354. Is One Baptism Enough?
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| A Christian Baptism. |
When I
noted an ecclesiastic, from a denomination half a step away from Roman
Catholicism, comment on another ecclesiastic’s post saying that everyone who
has been baptized with the Trinitarian formula was a Catholic- whether he/she
knew, liked it or not- I was naturally intrigued, because this meant that with
the exception of a few denominations, all Christians, initially start off as
Catholics.
So, when do faiths split up?
Firstly let’s
say that a Trinitarian baptism consists on being baptized “in the name of God
the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” secondly this formula is used by
Catholics, Anglicans, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Lutherans and Methodists. It is not used by those Christian faiths that
deny the Trinity, namely: Unitarians, Branhamists, Frankists, Jehovah's
Witnesses, and Oneness Pentecostals. The Trinitarian formula is also used by The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS church) but they deny the
Trinitarian conception.
In that case why don’t all those faiths who use
the Trinitarian baptism become one faith?
The split
between the Trinitarian baptized occurs when the next step in the process of
faith takes place, namely Confirmation or as it used to be or still is in some
countries, Penance and Holy Communion before Confirmation. These latter sacraments are administered by a consecrated
priest while confirmation itself is actually administered by a Bishop.
So, what’s the problem?
The
validity of the sacrament of Penance and Holy Communion may only be verified if
administered by a consecrated priest through Holy Orders within the Apostolic
Succession.
What is Apostolic Succession?
Apostolic
Succession is the power that Jesus gave to Peter upon whom he instituted His
Church and which Peter passed on to the next head of the Church and so on. All
of the Apostles were consecrated Priests by Jesus himself, but only Peter did He
choose to be the head. Apostolic Succession therefore means having the power of
the Apostles passed on to those who were consecrated by those Apostles.
Therefore
those churches who have broken away from this Apostolic Succession cannot in
all fairness say they have the spiritual power of succession to administer the
sacraments, in particular, that of the Eucharist. That is why the split between
faiths in Christianity occurs.
However,
one may say, in that case isn’t Baptism a sacrament? Therefore should it not be
administered by someone who has been consecrated within the Apostolic Succession?
Baptism is
about the only sacrament that may be administered by a lay person since the
Church bases this on Jesus’ own words:
"Therefore,
go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19-20
Hence, if the baptism is performed in the Trinitarian formula with the intent to eliminate
the baptized person of Original Sin and be admitted into the Body of Christ
then that person is well and truly baptized, and becomes a part of the Christian family, irrespective
by whom they are baptized.
And if one changes faith, does the original
baptism count?
One can
only be Baptized once, a truly performed baptism cannot be cancelled, once you
have been accepted into God’s family, you can’t be thrown out, whether you
know, like it or not.
But don’t
take my word for it- on the feast of Jesus’ baptism last Sunday- this is what
Pope Benedict XVI tweeted:
“What happens in Baptism? We become united
forever with Jesus, to be born again to a new life.”
@Pontifex The Pope on Twitter 13 Jan 2013 Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.
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