I want to be baptized, but my parents don’t think it is necessary
Question:
I lost a lot of my faith recently due to the fact that I realized baby baptism doesn't count and nothing that I did concerning God counted. I can't even be baptized again yet because my parents don't think it's necessary after infant baptism, so I don't know what to do. I could have my Christian stepbrother do it, but my parents don't trust him because he just started driving, so we can't go anywhere to do it, like a lake, and I don't know if he'd be up to it. It might be awkward, or I don't know if he knows how to do it. I read one of the posts that was similar to this, you said for the young woman to decide between her dad and Jesus. That's a little hard on a 13-year-old girl and I am only 14, so I'm stuck. Trust me, I want to regain my faith, and I try, but now it just sounds unrealistic when I read the Bible. This is how bad my faith was lost -- to the point of an agnostic's knowledge on this, so I'm pretty bummed out.
It would be nice if you could explain this all to me. I really need this. Thank you so much.
By the way, if your wondering, I used to be really faithful.
Answer:
How is it a loss of faith, if you learned more about what God wants you to do? "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). You might have lost trust in some denomination, but you've gained trust in God.
What you need to do is talk to a preacher in your area. He can then talk with your parents about what the Bible actually teaches concerning salvation if they are willing to listen. Since you say that your step-brother is a Christian (and I assume that he is in the real sense of the word), then he knows someone you can talk to.
While you see yourself stuck at the moment, you won't be 14 forever. Make every effort you can and learn as much as you can. God will find a way to help you. I suspect that the problem is more that your parents don't truly believe that this is important to you. As Christ said, sometimes a child has to go against a parent in order to do what is right. "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple" (Luke 14:26). Jesus is not talking about an angry type of hatred, but a contrast in priorities. God has to come so far first in your love for Him that your love for your family looks like hatred in comparison.
Question:
If I was baptized as a child, will God hear my prayer that I want another opportunity to be baptized for the right reasons? I get nervous about this. What if it's not answered? That would ruin my faith. God says you should be baptized immediately, but I'm 14, and I don't know how I would get an opportunity to be baptized again if my father is against it. I just don't see an opening for a chance for this to happen which I really want.
Thanks again.
Answer:
"The LORD is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous" (Proverbs 15:29). Whether God hears your prayers is a matter of your attitude toward sin, not whether you are a Christian yet or not. After all, God listened to the prayers of Cornelius when Cornelius was a Gentile. "There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God" (Acts 10:1-4). Cornelius wasn't saved at this time, but God made sure that Cornelius has the opportunity to be saved.
If you were in my neighborhood, it wouldn't be that difficult of a matter. Not knowing where you are, I don't know if there is a faithful church you could visit to be baptized. But I do know that God will make sure the opportunity is eventually there. So keep praying and keep your eyes open for an opportunity. I knew, years ago, one boy who ended up moving out of his house just so he could become a Christian. I hope you won't have to make such a difficult choice, but when you put the Lord first, things have a way of working themselves out.
