Baptism validity question

Tartini · #1 Apr 1, '10, 12:06 pm

How does one explain that a baptism is valid using the Trinitarian formula? I get several objections from protestants that only the Name of Jesus is valid. And of course that immersion is also the only way.

They insist that I am not baptised and "urge" me to leave the Catholic Church as soon as possible and join theirs...

Thanks for any comments.

**puzzleannie** · #2 Apr 1, '10, 12:23 pm

what part of Christ commanded his apostles before he ascended into heaven to go into the whole world preaching the gospel and baptizing in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit don't they understand? for them to have the utter arrogance to place their prefrence and intepretation over the command of the Lord himself, and of the Church he founded, tells you all you need to know.

Tartini · #3 Apr 1, '10, 12:32 pm

To clarify a point, I forgot to mention that these particular protestants do not believe in the Trinity, but believe Catholics worship 3 gods......this could explain a great deal of the problem. It is very difficult to try to explain to them in simple terms.

**jmcrae** · #4 Apr 1, '10, 12:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tartini

To clarify a point, I forgot to mention that these particular protestants do not believe in the Trinity, but believe Catholics worship 3 gods......this could explain a great deal of the problem. It is very difficult to try to explain to them in simple terms.

If they don't believe that Jesus is God, then how is it that they believe that baptizing in the name of Jesus would have any effect whatsoever, regardless of immersion, pouring, sprinkling, or wishing really hard?

joandarc2008 · #5 Apr 1, '10, 1:05 pm

Oh - and don't forget they don't use Holy Water - they will often use a pool or whatever. Even my eleven year old stepdaughter had the good sense to tell her aunt and uncle who are Protestants (politely) No, thanks, I am fine wiht my baptism rather than get dunked in a pool and call it a baptism.

Moscati · #6 Apr 1, '10, 1:10 pm

Those are some strange Protestants . . . Jehovah's Witnesses, maybe? There's not very many out there that deny the Trinity (even those who practice rebaptism, in my experience, believe in the Trinity. It's a profession of faith thing for them.) Do they have a name?