Ethan Walker
The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, believes that infants who have been baptized receive the gift of faith. This is in contrast to other sects within the Lutheran faith, such as the United Lutherans, who are more inclusive. The early church began baptizing infants as they would be raised as Christians and not as converts from paganism. According to original scriptures, two baptisms are essential for salvation: water baptism and baptism in fire or the Ruach Ha'Qodesh. For Catholics, a non-baptized person may not be seen as an equal partner in their child's faith. However, some individuals choose to have their children baptized Catholic as it is the path of least resistance, especially if their family members are strong adherents to the religion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Rebaptism in Christianity | The baptism of a person who has previously been baptized, usually in association with a denomination that does not recognize the validity of the previous baptism. |
| Churches that practice rebaptism | Baptists, Churches of Christ, Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
| Catholic Church's view on rebaptism | The Catholic Church holds that the baptisms of those received into the Church from other Christian communities are valid if administered using the Trinitarian formula. |
| Lutheran Church's view on rebaptism | Luther, the founder of Lutheranism, opposed rebaptism, arguing that there is much we have not seen or witnessed and that infant baptism is valid. |
| Personal experiences with rebaptism | Some individuals with Catholic upbringings who later joined non-denominational Christian groups or Lutheran churches have shared their experiences with rebaptism, with some feeling the need to be rebaptized and others finding it unnecessary. |
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What You'll Learn
Anabaptists and Luther's response
The Anabaptists were a radical religious movement that emerged during the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. They are known for their practice of "rebaptism", or the rejection of infant baptism in favour of adult baptism. While the Anabaptists were influenced by the teachings of Martin Luther, particularly his critique of the Catholic Church, they also diverged from his ideas in significant ways.
Martin Luther, a young university professor, posted his 95 theses on the doors of churches in Wittenberg in 1517, including the All Saints Church. Luther intended to spark a debate over how to reform abuses in the Roman Catholic Church. He specifically took issue with the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences, or payments to reduce the punishment for sins. In response, Luther argued that salvation is a gift from God (grace) rather than something that can be earned through good works. He based his views on the Bible, specifically the Apostle Paul's letters to the Romans and Galatians, and made the Bible available to the masses by translating it into German.
Luther's reforms inspired early Anabaptist leaders, but they also had their own distinct beliefs. Anabaptism had its roots in German mysticism and the teachings of Andreas Karlstadt, who worked alongside Luther but did not practise or teach "rebaptism". However, other early Anabaptists like Hans Denck and Hans Hut accepted the idea of "rebaptism". Hut is said to have brought more people into early Anabaptism than any other evangelist of his time.
Lutheran reformers saw the Anabaptists as following false teachings and explicitly condemned their doctrines in the Augsburg Confession and the Formula of Concord. In particular, Lutherans disagreed with the Anabaptist practice of "rebaptism", arguing that children can be believers and recipients of God's grace through baptism. Despite their differences, the Anabaptist movement would not have emerged without Luther and other Protestant reformers who challenged Catholic doctrine.
The Anabaptists faced severe persecution across Europe, with thousands executed between 1525 and 1660. Ancient laws, such as those of Theodosius I and Justinian I, decreed the death penalty for the practice of rebaptism. As a result of this persecution, many Anabaptists emigrated to North America, including groups such as the Amish, Hutterites, and Mennonites.
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Catholicism and rebaptism
In Christianity, rebaptism refers to the baptism of a person who has already been baptised, usually associated with a denomination that does not recognise the validity of the previous baptism. The Catholic Church recognises the validity of baptisms performed in non-Catholic communities if they are administered using the Trinitarian formula. This means that the baptism is performed by a bishop, priest, or deacon, or in cases of necessity, by anyone, including a non-baptised person, with the intention to do what the Church does when baptising.
The Catholic Church does not generally practise rebaptism. Instead, they offer confirmation for those who were baptised as infants to allow them to personally commit themselves to their faith. However, there may be rare cases where conditional baptism is performed if there is serious doubt about the validity of the original baptism. This conditional baptism is done with the understanding that if the person is already baptised, there is no intention to rebaptise.
Some individuals who leave the Catholic Church and join another denomination may feel compelled to seek rebaptism, especially if they were baptised as infants and want to make a personal commitment. However, this is generally discouraged, as it is seen as a rejection of the grace given in the original baptism. The decision to rebaptise in such cases is made by a priest under the advisement of a bishop.
The practice of rebaptism is more common among certain denominations, such as the Anabaptists, Baptists, and Churches of Christ, who rebaptise those baptised as infants because they believe that infant baptism is not valid. Other groups, like the Jehovah's Witnesses, do not recognise previous baptisms conducted by other denominations.
In conclusion, while rebaptism is not a common practice in the Catholic Church, it may be considered in rare cases where the validity of the original baptism is doubtful. The decision to rebaptise is made by church authorities and is not a choice left to the individual. For those transitioning from Catholicism to another denomination, seeking rebaptism may be discouraged as it could be seen as a rejection of their previous grace.
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Lutheranism and infant baptism
Lutheranism, a denomination of Christianity, upholds infant baptism as a sacrament that brings the baptised person into the church community. This is based on the interpretation that Jesus' command to "make disciples of all nations" includes people of all ages, with no exceptions. Additionally, Peter's instruction to "repent and be baptised every one of you" is understood to include children, as it mentions "your children".
