture speaks of whole households being baptized, which would include infants but then today in our adult Bible study, we were looking at Acts 8:26-40 where Phillip preached to the Ethiopian Eunuch. In my NKJV, verse 36-38 says the following.
36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
The bold typed part in verse 37 caught my attention and this is what I'm asking about. How can we reconcile this with other Scripture like Acts 16 where it talks about Lydia and her household being baptized and the Philippian jailer and his household being baptized?
Baptism for me has been probably the most mysterious/mystical parts of our faith. I find it easier to grasp the concept of Trinity. I grew up in the Catholic church and today am of the Lutheran persuasion and both denominations believe in infant baptism. I honestly believe that Scripture does not contradict itself so when encountering what appears to be something that is in contrast, I believe that I am likely looking through a glass dimly. I also believe that we are to take the whole of Scripture into account and avoid proof texting to form our theology.
In the Lutheran church we believe that baptism is a means of Grace together with the God's Holy Word for which God creates the gift of faith in a person's heart. We also understand that Scripture speaks of whole households being baptized, which would include infants but then today in our adult Bible study, we were looking at Acts 8:26-40 where Phillip preached to the Ethiopian Eunuch. In my NKJV, verse 36-38 says the following.
36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
38 So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
The bold typed part in verse 37 caught my attention and this is what I'm asking about. How can we reconcile this with other Scripture like Acts 16 where it talks about Lydia and her household being baptized and the Philippian jailer and his household being baptized?
