Q: Baptize my daughter?
So im very new to Christianity, i did not grow up in a religious household, i found it on my own, im still reading the bible for the first time although its been a minute since i opened it and i need to get back into it, ive live a life about as full of sin as you could possibly do in your lifetime, im ashamed and trying to do better daily though i keep failing and feel like a lost cause personally. Ive never attended church, im not entirely sure what denomination i am, my now wife and i had our daughter out of wedlock, got married about two weeks after my daughter was born, my wife while not religious and hesitant is accepting of my new faith, supportive and willing to try church with me. I brought up baptizing our daughter and she agreed as long as we dont try to force religion on her when shes older, shed like it to be her choice as she gets older, our daughter is now a little over a month and my question is how do i go about this? Do i need to join a church before they will baptize our daughter? Is it possible to get her baptized without “belonging “ to a church? What is the process? And i guess on a more personal note how do i go about figuring out what denomination i myself would belong to?
Dear Brother,
Peace be with you.
Your questions are wonderful, and I believe our Heavenly Father is filled with joy knowing your heart desires to have your daughter baptized. I truly believe it wasn’t you who found faith, but rather Faith found you. Our Father loves you and your family deeply.
Regarding your struggle with sin and the difficulty of reading Scripture, please know that this is a stage every Christian goes through. Even the Apostle Paul admitted his struggle, saying that he often did the very things he hated. In the early stages of faith, there is often a battle between two natures within us. We must rely on Jesus to win these battles step by step as we grow in holiness.
Regarding finding a church: I encourage you to pray and ask the Father to prepare a spiritual community and partners for you. It is much easier to stumble when we walk alone, but when we watch over each other in a community, we grow stronger in the Lord.
Regarding Denominations: This is not the most critical issue. We believe in Jesus, not in a denomination. As taught in the books of Corinthians, our focus should be on Christ. For your daughter's baptism, I suggest you find a local church and speak with the Pastor. Baptism is about being united with Christ, more than just belonging to a specific organization.
A piece of heart-to-heart advice: Even more important than the act of baptism is that you and your wife pray for your daughter daily. Pray for God’s protection over her health and growth, and pray for God to lead you to be a father after His own heart, and for your wife to be a mother after His own heart.
How to find your denomination: If you wish to explore this further, you can start by learning the basic tenets of different traditions. See which perspectives resonate most with your understanding of God's Word. There are helpful "Denomination Quizzes" online that can act as a fun and informative starting point to see where you feel most at home.
You are not a "lost cause"—you are a beloved son of God. Keep walking, one day at a time.
Blessings,
Sophie/Ahavah Team