Baptism and Christening

Infant baptism is the Christian religious practice of baptizing infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The Roman Catholic Church considers baptism, even for an infant, so important that "parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptised within the first few weeks" and, "if the infant is in danger of death, it is to be baptised without any delay." It declares: "The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole 'households' received baptism, infants may also have been baptized." It notes that, "when the first direct evidence of infant Baptism appears in the second century, it is never presented as an innovation", that second-century Irenaeus treated baptism of infants as a matter of course, and that, "at a Synod of African Bishops, St. Cyprian stated that 'God's mercy and grace should not be refused to anyone born', and the Synod, recalling that 'all human beings' are 'equal', whatever be 'their size or age', declared it lawful to baptize children 'by the second or third day after their birth'." Infant baptism is seen as showing very clearly that salvation is an unmerited favour from God, not the fruit of human effort. "Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God, to which all men are called... The Church and the parents would deny a child the priceless grace of becoming a child of God were they not to confer Baptism shortly after birth." The Church has no official teaching regarding the fate of infants who die without Baptism, and theologians of the Church hold various views (for instance, some have asserted that they go to Limbo, which has never been official Catholic doctrine). "The Church entrusts these infants to the mercy of God."

The sacrament of baptism can be administered by absolutely anyone provided they pour water so that it comes into contact with the person being baptized and say, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Even if the person administering baptism does not understand the import of his actions, the baptism is valid, for it is efficacious through the merits of Christ and the minister's intention is supplied by the Church, whose sacrament it is.
This depends upon the policy of the local church and its denomination. Generally, it is a properly ordained pastor who administers baptism. Youth leaders, church elders, etc. are not permitted to baptize in most churches.

Actually, infant baptism is important to a small group of Christians. Most believers do not practice infant baptism because they hold that it is not taught in Scripture. Baptism is for penitent adults who are aware of their sin and appreciate the need for redemption.

It is not the the countries do Baptism but the Christians rite of sprinkling water on to a person's forehead to purify and or to give admission to the Christian church

You should be water baptized according the the Scriptures. In Matthew 28:19, Jesus declares that one should be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Since Matthew is just the first book of the New Testament, we need to journey in the remaining books to discover the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

We find that the name is Jesus, hence we must water baptized in the name of Jesus Christ which is the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

To be water baptized declaring "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" is based on man's tradition and has no Scriptural backing. However, to be baptized declaring, "in the name of Jesus Christ" is based on divine revelation and does have Scriptural backing. The disciples and followers of Jesus had no problem interpreting Matthew 28:19. How did they do it? There are 5 distinct places in the book of Acts where water baptism was commanded, or had been performed in the name of Jesus Christ. Acts 2:38, Acts 8:16, Acts 10:48, Acts 19:5, Acts 22:16

A VERY IMPORTANT FACT!

THERE IS NOT A SINGLE SCRIPTURE GIVEN IN THE ENTIRE WORD OF GOD WHERE ANYONE WAS EVER WATER BAPTIZED DECLARING "IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY GHOST."

You have to contact the Church where you were baptized in. They should have records, even if it was a long time ago, of anyone who was baptized in their church.

No.

Your sponsorship is your endorsement of the ceremony. Since Catholics believe that the fullness of the truth is in the teachings of the Catholic Church, sponsoring a non-Catholic baptism would mean you are allowing a loved one to be raised without the fullness of the truth. Therefore, all Catholics shouldn't be a sponsor at a non-Catholic baptism.

The proper thing for a Catholic to do is to express that you are happy they are entering into the Christian faith but remark that the Catholic Church is the only Christian church founded by Jesus and therefore, they remain a separated brother or sister from the church unless they become Catholic.

Remember, the key is to love them with a Christ-like love. That means being honest and telling them the truth. Not to give a watered down consent for a ceremony that will not bring them into full union with Christ's Church.

As an aside, the Catholic Church does allow you to attend the baptism, just not sponsor.

There is no time line but the sooner the better. Prior to 1960 most infants were baptized withina few weeks or so of birth to ensure their right to heaven should a tragedy occur. It is still good practice to baptize within the first year of birth to free child of original sin and welcome to the church with parents upbringing in the faith at the very beginning of their lives. It is ceratinly recommended before the age of reason and first communion, around 7 years old, but the norm is still the early months after birth.

Jesus was baptized by John in the river Jordan, but the holy spirit descended on him in the form of a dove.

Throughout time, candles have also held some symbolic meaning. There are candles for christenings, candles for holidays whether you are Christian, Muslim, Jewish or any other religion and there are candles that reflect a deeper meaning, whether it is a meaning of celebration or a meaning of love.

