I am concerned that children are manipulated by adults into “saying the sinners prayer” and then being baptized without any real understanding of what they are doing.
If a child has been born again (I know that does happen) delaying baptism does not endanger their salvation.
Why? Would that not be forcing them to not follow a command of all Christians until a certain time? To me, I think that is very dangerous to tell someone this is something commanded of all Christians but you are not old enough.
We DO NEED to be interested in what they believe.
By understanding
their background - it is easier to witness and or Disciple them.
and having a "Superior attitude" will be sensed by the individual and can be detrimental to the individual.
come to think about it - how often did Jesus, Paul, and others portray a superior attitude.
(You noticed Ieft off Peter!:D)
That is a valid point. However, I’ve never had a child tell me they want to follow the command of Jesus to be baptized. It’s usually a relative or friend that wants them to be baptized and they are going along with that.
If I had a young child demonstrate signs they were under conviction of Holy Spirit to be baptized, then I would do it. I’ve never seen it.
Children can be manipulated to regurgitate most anything an adult tells them.
Just because they can repeat certain words/phrases is not evidence of conviction of Holy Spirit.
The problem becomes giving people a false assurance of salvation.
If you ask the question, “how do you know you are saved”?, and the person responds, “I prayed to receive
Jesus into my heart and was baptized when I was 8”, then that is evidence of a poor understanding of salvation.
How many claim to have been saved/baptized as a child and then testify they walked away from the Lord in their teens only to “rededicate” their lives in their 20’s or 30’s?
This thread is full of opinions, but not too much scripture.
I think 1 Corinthians 1:16 refers to water baptism, because it was done by Paul.
And here is a verse to consider: Mark 16:16
“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
My view is this refers to being placed into Christ, thus a spiritual baptism, not a water baptism.
Thus the argument to water baptize right away to ensure salvation is bogus.
Acts 2:28 refers to our spiritual baptism because only after being placed into Christ are we sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:41 indicates only after a person receives God's word are they to be water baptized.
It does not indicate any intentional delay.
But those doing the water baptism believed the person had sufficient knowledge and commitment.
Acts 8:12 does not address baptizing children, only men and women.
Acts 10:47 supports the idea of observing evidence of being indwelt.
Acts 22:16, says why delay, so assuming the baptism refers to water baptism, then it argues for promptly water baptizing.
It signifies a spiritual commitment, that we who are born again are now free to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).
The order of the commission is evangelism, then baptism, then instruction (Matthew 28:18-20). If a church accepts a person’s profession of faith as genuine, there is neither biblical example nor doctrinal reason to delay baptizing that person.