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Posted on 02/06/2015 8:31:36 PM PST by Steelfish
So, your "dedicated anarchist" author was baptized as a Southern Baptist years before he poped. How is it, then, that he can convert to Roman Catholicism and his Southern Baptist baptism isn't binding on him? Baptized a Southern Baptist, always a Southern Baptist...isn't that what infant baptized Roman Catholics who leave are constantly told here? The only difference is he at least gave his consent to be baptized as a statement of his faith rather than it being done to him while he was but a little baby.
Your answer proves my point. Baptism is not a branding. It’s a ritual that washes away original sin. Those whom John the Baptist baptized were free to renounce the commandments either as adults or as adolescents. You and I know there are many Catholics and Protestants who turn out to be agnostics and atheists. Indeed this is true for Jews as well as other faiths too.
Maybe you need to let others in your faith tradition here know that. Especially those who insist that "once a Catholic, always a Catholic".
I, however, disagree with the RC notion that infant baptism "washes away original sin". The ordinance of water baptism for a Christ-follower was already a familiar ritual that the Jews had called a "mikvah" - a ceremonial washing. What Jesus instituted was a once-for-all baptism that signified the new birth one experiences upon coming to Christ in faith, receiving the gift of God which is eternal life in Christ and the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit. John the Baptist said that he baptized with water, but when Christ came, He would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Luke 3:16).
It is the individual's genuine profession of faith rather than the baptism ritual, however, that results in the person being born again into the family of God. THIS kind of baptism actually is the kind that results in ALL one's sins being washed away, because we were washed, we were sanctified, we were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (I Cor. 6:11). We have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ (Romans 5:9) and we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ (I Peter 1:2). Unless there is genuine faith, all the water baptism rituals in the world won't wash away a single sin.
**I, however, disagree with the RC notion that infant baptism “washes away original sin”. **
Therefore, do you disagree with John 3:5?
John 3
5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Perhaps you would, but you didn't. You merely name-called, and passively at that.
And for what, my expressing the truth of how I see and understand this subject? Is that supposed to shame me into silence? Why, because my objections can't be answered?
Maybe you should leave this discussion to others, lest I conclude that drive-by passive shame sniping is the best the Church can muster to defend its teachings.
Oh goodie, Voldemort woke up.
If it were that simple then no Protestant would ever come to a different conclusion than any other Protestant. But they do. Everyday
I know, incredible, right? Is almost like God could use the same Bible to speak to millions of people's different needs exactly as they need help, but by using the same words in the same book. LOL, what a farce! God would have to have, like, infinite power out something to pull that off, dude! And speak to their very souls or something, as if they actually rated that level of communication! Like they're a priest or something, you know, someone who actually matters to God - not, you know... ordinary people.
And why should God even do it? I mean, priests have important priest reasons. But ordinary people? LOL, what are they going to say - "dear God, please help me"? What a joke! Stupid peasants, bothering God like that and presuming He would actually care about their sorry little stupid lives.
After all, that's why priests exist - to take care of the riff-raff, so God can get on with the important things, and talk with the people important enough to deserve His notice.
Everyone wants a piece of Jesus. It's just pathetic. No degrees, no peer-review of their understanding of the teachings, nothing. Just gimme, gimme, gimme. It's like they all think they can just come to Him as children.
Utterly absurd.
I'm familiar with all of it - I went through it.
But here's a thought - the average age of confirmation is between seven and sixteen. I'd say that's not exactly waiting for full maturity by the Church. Because in fact, the same children who are decreed as having accepted Catholicism of their own free will at confirmation, are not allowed the same decision-making authority to drink alcohol or have sex at the same age.
In fact, nowhere close.
But they're somehow ready to commit their soul for the rest of their life at that age?
Well one thing is for sure, if they ever feel differently as an adult, they are guaranteed to have a deep guilt complex about even starting to think their own thoughts about religion. Good thing that's not the real reason behind all the demands for solemn childhood promises, because that would be pretty awful to do to someone.
Why, it's almost like what they're being required to believe simply couldn't stand critical adulthood examination without childhood psychological and emotional indoctrination.
Didn't you read what I said? I'll repeat it:
I, however, disagree with the RC notion that infant baptism “washes away original sin”.
I cannot help but agree with my Savior Jesus Christ when he said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.", because Jesus would never lie. I disagree with distortions of what Jesus says often perpetrated by those who preach an accursed gospel of salvation by works.
It could have also been because he writes in defense of morning drinking (Tucker, Jeffrey A. "Bring Back the Breakfast Drink." LewRockwell.com. July 16, 2005). That fits in better with the RCs, too! ;o)
Once someone becomes familiar with the mental illness of Catholic anti-Protestants it is easy to predict what will be posted because those afflicted with it always make the same mistakes over and over again. They can’t help it apparently - even when they have been corrected repeatedly!
The ritual of water baptism is not necessary for salvation. If it were, then the thief on the cross next to Jesus wasn't saved and Jesus lied to him. Do you think Jesus lied? Now THAT would be heresy!
CB...you know how the FRomans love to mince words.
Your latest response was entirely predictable, from the time when initially I wrote to you on this thread (before hitting 'send"), briefly touching upon considerations which do very much "negate" what you had said.
But hey, nice 'forum slide' technique you've got there. Holding that down as a one-man show...
Impressive, but it still reeks [of unmentionable on this forum].
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So, he added the idol Mary to his “Christianity.” Yes, the IDOL.
No one is baptized as a Catholic. Baptism involves immersion.
In fact, "becoming Catholic" IS very much a damnable system of heresy, evidenced by the very high numbers of its professors and nominal adherents who indulge in the most egregious evil and apostasy in society not only with impunity, but with effective encouragement. Many, if not most, radical modern liberals who profess any religious affiliation find themselves comfortably at home in the Roman Catholic cult unmolested, enjoying cover from the multitude of like-minded priests, bishops and even cardinals among their ranks. The current pope is enjoying enormous, almost ecstatic adulation from the most ungodly and unrepentant in society. What should that tell us?
Catholics seem impressed with the “eminent theologians” and those so called “educated elite”. The very ones God renounced most often.
Without it they would have no religion. One of the biggest corruptions is the word "church" and the understanding of it they promote.
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