Catholic Weakness

The weakness of  Catholic theology is that it is patterned after Judaism, where children are born into the Jewish family and then circumcised as babies. Thereafter they are taught to have faith and follow religious instruction.

They were taught to follow the moral commandments of the law after being circumcised as babies.. The weakness being the law would only destroy them as they became sinners later in life. Circumcision and then teaching would cause them to be lost without Christ.

The law, by condemning them, did not save, it could only reveal their need for Christ. Recreating the same system in the New covenant would be the same weakness..Thus, baptizing as babies and then teaching law would also condemn. They would still be in the same condition of needing Christ to be saved.

The idea of performing a baby ordinance like circumcision and then teaching as they grew up came from the Old Testament covenants, where both the covenant with Abraham and the covenant with Moses follow this arrangement. The only difference is Jewish circumcision.vs Catholic baptism. Keep in mind neither ordinance guaranteed the child would live by faith later in life. Jesus clearly told the Jews they were lost even though they were circumcised. They had rejected John's baptism as an ordinance of faith.

Both Catholic and Protestant theology rely on an old pattern that is not our covenant. The reason the baby ordinances of the Old Testament do not apply to us is the prophets revealed God would make a new covenant very different from the old. Using the old testament model is inappropriate.

Jer 31:31  Behold,H2009 the daysH3117 come,H935 saithH5002 the LORD,H3068 that I will makeH3772 a newH2319 covenantH1285 withH854 the houseH1004 of Israel,H3478 and withH854 the houseH1004 of Judah:H3063 

Jer 31:32  NotH3808 according to the covenantH1285 thatH834 I madeH3772 withH854 their fathersH1 in the dayH3117 that I tookH2388 them by the handH3027 to bringH3318 them out of the landH4480 H776 of Egypt;H4714 whichH834 (H853) my covenantH1285 theyH1992 brake,H6565 although IH595 was an husbandH1166 unto them, saithH5002 the LORD:H3068 

Jer 31:33  ButH3588 thisH2063 shall be the covenantH1285 thatH834 I will makeH3772 withH854 the houseH1004 of Israel;H3478 AfterH310 thoseH1992 days,H3117 saithH5002 the LORD,H3068 I will putH5414 (H853) my lawH8451 in their inward parts,H7130 and writeH3789 it inH5921 their hearts;H3820 and will beH1961 their God,H430 and theyH1992 shall beH1961 my people.H5971 

The new covenant would require knowledge of the law God would give through Christ. Especially the knowledge of Christ's name since Acts 2:38 says baptism is "upon or In" the name of Jesus Christ.

Act 2:38  ThenG1161 PeterG4074 saidG5346 untoG4314 them,G846 Repent,G3340 andG2532 be baptizedG907 every oneG1538 of youG5216 inG1909 theG3588 nameG3686 of JesusG2424 ChristG5547 forG1519 the remissionG859 of sins,G266 andG2532 ye shall receiveG2983 theG3588 giftG1431 of theG3588 HolyG40 Ghost.G4151 

Act 2:39  ForG1063 theG3588 promiseG1860 isG2076 unto you,G5213 andG2532 to yourG5216 children,G5043 andG2532 to allG3956 thatG3588 are afar off,G1519 G3112 even as many asG3745 G302 the LordG2962 ourG2257 GodG2316 shall call.G4341 

One must first be called through the gospel and know Jesus.

Catholics have wrested their theology on the term "to your children", but the word children doesn't imply an infant. It can be any age of offspring whether male or female. It can also be of a long descent. It can be spiritual offspring.

Consider;

1Pe 3:6  Even asG5613 SaraG4564 obeyedG5219 Abraham,G11 callingG2564 himG846 lord:G2962 whoseG3739 daughtersG5043 ye are,G1096 as long as ye do well,G15 andG2532 are not afraidG5399 G3361 with anyG3367 amazement.G4423 

The word here is translated daughters since the context is Christian women. This was addressed to those who could read and also "do well". The word doesn't imply infant baptism.

Matthew uses it of children rising up against their parents, thus old enough to rise in rebellion.

Mat 10:21  AndG1161 the brotherG80 shall deliver upG3860 the brotherG80 toG1519 death,G2288 andG2532 the fatherG3962 the child:G5043 andG2532 the childrenG5043 shall rise upG1881 againstG1909 their parents,G1118 andG2532 cause them to be put to death.G2289 G846 

This word for children is used many times of offspring or descendants that could not be infants. Infants can't arise to fight parents.

Mar 10:24  AndG1161 theG3588 disciplesG3101 were astonishedG2284 atG1909 hisG846 words.G3056 ButG1161 JesusG2424 answerethG611 again,G3825 and saithG3004 unto them,G846 Children,G5043 howG4459 hardG1422 isG2076 it for them that trustG3982 inG1909 richesG5536 to enterG1525 intoG1519 theG3588 kingdomG932 of God!G2316 

In this verse Jesus called followers children.

The point is that this word seldom is used of those before two years old, and in the context of baptism never does. Rachel weeping for her children, who were about two when slaughtered. In Matthew 11:19 it is used of people old enough to be wise.

Mat 11:19  TheG3588 SonG5207 of manG444 cameG2064 eatingG2068 andG2532 drinking,G4095 andG2532 they say,G3004 BeholdG2400 a manG444 gluttonous,G5314 andG2532 a winebibber,G3630 a friendG5384 of publicansG5057 andG2532 sinners.G268 ButG2532 wisdomG4678 is justifiedG1344 ofG575 herG848 children.G5043