So many 4-6 years old being saved...

I did it when I was seven. I was at home though. I really was under conviction, but it just wasn't explained to me right. I didn't understand the way it was presented, and when asked if I did, I was so scared they would be mad if they had to go over it again {when I first came to live with my grandparents I was afraid of my own shadow...LITERALY!, so no surprise I was scared of people!}
You know miss Diane, I don't know anyone's heart but my own. I made one false profession young, and didn't get saved untill I was eleven, yet I know a man in our church who got saved at five, and is one of the most dedicated, godly people I know. It's the child's heart. How mature is the child? Do they realize they have sinned and need a Saviour? Do they understadn the gospel?
At our church,we're very careful to make sure the child understands. If s/he dosn't, then we tell their parents to let them wait. Some people may get mad about that, but I know from my own experiance, a false hope is worse than no hope.
And the night I truely did get saved, my grandpa wanted to know why I was so upset. I told him because I was going to go to hell. He didn't understand. He said something to the effect of: "But you got saved when you were seven. Don't worry." DON'T EVER DO THAT! If someone is having doubts about their salvation, don't tell them "well you did get saved..." because if someone DOES make a false profession, it won't make it any better to say that. I told him that night I wanted to get saved, and he still reminded me of the night when I was seven. I nearly lost my nerve and went back to bed after all that, but the Holy Spirit wouldn't let me. If someone is saying they want to get saved DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT saying you remember they got "saved" whenever. I'm glad I did get it settled that night, and God saved me, but had I gone back to bed, I don't think I would have.
Young children really need to be dealt with in a very gentle mannor, with wisdom.
Now I don't know every childs heart. Some kids do get saved young. But I am saying, deal with them carefully.
~Abby

 

This happened with our youngest daughter when she was 6. It was during revival and a group of kids went forward including her big sister. I just stopped her and said not now. I really had a hard time dealing with it that night until I sat her down and talked to her. She said she saw everyone else going and wanted to go to see what was going on. I asked her if she thought that Jesus was calling her or if she felt Jesus was knocking on her heart...."nope" she replied. It wasn't until a few years later (she was 8) that she was saved and baptized. Until then, at times I had a hard time dealing with it, because I always wondered if I had that right to step in like I did, it really worried me sometimes. So the night that she said "Mommy, I asked Jesus in my heart tonight." I was thrilled beyond explanation. And I sat down with her and asked her if she understood what she had done and what it meant. We then went and talked with the pastor and he talked to her and asked her questions (like if she knew what sin was, what it meant to be forgiven, what it means to believe in Jesus and have Him in your heart, etc..) and told me that she understands more than what some of the adults do.

She also went through what it means to be baptized a few weeks after that, before she was to be baptized. It is very important that these children understand what it means, and to understand what they are doing. I was one who was saved and baptized at a very young age. So young that I do not remember doing either one. So I grew up saying yeah, I'm saved....even though I do not remember it. It wasn't until 4 years ago that I even understood what it meant. And I thank God that He called me to return to Him and rededicate my life and on January 28,2001 I was rebaptized, and that is something that I will never forget.

The Meaning of Baptism

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4, KJV)

 

Baptism should definitely be postponed until a child understands its significance. I wish mine were (7 at the time).

Baptists are often one step removed from infant baptisms at times. I guess you could call it toddler baptisms

 

My church is getting ready to baptize two children (6 to be exact) and when someone leads a child to Christ at our church, we go through a list of questions afterward.....example being"Now do you know what you just did? What does saved mean?" and they will usually respond that Jesus lives in their heart now. then we will ask how long Jesus will stay there and they usually give you a look like you are crazy for not knowing that answer yourself before answering "forever."
I have a real sweet story to tell about one of the children that is going to be getting baptized. his name is jason but we all call him Iggy and he is one of the sweetest little boys there is. Anyways my preacher shared this story last night at wednesday night prayer meeting...I hope you guys get as tickled as I did when I heard it.
Easter morning Jasons family was getting ready to go to early service. Mom and dad were back in the bedroom when they heard Jason talking to his younger sister, Elizabeth (only 3 years old.) when they realized that he was telling her about being saved they listened very closely from their bedroom door(kids were in the kitchen.)
"why dont you want to get saved Lizzy?" he asked. "dont you want Jesus to live in your heart?" this is where it got brutally honest. "if you dont get saved lizzy, you will not go to heaven. Mom and dad and me are saved.....don't you want to go to heaven withus? you dont want to go to hell do you?"
Of course elizabeths answer was no and thats when jason took her by the hand and said " come on lets go talk to mom and dad so they can show in the bible how to get saved." Her parents showed her but realized that she really wasnt getting it, but man that little boy really know his stuff and hes only in kindergarden. Its a personal thing. I dont believe we can put an age limit on salvation nor baptism. who are we to judge when it is too soon?