by Caroline Bergeron
Family ministry specialist Caroline Bergeron
gives her take on how, why, and
when a child should be baptized.
What is baptism?
The practice of baptism didn’t start with the prophet John. It was a common practice in the first century for religious teachers to baptize their followers. By agreeing to be baptized, the follower expressed his commitment to learn, practice and pass on the teachings of his master. The act of immersion in water was a public declaration that one was taking his relationship to the next level: from simply being a follower to becoming a dedicated student, or disciple, of a religious master. Today, water baptism is a public declaration of one’s desire to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. By being baptized, we are following the example of the sinless Christ who was baptized by John (Romans 6:4, Matthew 3:13-16).
The word “baptism” means “to plunge under, dip completely or immerse in water.” That is why most evangelical churches perform full immersion baptisms as opposed to other methods such as sprinkling of water, dabbing the forehead with water or pouring a small amount of water over the candidate’s head.
Water baptism is a ceremony rich in Christian symbolism. It is a picture of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection (Colossians 2:12, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Standing in the water is a symbol of Christ on the cross; going under the water reminds us of Christ buried in the tomb, and coming out of the water is a picture of Christ being raised on the third day. This practice also illustrates the cleansing and washing of sin operated by the Holy Spirit as a result of repentance and redemption (Acts 2:16). Finally, it is a symbol of the new birth Jesus speaks of in John 3:3-6.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (v.5). Going under water creates a picture of the “sinful self” being put to death and coming out of the water shows the person emerging as a new creation.
It is important to clarify baptism does not bring eternal security to anyone, nor is it essential to salvation. In fact, salvation has to happen first—before baptism. It is only by faith in Jesus Christ, God’s gift to us, that we can be saved (Eph. 2:8-9).
In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus commands his disciples to “go therefore and make disciples of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” In Acts 2:38, Peter says, “repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ.” Every person who repents of their sins and believes in Jesus as their Lord and Savior can—and needs to be—baptized. Water baptism by full immersion is an act of obedience to the Word of God; a public declaration of our commitment to follow our master and teacher, Jesus Christ; and an outward demonstration of an inward change.
There is no reference in the Bible to a specific age at which children can or should be baptized. However, God does provide guidelines that we should take into consideration. A child, like any adult, must understand the Gospel message; experience personal repentance; be able to articulate a basic profession of faith in Jesus Christ; and manifest a commitment to obey the Word and Spirit of God (John 14:21, Matt. 28:19). As we consider candidates for baptism, it is fundamental we remember the words of Jesus, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matt. 19:14). We must guide children with this command in mind. Baptism should be a memorable and meaningful experience for children. The older a child grows, the more likely he or she will look back on his or her experience with confidence it reflected a sincere desire to follow the Lord.
Traditional churches, such as Anglican and Lutheran, have creeds their members memorize. A creed is a statement of beliefs that answers the simple question, “What do I believe in?” It outlines the fundamental doctrines upheld by ones church denomination. The Apostles’ Creed is one example of a historical statement of beliefs.
Many churches require each child desiring to be baptised attend a special class accompanied by their parents. In that class, each candidate is taught the plan of salvation, basic Christian doctrines and the meaning of water baptism. At the conclusion of the class, each child should be able to answer simple questions about salvation and baptism, and be able to articulate a basic declaration of faith.
On the day of this special event, people are often asked to share a portion of their testimony. This task can easily be overwhelming for a child, but your help and a few simple guidelines can make it much easier. A couple of key principles: Write the information down, and keep answers short and concise. And remind the child this is about what God has done—it’s not about the child.
Here is an example guideline you could use:
- Who I am: name and age
- When and how I heard about Christ: Tell us about how you came to know about Jesus. You might have heard about Jesus in kid’s church or from your parents. Maybe you went to a camp, or a friend told you about God.
- When and how I started my friendship with Jesus: How did you make this decision? Was there anyone (friend, parent or a teacher) with you? Did anyone help you pray? How did you feel after?
- Now that I have Jesus in my life: Share how you feel about having Jesus as your friend. What is your life like now? What does Jesus teach you? Tell us one exciting truth you have learned about Him.
- Why I want to be baptized: Explain why you want to be baptized.
It is vital to have parental consent before walking a child through the sacrament of baptism. If the child is from an un-churched family, the children’s ministry leader must contact the parents or guardians to inform them of their child’s desire to be baptized. The leader must take the time to explain to them the meaning of this ceremony. We recommend you obtain written permission before baptizing the child. In the event the parents or guardians refuse, it is recommended you abstain from baptizing the child. Encourage that child to continue growing, learning and following; and talk about when it would be appropriate for them to take that step as you counsel them to honor their parents.
If the child is from a believing family, parental consent should be easier to get. Some parents, however, would rather wait for their kids to become teenagers, even adults, before they get baptized. If this is the case, try to get the parents involved in the preparation and training prior to the ceremony. This will allow the parents to witness first hand their child’s grasp of the fundamental beliefs of Christianity. You can also gain their support by making them part of this baptismal ceremony. Some pastors allow parents to baptize their own children. As children’s workers and ministers, we value the parents’ role as primary shepherds for their children. Getting parents in the water with their children is a meaningful way to engage them in their child’s journey of faith.
More from Caroline Bergeron or visit Caroline at carolinebergeron.ca
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