On infant baptism and the “stretched out” Confirmation process: I went through both, and I thank God I did.

I hear your objections, which I agree with a little but not as a whole.

What does the Church mean by Baptism? Does it represent a personal commitment, which an infant obviously can’t make? Some people say yes, and one respects them for making an adult commitment; but the Catholic Church, from the earliest times to today, has never seen baptism that way. If you’re searching for the Early Church, then go to the Early Church.

Instead Baptism is a way of marking and claiming a soul as one of us, belonging to Christ. That’s why I’m grateful to God for marking me out as the merest child. Doesn’t it make sense that my soul would benefit from the prayers the congregation said that day, based on my parents’ decision and their commitment to Christ? Would you have me not receive the soul’s benefits, even though I was just a boy?

The baptism of infants is an initiation rite, the public declaration of an intention to bring up a child for the Lord. (The public nature of it, to me, is pretty important.)

Your Churches of Christ are right to assert that when that child grows up, s/he faces her own decision to continue on the Way. For just this reason, the Church provides not only a solemn ceremony, but a time of preparation before Confirmation. You’re not just “joining the church”; I mean, here today, gone tomorrow, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Instead we require a period of education, of instruction, of question-asking, to help the person make the adult decision. I still remember my Confirmation classes (I’m 57); I very much remember the excitement and nervousness of having the bishop come to confirm our class. I can tell you the date it happened, exactly 38 years to the day from your post. I can tell you the date of my first Communion (in those days kids weren’t allowed to communicate without Confirmation). I know the bishop’s name and I can picture his face that day. I was excited about it, because he only came once a year – for the express purpose of confirming ex-infants and converts.

I was 19 that day, up in front of everyone, my name proclaimed aloud so heaven could hear it too. I will never forget it. And I so look forward to seeing that bishop again in paradise.

I’ll save a discussion on the authority of the episcopate for another time; but I very much like that we elect them, they’re not imposed upon us from on high. It’s one of many reasons I can only be an Episcopalian.

Dude, we got Gays ‘n’ everything!

Josh
dailyoffice.org

Regardless, this doesn’t make up for those colicky baby-faces that apparently serve as Takahashi’s character models.

Final Grade: A+

i <3 objection 5!