Rome also allows for any person to baptize in an emergency
"man, woman or child, Catholic or non-Catholic, atheist or pagan - as long as he or she administers the sacrament properly and does it with the intention of 'doing what the Church does'." 16 In keeping with the spirit of legalism, there is even what Rome calls "conditional baptism." Basically, if the person had already been baptised but didn't know it, the second baptism would be invalid. Or the conditional clause is invoked if the administer is unsure of whether the recipient is alive or dead. 17
In Reformed circles the situation is different. In the mind of the Reformed theologian, baptism can only be administered when one reaches the age of accountability. Only then is baptism valid. In fact, many Reformed call any infant baptism invalid and require that one be re-baptized if one is to join that particular church! In my contact with members of the Baptist college student body in Watertown, WI, much was made of knowing precisely when you were "born again." The Apostolic Lutheran Church in America requires a scriptural Christian experience before one is allowed voting membership.18 The same is expected of children before they are confirmed in the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. 19 The Methodist church is a church that is historically dependant on the "personal experience of faith." Wesley's group at Oxford was known as "Bible Bigots," "Bible Moths," and "Holy Club." The links to the Moravian movement on the Methodist church are strong and go back to the beginning of the "Wesleyan Revival." 20 The Reformed branch of Christianity has indeed denied that the sacrament of baptism has any saving power. Like Rome, baptism is but a good work, but in this case to prove your spirituality.
The differences don't stop here. The Reformed are attacked by Luther in regards to infant baptism. Luther responds in the Large Catechism:
Further, we say that we are not so much concerned to know whether the person baptized believes or not; for on that account Baptism does not become invalid; but everything depends upon the Word and command of God. This now is perhaps somewhat acute, but it rests entirely upon what I have said, that Baptism is nothing else than water and the Word of God in and with each other, that is, when the Word is added to the water, Baptism is valid, even though faith be wanting. For my faith does not make Baptism, but receives it. Now, Baptism does not become invalid even though it is wrongly received or employed; since it is not bound (as stated) to our faith, but to the Word. 21
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