View Full Version : Do you have to be baptised to go to heaven?
babycrazy
22-01-2006, 16:59
My husbands family are Lutheran. His church says that if you aren't baptised then you aren't Gods child and you cant go to heaven?? I'm a bit scared about this because I was never babptised as a baby and have always felt like I didn't belong at church - is that why?
No No and No!
As an adult when you become a Christian, if you are not baptised it is important to do so, but God does not turn away people simply because they were not baptised as a child, it is what is in your heart that matters. And babies and children are certainly are not turned away from God (despite what Catholisism says:rolleyes: ) if they die and are not baptised, they go straight back into the arms of the Lord, where he keeps them safe until you can join them again :)
If being baptised is something you want to do then go for it, but dont let your inlaws scaremongering make you feel like you have to, do what feels right :)
Ffrenchknickers
22-01-2006, 17:18
Hi, HUGE question, Im only around or a sec but will be back later (alhtough someone else will surely be along with a great answer for you soon:))
It has been a debateable topic throughout the ages....since you are talking about a Christian perspective, I will answer from a Christian perspective (before anyone jumps on me !!:p)
I will start with this scripture form the gospel of Mark:)
MARK 16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
I do feel that if we have the opportunity to be baptised then we should - God commanded it but it seems thew only requirement to get into heaven is FAITH. What I do know for sure is that it is a sign of obedience and our faith in God to be baptised. What I also know for sure that if we believe in Jesus Christ and that he died for our sins and rose again on the third day and that He is the son of God that we will be saved.
Acts 16:30-31
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
The thief on the cross in the book of acts was clearly not baptised - he never had the chance to!! Jesus assured him that he would be with him in paradise that very day. His faith was all he needed, praise God!! Yes, we are saved by faith but I also believe that we need to be as obedient to God as we possibly can. I believe that for each one of us, it is between us and God and His word.
Mt.19:17
"If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."
On the matter of you not being baptised, I am sure its not why you dont feel comfy in church - God loves you and wants you there no matter what!! I never felt that comfortable until I really understood what it meant to give my life to Christ and to be born again. Maybe talk to a minister or a close Christian friend more about it. There are plenty of wonderful churches out there waiting to accept you and answer your questions. I believe that we should immerse ourselves in His word and we will become clear about what we are to do. Maybe try finding some quiet time and praying about the whole issue and asking Him what he wants you to do - its amazing how he answers us! If it is something that plays on your mind even after praying about it them maybe it is something you should do?? (again , between you and God) Its never too late to be baptised - my husband and I were baptised 8 months ago (it was freeeeeezing LOL but a wonderful day:)) There is nothing in the Bible that says you must be a baby to be baptised, our kids arent baptised yet (although Toby who is almost 6 is almost ready) we are letting them make the decision for themselves when they understand why they are doing it and have a personal relationship with God (which Toby most definately does now!)
Hope this helps....sorry if its a bit disjointed, kind of in a rush......
Ffrenchknickers
22-01-2006, 17:19
And babies and children are certainly are not turned away from God
AMEN Erin!!!! If we believed that children can go to hell, our kids would have been baptised the moment they were born! "The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to children such as these..."
oh ffrenchie you were so much more helpful than i, lol :o
Ffrenchknickers
22-01-2006, 18:04
LOL ,I think I repeated myself twenty times over:o I thought you were very heplful:D But, thanks:D
reAllytee
22-01-2006, 19:06
This is always something that saddens me & has actually turned me away from the catholic church ! I still have my faith though & thats all that matters to me !
The other thing for me is it should be a childs choice but to say they will be turned away if they never get baptised is awful. Children are always the more blessed in his eyes.
Now speaking of baptism in an adult if you feel you need to to show your faith in God then i would say do it but in saying that it should be a choice not something forced upon someone.
As Ffrenchie has even put it just because you arent baptised doesnt mean he will turn his back on you if you have faith.
I cant have my son baptised in the catholic church due to many reasons which i just find very sad but i have since realised nothing changes my faith nor that my son is accepted by him. My son will be blessed by my cousin who is a minister for another church & that also is something im happier with that my son will be blessed in the eyes of the Lord & then he has the choice when he is older what path he chooses !
If you cant feel comfort in a church then look at the wonders around you for he is there all you need to do is trust in what you see :)
Hi All
I'm going to throw a BIG spanner in the works. I was raised Salvo and they don't baptise with water AT ALL. So I def do not think that you need to be baptised. The Salvation Army believe in a baptism by the Holy Spirit:
Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist says
I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
and again - Jesus speaking to his disciples post ressurection
Acts 1:5
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus did not baptise everyone he saved, in fact, the bible states it was his disciples who did all the baptising. I certainly think it can be a lovely thing to do, and a significant event in your spiritual walk, but don't think its necessary. Having asked forgivness and received the Spirit is what you need and that's between you and God.
I hope I haven't upset anyone (not at all my intention), but I thought it helpful to let you know what a different flavour of Christianity thinks.
Cheers
Ffrenchknickers
22-01-2006, 21:17
Hey, I used to go to a salvos church too:D Do you still?
I definately agree that we need to receive the Holy Spirit:)
reAllytee
22-01-2006, 21:20
xkwzit - I think thats great.
Plus i also learnt something new today ! I never knew this yet i was good friends with a girl through school whose parents were Salvos & so was she ! Gees makes me wonder sort of friend i was !!! :o
Hey Ffrenchie
That's a laugh, I went to Albion for ages up till about 2000 (small side trip to the Albany Creek Corps when it was still there). Albion relocated and combined with a few others and is now at Stafford (but I haven't been there). I had friends at all the others though (of course - ;) its a tight community).
