How does your Church handle water Baptism and Communion issues then?
- Thread starter YeshuaFan
- Start date
At my church we do not do infant baptisms as the infant is not capable of expressing faith and acceptance for Jesus. For communion you are not required to be a member of our church, but, you must be a part of the body of Christ.
No, they do not need to be re-baptised but they do have to have an understanding of the significance of communion. And depending on your diocese, a child can take communion before their confirmation or after being confirmed.
I personally think children should attend catechism so they have a full understanding of the faith and after being confirmed, they can partake of the Eucharist.
I grew up as a Baptist (someone correct me if Im wrong)and I distinctly remember that a person wasn't allowed to take communion unless they had been baptized first... Im not sure if that's still true or not.
I personally think children should attend catechism so they have a full understanding of the faith and after being confirmed, they can partake of the Eucharist.
I grew up as a Baptist (someone correct me if Im wrong)and I distinctly remember that a person wasn't allowed to take communion unless they had been baptized first... Im not sure if that's still true or not.
Ours is Church of God. We don't require adult baptism to become a member but we do recommend it and teach it. A profession of faith is the requirement. Communion is generally left up to the conscience of the person, unless there is demonstrative unrepentant sin remaining in their life. These things would be discussed with them personally ahead of time.
You asked..........
"if a person is now saved, but was water baptized as infant, would you require be re baptized now?"
NO!. However, if that person felt like they needed or wanted to follow in believers baptism because the event done as an infant had no meaning, then YES by all means!
Then you asked..........
"And to partake of Communion, would they need to have adult water baptism, be a member of the assemble, or?"
NO! We operate on an "open" communion service. We ask that all is required for you to partake of the communion is that you be a born again Christian.
Water baptism is not part of the salvation experience. It is an act of obedience but the Southern Baptist churches allow memberships by "statement of faith" and by the "moving of a letter" that states their standing in the Lord Jesus Christ as a believer.
Then as well.....we had several people in nursing homes who because of physical problems were unable to be baptized in water and we accepted their membership because of their statements.
Thanks, as we would also hold tp open, as in only requirements would be to know are now saved, and not walking in known sinning with any repentance
Always ironic to me churches will deny one to partake if not a member of that church. not been "properly" water Baptized, yet God would say all saved can now partake period
We require a belivers Baptism if choosing to become a member of the church, but not to take communion
Now........"walking in known sin" in a totally different problem.
Anyone "walking in known sin" should be addressed by church discipline way before a communion service is questioned.
Of course, "known sin" is a complicated position.
Is it referring to an addition problem, or adultery, or living together or homosexuality. What about using Gods name in vain regularly????
In my past, we had to remove a 80 year old woman from the choir who continued to use Gods name in vain when she talked.
We talked to her several times and her excuse was that "I grew up in New Your City" and that is how we talk. To which my music director replied...........You do not live in NYC anymore and you say you are a Christian!
I would say that if the Person is aware of a sin issue and refused to deal with it at all, would be grounds to avoid communion, as might be drinking bad things upon themselves
Agreed.