Joni's baptism

I baptised Joni at home since we are currently members of a Baptist church, and Baptist churches will not baptise babies.

Baptists practice "believers' baptism" which means that they will not baptise babies because the baby is too young to understand enough to believe for themselves.

Most other Christians -- Anglicans, Methodists, Lutherans, Catholics, Orthodox, Reformed, Presbyterians, etc. -- baptise babies because babies born in Christian families are considered part of the Christian community, and also because we believe that baptism is a sacrament -- something holy which God does -- while Baptists believe that it is purely symbolic.

However, I consider this point (sacramental vs symbolic) a belief of secondary importance. This is why I am happy to be a member of a Baptist church in spite of my disagreement about this. I believe that our unity in Christ is more important than these secondary issues.

Please feel free to ask me if you are puzzled by this difference, or why I believe in the sacramental view.

Click on the photo above for the other photos of the event, as well as the liturgy I used for the baptism.