Last week we looked at our policy on Communion; including how children can partake of the Lord’s Supper if (i) they are baptised, (ii) they understand the gospel, and (iii) they’re old enough to examine their lives. This week I wish to briefly look at our other Sacrament; Baptism.
According to 1 Corinthians 1:12-15, Baptism is the outward sign that someone is a follower of Christ (see also John 4:1). Paul did not want anyone saying they were baptised in Paul’s name (v. 15); for Paul was not crucified for them (v. 13). If you follow Christ, you are baptised into the name of Christ.
But who then should receive the sign of baptism? If we limited our search to Acts alone, it would be anyone who makes a public declaration of faith in Jesus. The problem with Acts though is it says nothing about second generation Christians (i.e. the children of Christians); for the simple fact that Acts is interested in the frontier of the early Christian church.
Elsewhere in the Bible though we find that God deals with families; e.g. Joshua speaks for the faith of his whole family (Josh 24:25), God punishes Achan’s entire household for Achan’s sin (Josh 7), and Paul tells the jailor HIS faith will mean his entire household will be saved (Acts 16:31). As such, Baptism is for adults who confess the name of Jesus, and any children they have (1 Cor 7:14).
Since people are baptised into the family of Christ, my preference is to only baptise children of church members. While I will gladly offer a thanksgiving (or ‘naming’) service for non-church members’ children, in which prayers for the child are offered, I reserve the right of baptism to church members and their children.
Brendan McLaughlin
