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| Q: | Baptism: Infant baptism from a non -wed couple; I know the child will be baptized but would you perform the baptism in a public setting before the church body or request them to do it privately? | ||||||
| A: | You are right, one does not punish the child by not baptizing it, even though its mother and father sinned in conceiving him or her. The child should be baptized. Our pastors do this in several ways. Some view the Baptism of this child as the key thing here, not how the child was conceived. The mother has been repentant and so has the father if he is a member. So the pastor baptizes the child in a worship service. The parent(s) have expressed repentance and been absolved. They should not face the penance of having to have the child baptized outside the worship service if the parent(s) want the child baptized in the worship service. Or, even if the parent(s) have not been repentant, the pastor will baptize the child because that is the important thing for the child. He will not punish the child because of the sin of the parents. However, in a case of impenitence he may want to baptize the child more privately. Usually, however, the penitent mother and her family will ask that the child be baptized before or after a worship service, or even privately, simply because they do not want to announce to the whole world that this child was born out of wedlock. Often the pastor will counsel a more private baptism for that reason and will tell the mother that he is suggesting the more private baptism because whether she realizes it or not, there will be some shame put upon her and her child in connection with a public baptism. He wants to spare her and her baby that shame. There just is no rule for this type of thing. The common custom and practice of the congregation also enters the picture here. If you are involved in some way in the baptism of a child born out of wedlock, rejoice that the child is being baptized. If you are a parent or grandparent, follow the advice of your pastor in connection with the time and place of the baptism. He knows his congregation well. He will advise you in the way that will be best for you, for the child, and for the congregation. He will do so out of love for you, the child, and everyone involved with the baptism. Trust his judgment. But get that baby baptized! The baptism is valid before God whether performed in the church service or not. The blessings for the soul of this child through the Sacrament of Baptism are the important things, not where or when the child is baptized. Don't argue about things that don't matter! Get the child baptized! | ||||||
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