Paedo-Baptism Answers Rebaptism in Hungary

[Cornelius Van Halen]

Greetings!

I'm currently serving in Hungary and was posed a question by a friend who is seeking to understand infant baptism. While I have a perspective on the answer, the question is just unique enough that I felt it would be wise to seek "an abundance of counselors," Proverbs 11:25; 15:22; 24:6.

The context - unbelieving parents will have their children baptized for the sole purpose of being allowed to attend Christian schools, which are typically better. Therefore, the parents are not Christians, the children are not raised as Christians, and they don't fellowship at the church except once a month to check off a requirement for the school. That once-a-month visit is typically to the church that baptized them, which is problematic on its own. Finally, the schools, although Christian, are typically as theologically liberal as the church that baptized the child.

It would be nearly impossible to investigate the baptism of such a person to ascertain if it was a water baptism, done in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Would you recognize such a baptism?

Unfortunately, since this is a hypothetical question, I do not believe I can supply many more details.

Thank you in advance!

p.s. Any reading recommendations regarding rebaptism would also be appreciated - I've just read Turretin.

 

[Contra_Mundum]

We are unable to investigate untold numbers of baptisms, for making such evaluations. We must accept the testimony--either of the baptized, or when processing transfers and the like the testimony of a church body.

Many people have taken baptism on themselves or their children, for wrong reasons; and churches have done the same. Usually, unless there is reason to call the occasion into question (the reason itself might vary), we say the baptism is valid, though possibly irregular. Was the baptism administered by the church, even a poor expression of it yet still recognizable?

 

[Cornelius Van Halen]

We are unable to investigate untold numbers of baptisms, for making such evaluations. We must accept the testimony--either of the baptized, or when processing transfers and the like the testimony of a church body.

Many people have taken baptism on themselves or their children, for wrong reasons; and churches have done the same. Usually, unless there is reason to call the occasion into question (the reason itself might vary), we say the baptism is valid, though possibly irregular. Was the baptism administered by the church, even a poor expression of it yet still recognizable?

Thanks, this is helpful and confirming.

There's an emotional element of someone who was baptized in such a fashion desiring to be baptized at their conversion that I need to be prepared for - both in conviction and communication.