tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post30380145988798542..comments2024-03-27T15:47:46.091-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Not a ceremony to be delayed. . . Pastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-35484650121950056312019-01-28T19:53:22.935-06:002019-01-28T19:53:22.935-06:00When my first child was born nearly 40 years ago, ...When my first child was born nearly 40 years ago, we set a date about 3 weeks out for him to be baptized. Just before that, he became ill and had to have emergency surgery. The pastor offered to come to the hospital to baptize him. I declined, because I wanted it to take place in church, with the special gown and special bowl that had not yet arrived for his baptism. Thank the Lord that he survived and healed quickly. I look back at that decision with horror sometimes. My pastor has assured me of God’s grace in this matter, but I still look back in shock at my ignorance. And then when my younger son’s baby was born, I asked about baptism. No, that would be hypocritical for these parents who have walked away from their faith. Little guy is now 2, not baptized. Thankfully, my older grandson IS baptized. (His father is my older son.) I pray often that the Holy Spirit will open their hearts, return them to the faith they were baptized into.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04503743050696171950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-34561953787511243042019-01-13T20:41:05.729-06:002019-01-13T20:41:05.729-06:00Although I fully agree that a child should be bapt...Although I fully agree that a child should be baptized as soon as possible, we should not overlook the fact than any Christian may baptize a child in case of an emergency. I almost had to baptize my son shortly after he was born, but our pastor agreed to do it in church as soon as we contacted him.<br />Today, 58 years later, by the grace of God, he is a devout Christian, in great health, and flying airplanes for a major carrier.<br />Peace and Joy!<br />George A. MarquartAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-19923263263997435702019-01-12T15:30:40.308-06:002019-01-12T15:30:40.308-06:00The Orthodox baptize early, and follow the ancient...The Orthodox baptize early, and follow the ancient practice of baptism, chrismation, and partaking of the Eucharist. Because the Eucharist is in both species, it's an easy thing for the priest to administer a very small particle in a very small amount of the consecrated wine. Deacon Nicholashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02808015295973601427noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-75334729879094757402019-01-12T14:25:52.076-06:002019-01-12T14:25:52.076-06:00In our parish most infant baptisms take place with...In our parish most infant baptisms take place within 2 or 3 weeks<br />after the mother and child return home from the hospital. It is<br />important that both father and mother are present for the baptism.<br />Part of the baptismal liturgy is addressed to the parents who<br />have the prime responsibility to raise their child in the Christian<br />faith.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-65601709821407301172019-01-12T10:47:02.914-06:002019-01-12T10:47:02.914-06:00David Gray,
If Chemnitz describes baptism as &quo...David Gray,<br /><br />If Chemnitz describes baptism as "the seal of the covenant of grace to be applied to them," does he then describe where faith comes in? Did the Lutheran reformers argue backwards from "baptism saves you" and "baptism is the washing of regeneration" to baptism must give faith, since faith alone saves?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-83615723645128438542019-01-12T07:32:37.015-06:002019-01-12T07:32:37.015-06:00Don't the Orthodox wait until the child is abo...Don't the Orthodox wait until the child is about six months old so that they are old enough to also receive the Eucharist?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-56319764273010416252019-01-12T06:29:03.762-06:002019-01-12T06:29:03.762-06:00Very good indeed.
For those who lose their child ...Very good indeed.<br /><br />For those who lose their child before they can have it baptized I would simply add this from Martin Chemnitz:<br /><br />"Are the children of believers who died before birth or in birth damned? <br /><br />"By no means, but since our children, brought to the light by divine blessing, are, as it were, given into our hands and at the same time means are offered, or it is made possible for the seal of the covenant of grace to be applied to them, there, indeed, that very solemn divine statement applies: The man-child, the flesh of whose foreskin is not circumcised on the eighth day, his soul shall be blotted out from [his] people (Gen. 17:14). Hence the Lord met Moses on the way and wanted to kill him because he had neglected to circumcise [his] son (Ex. 4:24-26). But when those means are not given us--as when in the Old Testament a male died before the eighth day of circumcision--likewise when they, who, born in the desert in the interval of 40 years, could not be circumcised because of daily harassment by enemies and constant wanderings, died uncircumcised, (Jos. 5:5-6) and when today infants die before they are born--in such cases the grace of God is not bound to Baptism, but those infants are to be brought and commended to Christ in prayers. And one should not doubt that those prayers are heard, for they are made in the name of Christ. (John 16:23; Gen. 17:7, Matt. 19:14) Since then, we cannot bring infants as yet unborn to Christ through Baptism, therefore we should do it through pious prayers. Parents are to be put in mind of this, and if perhaps such a case occur, they are to be encouraged with this comfort." (An Enchiridion, by Martin Chemnitz, Page 119, CPH St. Louis 1981)"<br />David Grayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11966977894876326659noreply@blogger.com