What is baptism?
In the modern sense, the baptism is a Christian ritual or a sacrament symbolizing the purification of sins or other spiritual impurities. After baptism, Christian believers are welcomed to the church body as sanctified by members. Most ceremonies include the use of water, although different Christian denominations have different methods of baptism of congregants. Some clergy will sprinkle with water on infants, while others prefer to fully immerse an adult candidate in a water body.
The concept actually precedes Christianity. The Greek word for baptism has no religious connotations. He described the images or soaking in the sense of a sinking ship or piece of substance submerged in a dye. There is another Greek word, roughly speaking raptizo , which is said to indicate sprinkling or pouring. This difference between crust and raptizo has some influence on modern Christian ritusual.
Some sects in Judaism also practiced the form of baptism before the arrival of Jesus Christ. BasisThe concept of purification of the spiritual body is similar to the modern Christian ritual, but also very different. When John the Baptist began to perform his own baptism rituals, it was in line with the existing Jewish practice. When Jesus Christ arrived at the Jordan River, John the Baptist acknowledged the difference between his own symbolic ritual and the future baptism of the Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
When Christianity grew in popularity, the sacrament of infant baptism has become a vital element in the Catholic Church. During this ritual ordered priest sprinkled a few drops of holy water over the baby's head or placed a few drops on the forehead. The infant ceremony is accompanied by specific values Scripture, along with reactions between priest, parents and choir. It is assumed that the baptism of the infant followed the bond between the child and God, which leads to a blessed life as a new creature.
Protestant denomination withIt differs very much in this matter. Some of the older denominations, such as Lutheans and the bishops, still practice baptism of infants as a form of sanctification. Others, such as ordinary Baptists and Methodists, also accepted the practice of adult rituals with complete immersion, but also maintained some forms of infant baptism. Many charismatic churches emphasize the importance of adult baptism as a necessary part of the overall Personal Salvation Plan. In these denominations, the ritual is monitored by the act of repentance as a form of spiritual death, funeral and resurrection.
Some of the differences between Christian denominations above the received form of baptism are the original language of the New Testament Scripture. Those denominations prefer spraying or pouring believe that the original Greek translations used the word raptizo , which means sprinkling. Others say that the word was Baptizo , suggesting complete immersion. This has led to several divisions in the Christian Church, based on non -confidentials ordered by God.
Another discussion of ritual is the age of responsibility. Some Christian denominations believe that the child should be baptized as soon as possible so that he can live his life without the stain of man's sin. Others believe that it has no spiritual meaning until the candidate reaches the age of responsibility, usually at the age of 12. The baptism of adults through full immersion is considered an act committed by someone who truly understands his sinful nature. Infants do not have such understanding, so they are protected by God's grace.
The sacrament of baptism, regardless of the form it has, is a tangible act of offspring, which provides the recipient's feeling of renewed purpose and determination.