Where to now?
Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2005 9:23 pm
I was Baptised as a baby then Confirmed as an 11 yr old, in the Church of England (Episcopalian) and that membership has always been a major part of my identity, even nominally when I stopped attending church and had abandoned my faith.
Recently I read the Baptismal Service in my old Book of Common Prayer (Anglican prayer book) and also the Catechism.
I am having difficulty relating some of the following to Scripture:
At my Baptism, my Godparents made promises on my behalf so that I (written in the male pronouns here)... "may receive remission of his sins by spiritual regeneration... may enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord" and they prayed that "our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive him, to release him of his sins, to sanctify him with the Holy Ghost, to give him the kingdom, and everlasting life."
As an infant I must... "faithfully, for his part, promise by you [Godparents] that are his sureties (until he come of age to take it upon himself) that he will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments."
How does an infant, honestly and truly, do that?
And is that what Baptism is really about... having someone else make promises for you instead?
This appears to be based on Mark 10:13-16 where people brought little children to Christ that he should touch them, and Jesus rebuked his disciples who would have turned them away, saying "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Jesus then "took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them".
It now looks to me more like a dedication than a Baptism.
But later I followed the herd and, with no real conviction, confirmed those Baptismal vows of my Godparents at my Confirmation... like a two-step process.
How do other Christians here, those who were also baptised as babies, reconcile their baptisms to what is described in Scripture?
Does it suffice?
I've also noticed in the Catechism (which needed to be "learnt" before Confirmation) the following...
Q. How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church?
A. Two only, as generally necessary to salvation, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.
Necessary to salvation?????
Oh my, how am I going to remain an Anglican?
Recently I read the Baptismal Service in my old Book of Common Prayer (Anglican prayer book) and also the Catechism.
I am having difficulty relating some of the following to Scripture:
At my Baptism, my Godparents made promises on my behalf so that I (written in the male pronouns here)... "may receive remission of his sins by spiritual regeneration... may enjoy the everlasting benediction of thy heavenly washing, and may come to the eternal kingdom which thou hast promised by Christ our Lord" and they prayed that "our Lord Jesus Christ would vouchsafe to receive him, to release him of his sins, to sanctify him with the Holy Ghost, to give him the kingdom, and everlasting life."
As an infant I must... "faithfully, for his part, promise by you [Godparents] that are his sureties (until he come of age to take it upon himself) that he will renounce the devil and all his works, and constantly believe God's holy Word, and obediently keep his commandments."
How does an infant, honestly and truly, do that?
And is that what Baptism is really about... having someone else make promises for you instead?
This appears to be based on Mark 10:13-16 where people brought little children to Christ that he should touch them, and Jesus rebuked his disciples who would have turned them away, saying "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Jesus then "took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them".
It now looks to me more like a dedication than a Baptism.
But later I followed the herd and, with no real conviction, confirmed those Baptismal vows of my Godparents at my Confirmation... like a two-step process.
How do other Christians here, those who were also baptised as babies, reconcile their baptisms to what is described in Scripture?
Does it suffice?
I've also noticed in the Catechism (which needed to be "learnt" before Confirmation) the following...
Q. How many Sacraments hath Christ ordained in his Church?
A. Two only, as generally necessary to salvation, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.
Necessary to salvation?????
Oh my, how am I going to remain an Anglican?