Heirbyadoption wrote: ↑Wed Mar 08, 2023 9:52 am
Valerie wrote: ↑Mon Mar 06, 2023 10:32 pmJesus seems to have a higher view of children and would not deny them baptism.
I was admittedly a bit torn at first, but after reading an open endorsement of paedobaptism on an "Anabaptist" forum, it gives me no pleasure but I would reply to the OP question of whether it was worth "dividing" the church with: absolutely.
i was raised in a definitely no baptising babies-children home, in a time (before current ecumenism) there was quite a lot of pressure .. to join “the right” church .. churches seemed focused on getting warm bodies in their own church pews (?my young perception). even as a child, i felt “invited” (with pressure) to join various churches. without explanation of why. esp why one from another. i was afraid of church, i was confused. interested! but shy and confused. afraid.
looking back, it’s interesting how my stoic quiet parents were so firm about refraining from baptising infants. they definitely experienced various pressures. it’s interesting to me how beliefs are passed down over time, altho the origins may be forgotten.
eventually, as a married adult with children, after visiting a few churches, we reluctantly visited a Lutheran church; the pastor spoke simply, with such heart, we wanted to learn more, altho the liturgy was all-new to us, and infant baptism was completely foreign.
story shortened.
when we first witnessed the infant baptism ceremony, it was evident this was not equivalent to an adult baptism. that, later, in confirmation, this was the point of personal decision (altho, still young teens). this softened my view. (i’m unsure if this reflects what was happening in the Reformation.) my guess is, this later confirmation was not as it is today? i’m not sure.
i was baptised as an adult, our children were older teens.
it’s hard to understand in full what happened long ago. however, the Catholic Church was adamant about its supremacy and control, infant baptism was one of several points of contention. scriptures written in common language was hard-fought.
i think it’s hard today to imagine.