Baptism

[Bustem' Down]

I think you should fly to Houston and have Little Man baptised by Joel Osteen at Lakewood Church. They're non-denominational

Seriously, though, any non-denominational church will do. But I would advise him to at least attend a few services. For one, they're very inspiring and uplifting. For two, (and this is just my opinion) it's a very personal thing to dedicate yourself to Christ and he would probably feel more secure about it if it were a minister he knows and trusts, not just some stranger on the street.

I used to live in Houston and been by that church many times. Make sure you get a map at the door or you'll never get out. It huge!

 

[buddy999]

I'm one of the "mean" mommies who never allowed my children to believe in Santa.

I don't go to church, but I have raised my children to believe in Jesus. My eldest has become an agnostic, but now my youngest is wanting to be baptized. The least I can do is to find out how to do this. He's a very studious child (as is my daughter) and informed me that he can change his denomination at any time in the future. At this point, he is not denominational, and he does not want to attend a non-denominational church. He wants to be baptized. He's a funny little guy. When we say our prayer at bedtime he says "Ahmen" and I say "Aymen"...so we say it twice.

If I walked into the church across the street, would the minister/priest/pastor/cleric baptize him because he wants that, or will they try to "sell" him something that he does not need/want?

I would do some research on some different religions, then provide him with some basic information about each one. Let him study the information and then ask him which faith he would like to be baptized.

After doing that, then you can search out a pastor / priest in whatever religion he's selected. This way, it's his choice. If he decides later he wants to convert to a different faith, he can do that also.

 

[itsbob]

I think you should fly to Houston and have Little Man baptised by Joel Osteen at Lakewood Church. They're non-denominational

Seriously, though, any non-denominational church will do. But I would advise him to at least attend a few services. For one, they're very inspiring and uplifting. For two, (and this is just my opinion) it's a very personal thing to dedicate yourself to Christ and he would probably feel more secure about it if it were a minister he knows and trusts, not just some stranger on the street.

Oh yeah, Joel Olsteen, living proof that religion isn't about making money, and seperating the fools from theirs.

 

[vraiblonde]

Oh yeah, Joel Olsteen, living proof that religion isn't about making money, and seperating the fools from theirs.

Who cares? His sermons are very motivational and inspirational. I think that's worth a few bucks. Hell, I pay good money to go to a movie and don't get near out of it that I do from Joel Osteen's sermons.

:shrug:

 

[Bustem' Down]

Who cares? His sermons are very motivational and inspirational. I think that's worth a few bucks. Hell, I pay good money to go to a movie and don't get near out of it that I do from Joel Osteen's sermons.

:shrug:

Speaking from an atheist point of view, some of his sermons are good. He does one of TV that hardly speaks of god at all. It's just a "be a good human talk".

 

[itsbob]

Who cares? His sermons are very motivational and inspirational. I think that's worth a few bucks. Hell, I pay good money to go to a movie and don't get near out of it that I do from Joel Osteen's sermons.

:shrug:

He presents himself as a servant of God, as he shears his flock of their money. He does not present himself as what he really is, a charismatic entertainer.

You have old ladies sitting in their homes with no heat, and most likely eating dogfood, all the while sending people like him most of their money so they too can buy eternal life and happiness in the life hereafter.

A term I heard many years ago, it's called "priestcraft" doing God's work not for humainty, not for the saving of souls, but for money. It too is an unforgivable sin.

 

[virgovictoria]

Unfortunately, I have experienced, first hand, newborns turned away from being baptised - in the Catholic church, where the parents where not married, practicing, both Catholic or did not have Godparent representation to ensure proper guidance.

Religions seem to be approached in so many ways, that if a young man simply wants to make peace with his soul while he finds his path, I will feel truly ashamed for our societies that wouldn't allow him to do so. Especially when so many turn away from God, Christianity and Spirituality...

I hope he finds the appropriate and suiting environment, so that it doesn't spoil his endeavors...

