Proxy Baptism
Recently, we spent a Sunday evening discussing what being “baptized for the dead” means (1 Cor. 15:29). No evidence exists that indicates that the members of the church in Corinth ever engaged in being baptized for their dead relatives. Whatever the difficult verse means, it does not refer to such a practice. One might as well argue that an adult male Christian could be baptized for his infant son. No; a baby does not have the capacity to believe in God or that Jesus is His Son, let alone confess it with his mouth. Nor does he possess the ability to comprehend what sin is or the ability to repent of it. No newborn yet has ever asked to be baptized for the forgiveness of his sins. One person cannot stand in for a live infant to receive salvation, nor can he obey the gospel for a dead relative.
But the Mormon Church thinks so. According to an article from the Orlando Sentinel (February 16, 2012), “Posthumous baptism is common in the Mormon Church. Members believed the ritual allows the deceased to enter their conception of heaven” (A17). Members can submit names to be considered from the line of their direct ancestors, but sometimes other names get through. In one instance, someone was baptized for the parents of Simon Wiesenthal! Yes! This is the famous post-World War II Nazi Hunter who, was Jewish—as were his parents. Whoops!
Baptism, as described in the New Testament, is neither a ritual nor a mere symbol. Christianity, as presented in the New Testament, contains no rituals. When a person is baptized for the forgiveness of his sins, forgiveness actually takes place at that moment. Sins are literally washed away (Acts 22:16) by the blood of Jesus (Rev. 1:5) in what Paul refers to as “the working of God” (Col. 2:12). Those who are baptized according to New Testament teaching must (first) be alive, and (second) be in possession of their faculties. They cannot have died or be toddlers. They must be accountable individuals. Baptism is not a magic charm that works even on those who have no concept of salvation.
Apparently, someone was appalled that an individual deigned to be baptized for Wiesenthal’s parents. Another grave error was that someone tried to “baptize” three relatives of Elie Wiesel. He was a survivor of the Holocaust, wrote 57 books, and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986. The Mormon Church has apologized for a “serious breach of protocol.” That’s nice, and maybe someone required it, but it really doesn’t matter. No one’s physical body was exhumed or damaged. And the alleged baptism can neither help nor hurt those who have passed on. The Mormon Church would not be so embarrassed, however, if they were not practicing something unscriptural. They should apologize for that.