The colors of individual candles have different meanings as well and many people, although not knowledgeable about the different colors, are at the very least, interested in the meanings.

So before you light a candle, read this article to learn the many meanings of the colors.

The Colors of Candles:

White: More than likely, you understand what white means. It is after all linked eternally with purity, innocence and enlightenment. It is a cleansing color that is believed to cleanse both the mind and the spirit and heal any emotions that are in turmoil.

Black: There has always been something about black candles that bring up thoughts of discord and evil. Most people would shy away from black candles since they have been given such a negative image, especially at the hands of Hollywood. This is actually furthest from the true meaning of a black candle and in fact, black candles are supposed to be the color you burn when you are trying to destroy negative forces and energy. They are also believed to be the appropriate color to use for healing when you are battling a serious illness.

Red: It doesn't take too much imagination to figure out the meaning of red candles. They have been linked with love, passion and sex for countless decades. Red candles encompass all of those things and more since the color can also mean health and vitality, fertility and strength, courage and willpower and it can also mean the darker emotions such as lust.

Purple: Purple is actually my favorite color of candle and it problem has to do with the colors link to wisdom and knowledge. It is a color that speaks of spirituality and divination as well as success and power.

Gold: Gold seems to be a popular color during Christmas season and it is fitting in many ways since gold is a color of divination and delightfully enough playfulness. It is also a color that brings to mind success and wealth.

Green: Like Gold, green is also associated with success, and wealth but it is also associated with health throughout a person's life; health in marriage, employment, success, physical growth and also fertility. It is the color that reflects a bountiful harvest.

Blue: Blue is a tranquil color that is filled with harmony, contentment and a sense of peace. It is the color to use if you are trying to lose weight or if you are simply trying to find your center. An excellent color of candle for meditation, it is believed to bring inspiration and happiness.

Silver: We can't forget about silver if we have already looked at a metallic candle. This is another color that is very popular during Christmas but it is actually a color that is known for its neutrality. It is another great choice for meditation and reflection.

Yellow: And what about yellow? It is the sunshiny color that brings with it a sense of happiness. It is also believed to reflect intelligence and wisdom and it is an excellent color to choose if you are busy in academic pursuits, whether they are studious or creative in nature. It is a color of change and energy and will definitely keep you busy.

And there are the meanings of a few of the more popular colors of candles. For every color there is a meaning and each color harmonizes another so play around for your own desired effect.

Sirena Van Schaik is a professional writer who provides information on candle making and aromatherapy candles for Candles Online Magazine.

* Whatever you can afford is fine. Here are some ideas: Small silver box for the baby's first tooth and another silver little box for their first curl. The parents were ecstatic over it. Cost $26 for the set (CDN Funds.) * Baby clothing if you know the sex of the baby. * Stuffed toy * Satin Pillow for decoration in the crib * Musical mobile set that hangs over the crib. * A basket with baby oil, powder, diapers, soothers, etc.

Baptists believe in baptism, but only for adults. They also don't believe that baptism saves -- they say that baptism is symbolic of the commitment a person has made to God (and therefore Christ) to follow Him. Therefore, since they believe that only adults can make such a commitment, they do not allow babies or young children to be baptized and require adults who convert from other churches to be rebaptized (or baptized for real, from their point of view).

You should understand that while Catholics, Lutherans, and other sacramental Christians view baptism as part of God's grace, Baptists view baptism as a work of faith. Since they view baptism as a work, it therefore cannot save, despite the words of Jesus (Mark 16:16) and St. Peter (I Peter 3:21).

Finally, Baptists believe that infants cannot have faith until their minds are developed to understand the teachings of Scripture, despite the words of Jesus (Mark 9:42). Therefore, they teach that children are saved apart from faith (the actual mechanism is disputed) until they are capable of faith.

The Greek ba′pti·sma refers to the process of immersion, including submersion and emergence; it is derived from the verb ba′pto, meaning "dip." (Joh 13:26) In the Bible, "to baptize" is the same as "to immerse."

The baptism of Jesus himself as performed by John must of necessity have had a meaning and purpose quite different from John's baptism, as Jesus "committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth." (1Pe 2:22) So he could not submit to an act symbolizing repentance. Undoubtedly it was for this reason that John objected to baptizing Jesus. But Jesus said: "Let it be, this time, for in that way it is suitable for us to carry out all that is righteous."-Mt 3:13-15.

