What mainstream sects object to infant baptism?

score:8

Accepted answer

Paedobaptism is the practice of baptising infants. The Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Coptic and Oriental Orthodox Churches, Lutheran Churches, Anglican and Episcopal Churches baptise infants.

Credobaptism, or adult baptism, is the practice of baptising only believers. Baptists and Anabaptists, as well as many nondenominational Evangelical churches reject infant baptism. The following denominations say that belief must precede baptism and infants cannot believe.

  • Baptists
  • Pentecostals
  • Churches of Christ
  • Christadelphians
  • Jehovah's Witnesses
  • Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS/Mormons)

As for U.K. Methodist churches (which are similar in many respects to the Church of England), please read this article: https://www.methodist.org.uk/our-faith/life-and-faith/life-events/baptism-and-confirmation/

Reformed Protestant groups such as the Presbyterian Church in America practice infant baptism, but unlike the Roman Catholic Church, does not teach that such baptism saves the child. Instead, it teaches that infant baptism is a covenant sign and does not save, just the same as Old Testament circumcision was a covenantal sign that did not save. Lutheran Churches, like the Roman Catholic Church, practice infant baptism and maintain that such baptism saves the child.

Christian denominations that oppose infant baptism would include the Baptists, Churches of Christ, and Pentecostal groups. They would deny infant baptism by saying that belief must precede baptism and that infants cannot believe.

Believer's baptism is one of several distinctive doctrines associated closely with the Baptist and Anabaptist traditions, and their theological relatives. Among these are the members of the Restoration Movement. Churches associated with Pentecostalism also practice believer's baptism.

In many nondenominational Evangelical, Baptist and Pentecostal churches, a ritual known as child dedication. However, unlike baptism, the rite is centered upon the parents, who dedicate the child to God and vow to raise him or her in a God-fearing home. Although Dedication often occurs at the same age as infant baptism, it is not considered a replacement for baptism nor is it considered salvific for the child.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints completely rejects infant baptism. Little children are considered both born without sin and incapable of committing sin. They have no need of baptism until age eight when they can begin to learn to discern right from wrong, and are thus accountable to God for their own actions. People completely incapable of understanding right from wrong, regardless of age, are also considered as not accountable for their actions, and are not baptized.

In the Seventh-day Adventist Church, immersion baptism is not required for membership. However, if a person feels that he has received new information that makes a difference and/or has experienced a reconversion, it is available if he wants it.

Source: Believer's baptism (Wikipedia)

More post

Search Posts

Related post