Bible Discussion Thread

Earl Bowman ,i cannot even get my head around your question never mind answer it ,this is because i do not agree with or believe in child / baby baptism , for me ,and many others here in the uk , baptism by immersion is only for people who are old enough to understand its significance and appreciate what an enormous step it is , it is a washing away of all previous sins ,it is a confession of faith ,it is a lifelong commitment ,it is an unbreakable contract and it should only be entered into by some one old enough to fully appreciate its enormous significance ,it is a declaration ,before witnesses ,of love and a desire to be obidient ,an acknowledgement of the need for forgiveness and reconciliation ,yes ,its symbolic but its not irrelevant symbolism ,its symbolism in the same way marriage is ,it means i dont belong to me or this world any more ,its shows my desire not to belong to me , its enormously significant and its sanctioned by Christ , 2nd Kings ch5 v1-14 ,of all the many things in the Bible for people to debate this was one thing i took for granted that we would all understand ,i am astounded to discover that i was wrong , i do not know any congregation in the uk that would accept a new member without requiring proof of previous adult baptism or actual baptism by that congregation except perhaps catholics .