Luke states that Jesus was praying at the time of his baptism. (Lu 3:21)

Jesus, by reason of this fact, was therefore already in a covenant relationship with Jehovah God when he thus presented himself to John for baptism. Jesus was there doing something more than what was required of him under the Law. He was presenting himself to his Father Jehovah to do his Father's "will" with reference to the offering of his own "prepared" body and with regard to doing away with animal sacrifices that were offered according to the Law. The apostle Paul comments: "By the said 'will' we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time." (Heb 10:10) The Father's will for Jesus also involved activity in connection with the Kingdom, and for this service too Jesus presented himself. (Lu 4:43; 17:20, 21) Jehovah accepted and acknowledged this presentation of his Son, anointing him with holy spirit and saying: "You are my Son, the beloved; I have approved you."-Mr 1:9-11; Lu 3:21-23; Mt 3:13-17.

The actual baptism is by complete water immersion as was the case with Jesus. By the time the baptismal candidate reaches the point of baptism, they have already studied the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses, and have come to at least a basic knowledge of the scriptures. They will have already made a dedication in their heart to serve God, and will have likely expressed that to God in personal prayer, so the baptism ceremony itself is actually a public declarion of a dedication that they have already made to God. They will have also had several meetings with congregation elders who will have discussed with the baptismal candidate the seriousness of such a dedication, and will have made sure that they do have at least a basic knowledge of the Bible, by means of some Bible-based question and answer sessions. This process can take several weeks. At the convention or assembly where the person is baptised, there is a 30-45 minute baptismal talk given before the candidates are immersed to provide additional reminders about the seriouness of dedication to God and symbolizing it by water baptism, and reminding them that the baptism is not the end, but rather the beginning of their life of service to God. At the end of the talk, there are two questions asked of the candidates concerning whether they have made their dedication to God in their hearts, have rejected their former course of conduct and are now ready to put on the new Christlike personality, in which they are asked to respond louydly "Yes," to all those present, thus announcing publically that they have made this dedication, and then the baptism begins. The baptismal candidtates are escorted to changing rooms, where they put on modest bathing suits, and wait in line to be baptised in a baptismal pool that has been set up for all who wish to view.

I can only speak the words said at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saint baptism which are:- Calling the person by name the baptizer would say " Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy ghost. Amen". The baptism does not have to be done in a church if there is no font available. It can be done anywhere where there is sufficient water to fully immerse the person being baptized.

If you are the godparent of the baby, you should wear a nice day dress if you are a girl, and if you are a guy you should wear a suit whit tie. Because you will be on the photos and later on you don't want to look bad or poorly dressed. If you are just attending as a friend you should wear slacks, a nice dress pants, with a feminine, chic blouse, don't show a lot of skin, it's tacky. If you are a guy, also wear a nice dress pants and a dress shirt, no ties.

In the Bible baptism is something that happens to believers. When somebody truly believes that Jesus is the son of God and He died as a sacrifice for sin then you are a Christian. Then you can be baptised.

Another View:

Baptism by the emerging of oneself in water is a symbolic jesture on the part of the receipient of allowing the 'oldself' and its ways to die (water is the tomb) and arising out of the watery grave as a 'new being' in Christ. Afterwards, the laying on of hands is done for the new disciple to receive the promise of God's Holy Spirit begettin him/her into the Family of God.

you have to call your chosen church and set an appointment

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (commonly called the "Mormon" church) practices baptism for the dead. This practice is performed in the Church's temples in a special baptismal font modeled after the one described in 1 Kings 7:23-25. The font rests on the back of twelve oxen representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

Members of the Church practice baptism for the dead because they believe that all must accept Jesus Christ and be baptized in order to enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:5) They believe that once a baptism is performed, the person has the opportunity in the afterlife to accept or reject this baptism before the final judgment.

As the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints claims to be the restored first century Christian Church, they argue that this practice of baptism for the dead is based on 1 Corinthians 15:29. They believe this verse clearly states that first century Christians were baptized for the dead.

In order to perform a baptism for the dead, one must be at least twelve years of age and have been found worthy by their congregation leader to enter the Temple. Upon entering the temple to perform baptisms, they may choose to perform baptisms for their own ancestors names or names that have been submitted to the temple by others. After changing into a white baptismal suit, the person is then baptized by immersion in behalf of the person who has died. It is common for a Temple visitor to perform several baptisms in one visit. Following the baptism, the person also will receive the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost (also referred to as "confirmation") as a proxy for those who have just be baptized.

Temple trips to do baptisms for the dead are a popular youth group activity in most Mormon congregtions.

You can see photos of a temple baptismal font where baptisms for the dead are performed, as well as photos of what a Mormon baptism looks like, at the "Related Links" below.