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| Q: | I have some questions on Baptism. Is a forced baptism or a baptism conferred on a deep sleeping person or someone in a coma ever considered a Valid Baptism? I searched the internet through a search engine for information on historical forced baptisms I have enclosed what I found. My questions are did any of the people who received forced baptisms receive the graces of a valid baptism? It appears that the church has used Forced Baptisms in the years past. Please explain whether or not a Forced Baptism is valid? Please explain whether or not a baptism conferred on a deep sleeping or person in a coma is valid?
721 Pope Leo II orders forced baptism of all jews 988 Vladimir I adopted the Greek Orthodox Church as the official state religion. He ordered that churches and priests be established in all towns, and that the people be baptized. Thousands of people formed lines at the river Dnieper and were baptized en masse. The Crusades- 1000's-1200's | ||||||
| A: | The idea of forcing the means of grace (gospel in Word and Sacrament) on a person against his or her will goes contrary to the spirit in which we are to proclaim the gospel. When Jesus sent out his disciples, he not only told them to share the Word of God "freely" (Matthew 10:8), he also indicated that people would be "free" to reject that Word (Luke 10:10-12). In such a case, Jesus' advice was not to force the means of grace on unbelievers against their will, but to walk away from such people. When it comes to forcing the sacrament of baptism on people against their will, we give the impression that baptism is a magical means that cannot be rejected. This is true whether the person's will is unknown (unconscious or comatose) or known (person who rejects Christ). The power of baptism is found in the power of the Word which is connected with the water in baptism. That word gives baptism the power to change the will and convert a person from unbelief to faith. Yet to expect the sacrament of baptism to do what another means (Word) has not done would be to pit one means against another. Baptism is no more or less powerful than the Word. When one has rejected the Word, to force baptism on that person against his or her will would seem to go against Jesus' warning not to "give dogs what is sacred" or not to "throw your pearls to pigs" (Matthew 7:6). But the question remains, "Would such a forced baptism be valid?" According the Scripture, three things are needed for a valid baptism: water + Word + action. The action assumes that there is a person who desires baptism, or in the case of infant baptism, parents or custodians who are requesting baptism for the infants. This doesn't mean that God can't work through the baptism in spite of the wrong motives of the people administering the sacrament, or that God can't convert the person who at first rejects the gospel. It does demonstrate that such action goes contrary to the spirit of the gospel and sheds some doubt on the validity of the sacrament. | ||||||
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