What does it mean to "Evangelize" for a Catholic if conversion starts at baptism?

[dcarollo]

Hi All --- get back to this discussion....

Let me see if I can summarize this --- and especially in regard to infant baptism:

We know that without God taking the initiative in our salvation (and his grace conferred on us), man is unable to respond appropriately in faith to him by our OWN efforts alone. Essentially because our eyes our "blinded". This is why we need grace --- which is precisely what the COuncil of Orange stated (in response to the heresy of Pelagianism)

http://reformed.org/documents/canons_of_orange.html

Presumably: Calvinists believe it is God's arbitrary "election" that removes those blinders -- so that they can then believe (except, I'm not sure I understand the logic that the "Elect" STILL must beleve, and respond in faith. That doesn't seem to square either with the ideas of "Irresistable Grace" and "Perseverance" of the elect).

Catholics believe that for infants (or children unable to commit ACTUAL, personal) sin, the "blinders" are essentially removed by baptism.

Is this accurate?


I WAS, in fact, baptized as an infant in the Lutheran church --- and yet, I lived a life of pretty active sin in my teen years, with little awareness of God in my life.

At age 18, I made a commitment of faith and essentially "gave my life over" to Christ. Some might say the reason I was able to even respond in faith to God was because of my initial baptism. Perhaps: And yet, I'm pretty sure there are many out there who "come to faith" in God without having been first baptized as an infant.

So -- I guess I can agree that baptism is "normative" for all people to be saved -- and yet, based on the stories of many people out there ---- MANY come to Christ in the "extraordinary way" by simply "repenting and asking Jesus into their lives" (although, Protestants would call this the "ordinary way".

[klm120861]

In infants, Baptism removes the stain of Original Sin. In catechumens, (unbaptized adults who are becoming Catholic) it removes the stain of all sin- Original and Actual. In most Protestant traditons, Baptism is "an outward symbol of an inward transformation or change." It is not necessary for salvation, the way the Catechism teaches. However, as long as the Protestant Baptism was only performed once in a person's life and was done "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit", it is considered a valid Baptism by the Catholic Church. In the Protestant world, Baptism is often seen as the end. From there all you have to do is go to church and you're okay. In the Catholic Church, Baptism is just the beginning. I've been writing a blog that posts three days a week going through the Catechism, explaining some of the differences between the Catholic Church and the Protestant tradition. It's found at www.explorefaith.blog.com. I have covered already the Nicene Creed and the liturgy. Beginning next week I will be posting on the Sacraments, beginning with Baptism.
Kris