Lutheranism also teaches that baptism is not a human work, but God's work, and is one of the means of grace through which God gives salvation. This is supported by Scripture, which teaches that people are conceived in sin and that infants are in a position to receive the Gospel. Thus, infant baptism is seen as a way to bring infants into the church community and offer them salvation.
However, some critics argue that infants are not sinners and that baptism is not necessary for salvation, as people are saved by Jesus, not by baptism. Lutherans respond to this by explaining that baptism is not a human work but a means of grace through which God delivers salvation. They also believe that faith must be nurtured after baptism, and if it is not, people can fall away from the faith, regardless of when they were baptised.
When a person is baptised as an infant, they typically undergo a period of formal Christian education around middle school age. During this time, they can explore their beliefs and decide if they want to continue as members of the church. If they choose to remain, they participate in a ceremony called "Affirmation of Baptism," where they publicly take responsibility for their life and learning as Christians. This ceremony is not rebaptism but a confirmation of their membership in the congregation.
Rebaptism is generally not practised in Lutheranism, as the initial baptism is considered valid and effective, regardless of the age of the individual being baptised. This belief is supported by writings such as Luther's "Concerning Rebaptism," which emphasises the validity of infant baptism and addresses the errors of Anabaptist teachings that promote rebaptism.
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Confirmation in Catholicism
Confirmation is one of the seven sacraments in the Catholic Church and is also one of the three sacraments of initiation into the Catholic Church, the other two being Baptism and First Communion. Confirmation is a Catholic Sacrament of mature Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is evident from its celebration that the effect of the sacrament of Confirmation is the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
The essential rite of Confirmation is the anointing with Sacred Chrism (oil mixed with balsam and consecrated by the bishop), which is done by the laying on of the hand of the minister. In the West, this anointing is done on the forehead of the baptized with the words, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”. In the Eastern Catholic Church, priests are those who normally administer the Chrismation with holy Myron, and this sacrament can be administered conjointly with baptism.
Confirmation can be given any time after the age of reason (about seven years old). The Latin Rite of the Church waits to offer Confirmation and Eucharist until the age of reason, which emphasizes the free choice to receive these sacraments as well as the free choice to live out the Christian faith. However, the Catechism of the Catholic Church warns:
> "Although Confirmation is sometimes called the 'sacrament of Christian maturity,' we must not confuse adult faith with the adult age of natural growth, nor forget that the baptismal grace is a grace of free, unmerited election and does not need 'ratification' to become effective."
Confirmation is God strengthening the gifts He gave in baptism. While baptism makes one a member of the Church, confirmation draws one further in. While in baptism, God adopts one as His beloved daughter or son, confirmation roots one more deeply in divine filiation. While in baptism one is blessed to be one who hears and speaks God's word, confirmation commissions one to spread the Gospel.
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Different denominations' views on rebaptism
Rebaptism in Christianity refers to the baptism of a person who has already been baptized, usually when they join a new denomination that does not recognize their previous baptism. When a denomination rebaptizes members of another denomination, it highlights significant differences in theology.
Roman Catholics
The Catholic Church accepts most baptisms carried out by other denominations as valid, provided that the baptism was performed using water and the words "I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" (or equivalent). However, if there are doubts about the validity of a previous baptism, an examination of the matter may be conducted, and if the validity remains doubtful, baptism may be conferred after explaining the doctrine of the sacrament to the person being baptized.
Lutheran
Lutheran denominations, such as the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, generally accept Catholic baptisms as valid. For example, in the case of a Lutheran-Catholic couple, the Catholic partner may only need to make a general confession to receive the Eucharist in a Lutheran church. Additionally, Luther, the Protestant reformer, wrote about rebaptism, arguing against the Anabaptists' claim that infant baptism is invalid. He asserted that faith goes beyond what we have personally witnessed or remember witnessing.
Protestant
Major mainstream Protestant denominations often follow similar rules to Catholics and accept Catholic and most other Protestant baptisms. However, Protestant denominations that exclusively practice adult baptism, such as Baptists and Churches of Christ, typically consider infant baptisms invalid and require rebaptism for those baptized as infants. This is not a rejection of all other denominations' baptisms, as adult baptisms are usually accepted.
Orthodox
The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) typically chrismates rather than rebaptizes converts. However, some Orthodox churches, like ROCOR (the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia), do practice rebaptism. Historically, the Greek Orthodox Church rebaptized Catholics, but this practice has changed, and they no longer insist on rebaptizing Catholics.
Restorationist
Restorationist churches, including the Latter-Day Saints and Jehovah's Witnesses, generally consider all other baptisms invalid. They will baptize any new convert, regardless of previous baptism. The Latter-Day Saints practice rebaptism for previous members who were excommunicated or resigned and are rejoining the church. Jehovah's Witnesses do not recognize any baptisms conducted by other denominations.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Catholics do not need to be rebaptised when converting to Lutheranism. The Catholic Church recognises the validity of Lutheran baptisms, and vice versa.
The Catholic Church recognises the validity of baptisms performed in non-Catholic communities if they are administered using the Trinitarian formula. This formula involves pouring water over the candidate's head and saying, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Baptism is a significant ritual in Christianity, as it represents the incorporation of an individual into the Church and seals them with an indelible spiritual mark of belonging to Christ. This mark is believed to be permanent and cannot be erased by sin.
