| Sacraments |
|
| |
sac·ra·ment –noun | 1. | Ecclesiastical. a visible sign of an inward grace, esp. one of the solemn Christian rites considered to have been instituted by Jesus Christ to symbolize or confer grace: the sacraments of the Protestant churches are baptism and the Lord's Supper; the sacraments of the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches are baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, matrimony, penance, holy orders, and extreme unction. |
| 2. | (often initial capital letter ) Also called Holy Sacrament. the Eucharist or Lord's Supper. |
| 3. | the consecrated elements of the Eucharist, esp. the bread. |
| 4. | something regarded as possessing a sacred character or mysterious significance. |
| 5. | a sign, token, or symbol. |
| 6. | an oath; solemn pledge. |
I have alot of trouble understanding the sacraments. I know that most Christian churches recognize only the sacraments of Baptism and Communion.
But what I don't understand is why in the Lutheran church infants are allowed to be baptized, while to receiving Communion requires someone to go through a class, or be of a certain age.
I also really don't understand the arguement for infant baptism, I'm aware of some of the arguements, yet I still don't really grasp the concept.
Some of the arguements include:
The Great Commission said "all nations" which includes all ages.
Acts 16:15, 16:33, 1 Corinthians 1:16 both speak of households being baptized which may or may not include infants.
Also, it is said that Baptism replaced circumcision.
The arguements for Believer's Baptism include:
Acts 2:38, 2:41, 8:12, 18:8 Galatians 3:27- Are all examples saying repent and be baptized, or they believed and were baptized. And that Baptism is to conform in Christ.
Now I'm not saying that one is wrong or right, I don't really think one is wrong or right. I just want to make sense of the whole thing.
Now Martin Luther said "When Jesus Christ directed his apostles to go and instruct and baptize all nations, he meant not that children should be excluded; the apostles were to baptize all the Gentiles, young or old, great or small. The baptism of children is distinctly enjoined in Mark x. 14: 'The kingdom of God is of little children.'"
The verse says, "When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.'
But I don't see a connection between this passage and Baptism. Baptism isn't a "Get out of Hell Free" card. It is an outward symbol of what Jesus Christ has done on the inside. It is being buried with Him, dying with Him, and being raised with Him.
The only real arguement I have against Baptism being the new circumcision is that Jesus never said Baptism was a covenent. Circumcision and Communion are both covenents made by God, and it seems more accurate that Communion would be the new blood covenent with God. Since circumcision was a covenent in our blood, and Communion is a covenent in Jesus' blood.
I really don't know, but I'm trying to figure it out. |
|
back to top
