The concept of original sin does not bother me, because Jesus never spoke about it. Also, I do not want to waste time watching man-made teachings about St Augustine and Original Sin.
Jesus and his followers(the apostles) never brought up "Original Sin" as an issue. If it was an issue, they would have urged people to cleanse themselves of the same. On the other hand, they did urge people to repent of their own willful sins. The message of John the Baptist and Jesus was for everyone to repent of THEIR sins, not of original sin due to Adam.
Since the apostles never spoke about any concept of original sin, they could not have baptized anyone (including infants) in connection with original sin. So for any church to baptize infants to cleanse them from original sin is erroneous.
You say that in the past, men did not understand that God is merciful and therefore he would not condemn an infant. Do they understand it now? Why then do churches still insist on infant baptism?
Please answer this question: What if someone was baptized as an infant, and later came to believe in Christ as a grown up? Is his baptism as an infant valid in the eyes of God?
Just saw this...
Original sin... What do you mean you never heard of it?
It's referring to the first sin, the DISOBEDIENCE to God practiced by Adam when he ate of the forbidden fruit.
They just gave it a name. I have a problem with it myself, but that's the reason.
Did I say "they" did not think God was merciful in the past?
The infant baptism is valid in the eyes of God because baptism in and of itself, whether it be right or wrong, does cause a change in the soul of the person.
IF the baby grows up and does not ACCEPT his baptism and become born again -- he is not automatically saved.
This is taught by the Catholic Church.
Some churches are beginning to ask that if someone wants to belong to their chruch the new memeber MUST be baptized again. This is very wrong and denies the power of baptism.