 

[virgovictoria]

He presents himself as a servant of God, as he shears his flock of their money. He does not present himself as what he really is, a charismatic entertainer.

You have old ladies sitting in their homes with no heat, and most likely eating dogfood, all the while sending people like him most of their money so they too can buy eternal life and happiness in the life hereafter.

A term I heard many years ago, it's called "priestcraft" doing God's work not for humainty, not for the saving of souls, but for money. It too is an unforgivable sin.

Just yesterday, I was visiting a friend in the hospital... Eucharistic ministers were offering communion to Catholics and the gal that engaged my friend's room had entered into discussion with her... She was telling the lady about her upbringing, but that she did not practice anymore and that she had not gone to confession in decades... therefore could not receive communion, yada, yada, yada...

Apparently, the offerant was talking to her about sins and that there were only two unforgiveable sins: 1) Killing the Pope and 2) Having more than one abortion....

 

[itsbob]

Just yesterday, I was visiting a friend in the hospital... Eucharistic ministers were offering communion to Catholics and the gal that engaged my friend's room had entered into discussion with her... She was telling the lady about her upbringing, but that she did not practice anymore and that she had not gone to confession in decades... therefore could not receive communion, yada, yada, yada...

Apparently, the offerant was talking to her about sins and that there were only two unforgiveable sins: 1) Killing the Pope and 2) Having more than one abortion....

WOW!! Pretty lenient church.. since her five kids were already living breathing humans, I guess Andrea Yates has a place in heaven too!!

 

[Qurious]

I was baptized at 13 and it was the biggest mistake of my life. I did it to please family and those in the church not realizing when I turned 18 all the stuff I didnt know because I was out to show how much I loved God. I didnt realize what it meant to actually dedicate your life to God...because that what a baptism is....

Kids that young need to know the full requirements at that time what it is to be a Christian...not a 1/2 assed Christian either.

Thats why im totally against babies getting baptized at birth. Your committing a child to a life of God when they have no clue whats in store for them.

 

[virgovictoria]

WOW!! Pretty lenient church.. since her five kids were already living breathing humans, I guess Andrea Yates has a place in heaven too!!

EXACTLY!!!!

 

[jazz lady]

Apparently, the offerant was talking to her about sins and that there were only two unforgiveable sins: 1) Killing the Pope and 2) Having more than one abortion....

So having one abortion is fine but more than that is unforgiveable? That I find very strange. Is it a "yes, everyone can screw up once and have an abortion but don't let it happen again else you'll burn in hell" sort of thing?

 

[itsbob]

So having one abortion is fine but more than that is unforgiveable? That I find very strange. Is it a "yes, everyone can screw up once and have an abortion but don't let it happen again else you'll burn in hell" sort of thing?

like the implication of, you can murder anyone you want, and as many as you want, as long as you don't kill the pope!!

 

[virgovictoria]

So having one abortion is fine but more than that is unforgiveable? That I find very strange. Is it a "yes, everyone can screw up once and have an abortion but don't let it happen again else you'll burn in hell" sort of thing?

We were both absolutely and totally floored.

I was making jokes about someone sitting, "The Thinker" style, coming up with this shiat.... Making addendums.... Crossing things out with their holy pencil... And then the Pope said, "Hey, don't forget about me!!!"

 

[2ndAmendment]

Just yesterday, I was visiting a friend in the hospital... Eucharistic ministers were offering communion to Catholics and the gal that engaged my friend's room had entered into discussion with her... She was telling the lady about her upbringing, but that she did not practice anymore and that she had not gone to confession in decades... therefore could not receive communion, yada, yada, yada...

Apparently, the offerant was talking to her about sins and that there were only two unforgiveable sins: 1) Killing the Pope and 2) Having more than one abortion....

Amazing how people, even priests, ministers, and pastors, don't know what the Bible says. There is only one unpardonable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 12:30-32

30"He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

31"Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven.

