Answer: It depends on the type of Christian you ask.

The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions view baptism as necessary for salvation and practice infant baptism based on scriptural examples and the consistent practice of the early Church. They emphasize the faith of the parents, godparents, and Church community in providing the context for the child's baptism and ongoing formation in the faith.
Calvinist Protestants practice infant baptism as a sign of God's covenant promises and the child's inclusion in the covenant community, while acknowledging that personal faith and repentance are ultimately necessary for salvation.
Non-Calvinist Protestants and progressive Christians generally do not practice infant baptism, emphasizing the importance of personal faith and repentance as prerequisites for baptism. They argue that infant baptism lacks clear scriptural warrant and can lead to a false sense of security in the child's salvation.
All five traditions emphasize the crucial role of the Church community in nurturing and supporting the child's faith, regardless of their position on infant baptism.
The differences in perspective on infant baptism are rooted in varying interpretations of scriptural evidence, understandings of the nature and necessity of baptism, and emphases on personal faith versus the faith of the community.

It’s amazing how little this seems to matter when so much is potentially at stake.

Justin Bailey – Creator of ChristianAnswers.ai

Quick Comparison

Tradition	Necessity of Baptism for Salvation	Scriptural Basis for Infant Baptism	Role of Personal Faith and Repentance	Role of Church Community
Catholic	Necessary for salvation	Household baptisms, Church Fathers	Faith of parents and Church	Incorporates into Church
Non-Calvinist Protestant	Not necessary for salvation	Lacks clear scriptural warrant	Prerequisite for baptism	Nurtures through dedication and discipleship
Calvinist Protestant	Not necessary for salvation	Replaces circumcision, covenant promises	Affirmed, but not prerequisite for infant baptism	Incorporates into covenant community
Progressive	Not necessary for salvation	Matter of personal conviction	Emphasized over moment of baptism	Nurtures through support and community
Eastern Orthodox	Necessary for salvation	Consistent practice of early Church	Faith of parents, godparents, and Church	Incorporates into life of Church

Hear from Each Perspective

Ordered by number of adherents

John / Catholic

The Catholic Church firmly believes in the practice of infant baptism. We teach that baptism is necessary for salvation (John 3:5) and that it removes original sin and incorporates the child into the Church. The Church has consistently practiced infant baptism from the earliest times, as evidenced by the writings of the Church Fathers and the testimony of Scripture (Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Corinthians 1:16). We believe that the faith of the parents and the Church community, along with the child's future formation in the faith, provides the necessary context for the sacrament. The grace of baptism is a free gift from God, not dependent on the child's understanding or personal profession of faith. By baptizing infants, we affirm God's prevenient grace and the importance of the Church community in nurturing the child's faith.

Anthony / Eastern Orthodox

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, we practice infant baptism as a means of incorporating the child into the life of the Church and the body of Christ. We believe that baptism is a sacrament of regeneration, in which the child is born again by water and the Spirit (John 3:5) and receives the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). The faith of the parents, godparents, and the Church community provides the necessary context for the child's baptism and future growth in the faith. We emphasize the importance of the child's ongoing participation in the sacramental life of the Church, particularly through the Eucharist, as they grow and mature in their relationship with Christ. Infant baptism, therefore, is a recognition of God's grace and love for all people, regardless of age, and the importance of the Church community in nurturing and supporting the child's faith journey.

Caleb / Non-Calvinist Protestant

I believe that infant baptism is not the biblical pattern for Christian initiation. We emphasize the importance of personal faith and repentance as prerequisites for baptism, as seen in the examples of adult converts in the New Testament (Acts 2:38, 8:12, 10:47-48). While we acknowledge the love and good intentions of parents who desire to baptize their infants, we believe that the practice lacks clear scriptural warrant and can lead to a false sense of security in the child's salvation. Instead, we practice baby dedication ceremonies, in which parents commit to raising their children in the faith and the church community pledges to support them. We believe that children should be baptized when they are old enough to understand the gospel and make a personal profession of faith in Jesus Christ.

Nathan / Calvinist Protestant

Not all, but most in the Calvinist tradition practice infant baptism as a sign and seal of God's covenant promises to believers and their children. We believe that baptism has replaced circumcision as the mark of covenant membership (Colossians 2:11-12) and that the children of believers are included in God's covenant community (Genesis 17:7, Acts 2:39). Baptism itself does not save the child, but it signifies the child's entrance into the visible church and the promises of God's grace in Christ. We emphasize the importance of parents and the church community in nurturing the child's faith and teaching them the gospel as they grow. Ultimately, the child must personally repent and believe in Christ to receive the full benefits of salvation. Infant baptism, therefore, is a recognition of God's sovereign grace and the continuity of His covenant promises across generations.

Hannah / Progressive

I believe that the practice of infant baptism should be a matter of personal conviction and church tradition, rather than a universal requirement. We emphasize the importance of personal faith and the ongoing journey of spiritual growth, rather than a singular moment of baptism. While we respect the traditions that practice infant baptism, we also recognize the validity of believer's baptism and the importance of individual choice in the matter. We believe that God's grace is not limited by the timing or mode of baptism and that the most important factor is the nurturing of the child's faith within a loving and supportive church community. Ultimately, we see baptism as a symbolic act of commitment and identification with Christ, rather than a means of salvation in itself.

The Key Differences

1. The Necessity of Baptism for Salvation

The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions emphasize the necessity of baptism for salvation, citing John 3:5 and the consistent practice of the early Church. They believe that baptism removes original sin and incorporates the child into the Church.
Calvinist Protestants view baptism as a sign and seal of God's covenant promises but do not believe that it is necessary for salvation itself. They emphasize the ultimate necessity of personal repentance and faith in Christ.
Non-Calvinist Protestants and progressive Christians generally do not view baptism as necessary for salvation, emphasizing instead the importance of personal faith and repentance.

2. The Scriptural Basis for Infant Baptism

The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions point to the examples of household baptisms in the New Testament (Acts 16:15, 33; 1 Corinthians 1:16) and the testimony of the early Church Fathers as evidence for the practice of infant baptism.
Calvinist Protestants argue that baptism has replaced circumcision as the sign of covenant membership (Colossians 2:11-12) and that the children of believers are included in God's covenant promises (Genesis 17:7, Acts 2:39).
Non-Calvinist Protestants and progressive Christians generally do not find clear scriptural warrant for infant baptism, emphasizing instead the examples of adult converts being baptized upon profession of faith in the New Testament (Acts 2:38, 8:12, 10:47-48).

3. The Role of Personal Faith and Repentance

Non-Calvinist Protestants and progressive Christians strongly emphasize the importance of personal faith and repentance as prerequisites for baptism, arguing that infants are incapable of meeting these requirements.
The Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions acknowledge the importance of personal faith but believe that the faith of the parents, godparents, and Church community provides the necessary context for infant baptism. They emphasize the child's ongoing formation in the faith as they grow and mature.
Calvinist Protestants affirm the importance of personal faith and repentance but believe that infant baptism signifies the promises of God's grace and the child's inclusion in the covenant community. They emphasize the need for the child to personally embrace the gospel as they grow.

4. The Role of the Church Community

All five traditions emphasize the importance of the Church community in nurturing and supporting the child's faith, regardless of their position on infant baptism.
The Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Calvinist Protestant traditions view infant baptism as a means of incorporating the child into the Church community and the body of Christ.
Non-Calvinist Protestants and progressive Christians, while not practicing infant baptism, still affirm the crucial role of the Church community in nurturing the child's faith through dedication ceremonies, education, and discipleship.

Should infants be baptized?