[CA Conservative]

I have never understood the idea of baptizing an infant. There is no record of John the Baptist or any of the apostles baptizing infants, nor of Jesus commanding such. Baptism is an act that requires a deliberate decision on the part of the repentant believer in order to have any meaning - otherwise, all you get is a wet sinner (or in this case, a wet and screaming baby).

[boatbums]

My Mom insists that it was our baptism as Roman Catholics that my sister and I are strong Christians, though neither of us is Roman Catholic any longer. However, two brothers, who were also baptized are NOT practicing Christians and one insists he is now an atheist. Both my believing sister and I were rebaptized when we willingly received Jesus Christ as savior at a later age. The thing is, it is not the rite of water baptism which changes the heart towards God, but a "circumcision of the heart" that takes place first and which leads one to publicly confess Christ in the ordinance of baptism. Baptizing an oblivious baby only gets him wet.

God holds each person responsible for how they receive the light He has given them. It is not something that you nor I can do FOR someone. We can share the gospel of the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ but it is the Holy Spirit - not baptism - which softens the heart to believe. It is an individual's decision to receive or reject that grace and be saved.

[DungeonMaster]

John 17: Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should[a] give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Being dipped into water is one biblical meaning of baptism but being dipped into water does not make a person "know the only true God and Jesus Christ who He sent".

[Michael Collins]

OK, wow..

So who’s not going to heaven?