I saw this audio recently by Richard Pratt on why we as Presbyterians baptize our children. Since most of our friends and family don't baptize their babies, there has been lots of curiosity why we do it. I was going to take several post to explain it but Dr. Pratt does such a great job of explaining it, just hear it from him.
In a nutshell though, we believe that the Bible teaches that God enters into covenant with his children and their children. In other words God deals with families not just individuals. Does this mean that all children of believers will come to repentance as well? Certainly not, of course some parents have to watch as their children reject the faith. But never the less, God entered into covenant with the believers in both the Old and New Testaments and their families. As children of believers those children receive certain privileges or blessings, most of all hearing the gospel and seeing it lived out before them in their own home. But also things like Biblical discipline as well as understanding concepts like sin, forgiveness, grace and mercy (which I guess would all fall under the "seeing the gospel lived out before them" part).
We also believe that baptism has replaced Old Testament circumcision as the sign of the covenant. Therefore, as Old Testament believers were commanded to be circumcised as well as their children. We also believe that New Testament believers should do the same.
To clear up common questions/misconceptions we've heard:
No, we don't believe baptism will save our children. While we do believe that they enter into covenant with God being a child of a believer, our children have to rely on Christ alone for their salvation just as we and every child of God has from the beginning of time. However, we do pray that God is speaking to her heart even now and calling her to Himself.
No, we wont have our children baptized again when they put their faith in Christ. We believe this their baptism is valid and will not ask them to be baptized again, just as Old Testament saints were not asked to be "re-circumcised" after a personal faith was realized.
Yes, we've been going to a PCA church for eight years now and at least one of us has been working at one for four, but No, we aren't pressured into it because of that.
No, the reformed tradition does not baptize infants because of tradition. We don't do it because we just haven't "reformed" enough from the Catholic Church. There are very valid and Biblical arguments for and against. We just believe that the for's are more valid and consistent with the context of whole Bible.
1 comment:
Excellent, Bethany! I loved the pictures and hope that you, Alex, and the kids are doing well. You certainly look like you are. We miss you guys at Trinity and remember you both with great fondness and appreciation.
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