Barth On Baptism

4 Pages 879 Words

“Karl Barth on Infant Baptism”

The sacrament of infant baptism is scrutinized and debated all over the world. The debate consists of many different viewpoints on what we are doing, why we are doing it, and when we are administering the sacrament. Ministers must ask themselves more questions about the meaning of baptism than they could answer. If they were to look for guidance from theologians they would find a great deal of confusion and would certainly fine themselves in a very lively discussion.
In the New Testament, there is no reference on the baptism of infants. However, does not forbid the practice or condone it (McGrath 528). In the Jewish faith, newborn boys are circumcised to enter into the jewish faith. This rite of passage may have sparked an interest among Christians to baptize their young sooner to become a member into the Christian community. Another reason infant baptism became a staple practice was because entire families may have been baptized all at the same time. This proved to be acceptable for both infants and adults to be baptized. The question arises about whether or not baptism should be a choice later on in one’s life or whether one’s parents should make that choice for you to rid you from retaining the original sin one is born with.
Theologian Karl Barth has greatly scrutized the practice of infant baptism in more recent times (McGrath 528). He states:
It is without biblical foundation. All of the evidence points to infant baptism having become the norm in the post-apostolic period, not the period of the new testament itself.
(McGrath 529)

Barth is looking for affirmations from the bible that is not there. Every single question dealing with the processes of Christianity cannot be answered in looking in the depths of the bible. Yes, the bible is the word of God, but it did create a foundation for the sacrament of baptism. Now whether or not it points out when in one’s l...