32"Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

 

[itsbob]

Amazing how people, even priests, ministers, and pastors, don't know what the Bible says. There is only one unpardonable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

SO Hitler has a place in heaven sitting next to God, and Lenin, and Marx?? The people that turned the gas valves on in the showers at Dachau and Auschwitz? As along as they prayed after they were ok?

How about Jeffrey Dahmer, or the sex ofender that killed the little girl? They all get to enjoy eternal life sitting at the right hand of God? I mean as long as they didn't say anything bad about the Holy Spirit right?

 

[virgovictoria]

SO Hitler has a place in heaven sitting next to God, and Lenin, and Marx?? The people that turned the gas valves on in the showers at Dachau and Auschwitz? As along as they prayed after they were ok?

How about Jeffrey Dahmer, or the sex ofender that killed the little girl? They all get to enjoy eternal life sitting at the right hand of God? I mean as long as they didn't say anything bad about the Holy Spirit right?

or, kill the Pope...

 

[morganj614]

Amazing how people, even priests, ministers, and pastors, don't know what the Bible says. There is only one unpardonable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.

People have faith, but it's their chosen religion that dictates what that faith believes in.

 

[2ndAmendment]

I was baptized at 13 and it was the biggest mistake of my life. I did it to please family and those in the church not realizing when I turned 18 all the stuff I didnt know because I was out to show how much I loved God. I didnt realize what it meant to actually dedicate your life to God...because that what a baptism is....

Kids that young need to know the full requirements at that time what it is to be a Christian...not a 1/2 assed Christian either.

Thats why im totally against babies getting baptized at birth. Your committing a child to a life of God when they have no clue whats in store for them.

Actually, no one, including parents, can commit anyone else to what it really means to be baptized. Baptism is only an outward symbol of a change in spirit and attitude. Without the change in spirit and attitude, the act of pouring water over or dunking someone is meaningless. A person yielding their own will to the will of God is what baptism is. It is a very serious matter. It is a symbol of the a relationship between the person and God. No one can enter into a relationship for someone else.

Babies do not have responsibility or the ability to reason or make a choice. That is the reason baptism of babies is for the parent sake and not for the child and is meaningless to the child. Baby dedications, on the other hand, are Biblical. A baby dedication is a commitment by the parents to raise the baby with the knowledge of Jesus. At some point, as the child grows older, they come to know what a relationship is, what love is, that point is different for each person. At that time is when the person, child or adult, should be baptized; when it is their own choice, their own decision, to enter into a relationship with God.

Wenchy's son, even though only nine, seems to be ready. At least his reason for wanting to be baptized is the right one.

 

[2ndAmendment]

SO Hitler has a place in heaven sitting next to God, and Lenin, and Marx?? The people that turned the gas valves on in the showers at Dachau and Auschwitz? As along as they prayed after they were ok?

How about Jeffrey Dahmer, or the sex ofender that killed the little girl? They all get to enjoy eternal life sitting at the right hand of God? I mean as long as they didn't say anything bad about the Holy Spirit right?

or, kill the Pope...

I don't know. Did they repent of their sins before they died and accept the forgiveness of God? Had they blasphemed against the Holy Spirit? I don't know the answer to those questions. I do know what Jesus said to the thief on the cross.

The tendencies of people do not normally change. The scene from the movie with Stallone, Stone, and Steiger, The Specialist, at the end where Joe Leon (Steiger) gets the letter sent by Stone's character is probably typical of people that believe in God as "insurance." Joe thinks that Stallone and Stone are dead from a newspaper and looks up and says, "You are a good God." Then he opens the letter from Stone and there is a locket in it. He opens it and it beeps. Joe looks up and says, "You bastardo." Joe reverted to who he really was just before dying. I think people do in real life, too. From what I have been told the most common phrases on NTSB voice recordings of fatal air crashes are "Oh XXXX" and "Jesus (God) help me." We are who we are.