Allyoo
Don't worry too much about that, the way I think about it, maybe you didn't ask, but then she also didn't tell you (there's always two sides). I'm such a diplomat :D
I agree with you, xkwzit. We definitely should be baptised in the Holy Spirit, but I think we should also be baptised in water. After all, the first thing that Jesus did before he began his three year ministry was to get baptised in water (by John the Baptist), THEN the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove. What do you think? I mean, if Jesus did it as an outward sign, then shouldn't we?
I too don't think you need to be baptised in order to go to Heaven. It's something you do as a testimony of your belief in Jesus and to outwardly show others you want to follow Him.
Love,
Nan. xx
babycrazy
23-01-2006, 08:13
Ta - I feel a bit better now.
My children are all baptised Lutheran - I am basically Christian but have issues with the people at my hubbys church who seem to me to be Sunday-Christians.
I feel embarrassed about the idea of being baptised as an adult infront of all those people at church - I just dont really belong. So guess I'll leave it for now and hope it doesn't matter if i get hit by a semi unexpectedly in the near future:o
alicesmum
23-01-2006, 09:16
i went to catholic schools, and we were taught that it is about your relationship with god and being baptised was not "necessary", just another rite of passage or ritual that gives you something to think about or 'hang your hat on' so to speak, but not a 'requirement' for heaven.
i think the catholic church has changed a lot in recent decades (which was obviously needed!!!!) :D
reAllytee
23-01-2006, 09:29
babycrazy - If you dont feel comfortable getting baptised at that church there are others that would do it for you which could be an option.
Dont feel ashamed people who judge you need to look at themselves first.
Im glad you at least feel better about it all !
:)
alicesmum - Not all have unfortunately :(
I wont even go into the dramas my sister or myself have had but yeah lets just say a lot of their priests need to move with the times so to speak.
alicesmum
23-01-2006, 09:32
alicesmum - Not all have unfortunately :(
I wont even go into the dramas my sister or myself have had but yeah lets just say a lot of their priests need to move with the times so to speak.
oh dear allyoo! that is a shame. i must have gone to good ones. no scary nuns or priests where I went (one scary ex-nun, but we all thought she was just a bit of a fruitcake - even the other teachers did I think!!!) :p
reAllytee
23-01-2006, 09:38
OMG !!!!
Dont even get me started on scary nuns !!! :(
I will have nightmares about all they used to say in church when i was little all over again !!!
Luckily when i hit high school i was able to brush off what was said but honestly they arent exactly "joyful" about God thats for sure.
Guess thats why im not so keen on the catholic faith anymore all that fire & brimstone type stuff doesnt really do it for me would much rather be happy & joyous about faith. :D
alicesmum
23-01-2006, 09:45
would much rather be happy & joyous about faith. :D
yay allyoo!!! i agree wholeheartedly. and you obviously can take something from the teachings of other faiths too!!!!!
Guess what - I met an Anglican Priest who was also a Sensei (Zen Master) on the weekend.....how cool is that!!!!!?????
yay for open-mindedness and open-heartedness!!!! :D
reAllytee
23-01-2006, 09:56
yay allyoo!!! i agree wholeheartedly. and you obviously can take something from the teachings of other faiths too!!!!!
Guess what - I met an Anglican Priest who was also a Sensei (Zen Master) on the weekend.....how cool is that!!!!!?????
yay for open-mindedness and open-heartedness!!!! :D
Oh wow !
Thats sooo kewl :D
Ive learnt that when it comes down to it that no matter what religion you practice its all about the faith & if your true to that then no one can ever bring you down so to speak !
Having faith is all about being open minded as well as open hearted after all it was JC who took Mary Magdelene in after all wasnt it :D
alicesmum
23-01-2006, 10:22
phew allyooo. u obviously don't go about thinking that other faiths are the work of satan then. i didn't think all christians did. good 4 you!!!! your open-ness is appreciated.
[sorry....didn't mean to de-rail the thread! oops]
shinebrite
23-01-2006, 13:58
well let me try put it this way!
Salvation - when you receive God into ur heart and he transforms ur mind
between you and God
Water baptisim - is a public act of salvation as when everyone can rejoice with you party on etc...
Tounges - baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT is a VERBAL act of salvation that lets u comunicate more intamatley with God through the HS its like someone shook a champain bottle and left the cork on once the holy spirit is in there he wants to express his feelings and then OUT COMES the weird words that the COOLEST thing only u and God can understand.....like a secret code
i learnt that at bible college!
let me just throw a tinsy spaner in the works....
say a guy was in a car accident and he was dying he had lets say 15mins to live. so he cried out to God "save me God" what do u think God would do? just shove him to the side and say...
"O no u didnt get baptised, u didnt goto church???? i will never let u in heven!!!"
i dont think SO whats that verse in proverbs? "Man looks at the outward apperance but God looks at the heart?"
It also says that in the bible (cant remember where) God doenst live on "works!" the things we "do" its our daily walk with God thats gets us there and our RELATIONSHIP with him
God NEVER intended hell for his babies (us)! it was ONLY meant for satan and his little demons! thats why God made it easy for us to get in to heaven. No matter which denomination we r pentacostal - lutheran - anglican or catholic we all follow the same God and we will get to heaven the same way through Gods HEART!
reAllytee
23-01-2006, 14:21
shinebrite - :D
Very well said, shinebrite!
Love,
Nan. xx
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