tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9632072.post115712541413334000..comments2023-09-25T09:37:40.536-07:00Comments on kairos : kisses: A Theology Of [God]parentsAndrew Dowsetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05417088521258450446noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9632072.post-1157663081971546802006-09-07T14:04:00.000-07:002006-09-07T14:04:00.000-07:00Hey Ben!You can't baptise a baby in November in Fi...Hey Ben!<BR/><BR/>You can't baptise a baby in November in Finland anyway - all the water is frozen solid...I guess you get a window of opportunity each July, and that's it for another year ;-)<BR/><BR/>On fathers baptising their own children: I think I'm inclined to agree with you in principle; but in practice I belong to a Church tradition (Anglican) in which ordained priests baptise, and, whatever I think personally, I choose to submit myself to my community. That's the default position.<BR/><BR/>The same is true for Lutherans...and were it not for the fact that you feel God's specific lead to do differently, I'd suggest the same choice of submission. But...in general my counsel to anyone would be, always respond in faith whenever you - in the context of a community to which you are accountable, who will help you weigh your hearing - sense God's voice. Some people put various (other) caveats on that, but I'm cautious of caveats: one might be, "so long as it doesn't contradict scripture"...but then, God's telling Peter to kill and eat unclean animals contradicted scripture...<BR/><BR/>It seems to me that one aspect of prophetic acts - and I'd say you have a prophetic gifting - is a holy rule-breaking; a shedding of specific traditions of our faith community in order to remain true to our faith, our response to God (such as the Peter example above).<BR/><BR/>If the opposition you mention is from within the group to whom you are directly accountable, I'd suggest you ask God to bring you into a unity of view, one way or the other. If the opposition is from the wider tradition (i.e. this is not the Lutheran way), perhaps you have to take that prophetic stand - which is always lonely and draws out opposition from within God's people...<BR/><BR/>Whatever decision you reach, God be with you and your family!Andrew Dowsetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05417088521258450446noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9632072.post-1157654944107616782006-09-07T11:49:00.000-07:002006-09-07T11:49:00.000-07:00Hi AndyInteresting this. We decided to do the same...Hi Andy<BR/><BR/>Interesting this. We decided to do the same thing when Naomi was born last November (that is, to include a person who doesn't call himself a christian among the godparents). She isn't baptized yet however, as I've been contemplating a lot of different alternatives, including baptizing her myself. I mean, why not? Most importantly, I've felt that God is encouraging me to do it. But it's been a difficult step to take, due in part to opposition but also that I've just wanted to take my time and know for sure what I think about the whole issue of baptizm. These were helpful thoughts!<BR/><BR/>Cheers<BR/>BenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com