Shayla: Why do you not baptize infants?
Meforshim:
Christ’s
disciples need to conform their idea of baptism to what they see in Scripture.
Many of us, however, try to get the Scriptures to conform to our church’s (or
denomination’s) practice instead.
According to the Word of God, certain qualifications were met prior to baptism which could not be met by an infant. We can verbally duel to our heart’s delight, but the plain practice of Scripture is:
• Nowhere in the Bible is there ever an example of an infant being baptized.
• Nowhere in Scripture is it said that an infant needs to be baptized.
The principle passage used by those who advocate for infant baptism is the one describing the conversion of the Philippian jailer. “Look!” they cry “It says that his whole household was saved and baptized.” However, that there were children in that household must be assumed because it does not say that anywhere in the context. They must further completely ignore the fact that belief in the Lord Jesus Christ preceded baptism for all of them – whatever their age.
Early Church Practice
When Yeshua ascended to heaven, His last command to His followers was that they spread the gospel, not just making converts but also disciples to the Way. All those who acceded to this transforming process were to be baptized. This is clearly something that an infant is not capable of doing.
Even Peter, who according to the Roman Catholic Church was the first pope, taught that baptism followed repentance and he continued the practice he began at Pentecost of baptizing those who have been saved and received the Holy Ghost.
Philip also
followed the practice of first proclaiming the good news about the
Paul’s conversion experience only serves to reinforce the idea that baptism can only be for someone who has understood their sin, repented and converted. Those who were able to gladly receive the Word were baptized in the early church. When the Philippian jailer, who guarded Paul, asked, "What must I do to be saved?" Paul answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." After the jailer believed, Paul baptized him.
The Purpose of Baptism
The problem that most people have is that they don’t really understand the purpose of Baptism. Understanding that clears up a lot of the issue. The purpose of Baptism is to identify us openly with Christ and with the sacrifice that He made for us on the cross.
Baptism is to be done in a particular way. Not only the intended metaphorical image of death, burial and resurrection, but the word “baptize” itself indicates the mode. Numerous examples of the practice are shown in the New Testament. Each confirms the mode of baptism. The Master waited until He was around thirty years of age before He got baptized. Notice, too, that He immersed Himself in the water. This is indicated by the phrase “He went up immediately from the water.”
Baptism shows the impact of our salvation experience. It shows the Gospel message that Jesus died for our sins and rose again for our justification. Baptism shows that the believer has died to the old life of sin and has been raised to walk in a different life. It further demonstrates a faith that the believer will one day live with Christ.
Jesus’ one death was eternally sufficient for our sins and baptism is a testimony to the sufficiency of that sacrifice when it illustrates that Jesus is eternally victorious over death and the grave.
Baptism is a call to commitment for the believer to forsake the ways of the world. It is a call to commitment to completely live for Christ. The prerequisites of baptism are, therefore, that someone preach and someone accept the Good News of the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Baptism is not
salvation
Baptism is closely associated with believing the gospel. However, it is not synonymous with salvation. Note that Jesus differentiated between “belief” and “baptism.” It was a lack of belief that would condemn a person. Not a lack of baptism.
This is reiterated in the example of the thief on the cross, who lacked baptism, and yet was assured of his place in Paradise after death by the Master Himself.
There are not different types of baptism for different stages of life. The Bible clearly teaches that there is only one kind of baptism and has given numerous examples of the right kind.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we believe that baptism should be modeled after the Master’s example who was baptized as a person mature enough to understand what He was doing and consent to it. We believe that believers were baptized after they gladly received the Word, believed, repented and confessed their sins. This means that baptism is done with a conscious knowledge that it is the right thing to do. The apostles, including Peter, all followed this example.
It is fine to hold dedication services for
babies, but we must make very clear that it is the parents and the congregation
who are dedicating themselves to raising the child in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.
We believe that a conscious decision to accept Christ as Savior is simply impossible for infants and therefore, do not practice infant baptism.
If the Scriptures differ from our point of
view or from our church’s practice, then we have a decision to make: say “I
know it says that but…”, or say “I know it says that so…” We need to be
cautious that we are not condemned by the Lord’s rebuke to the Pharisees, "You completely invalidate
God's command in order to maintain your tradition!”