What are your thoughts on baptizing youth? Do you have a minimum age requirement, base it on a personal interview with the youngster to determine if they understand? Are there any scriptures to provide guidance?
How young is to young for baptism?
Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Keith Mullins, Apr 14, 2024.
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Marooncat79 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
No age requirements
certainly 5 to at least 14 or 15 is too young -
The good news is that baptism isn’t necessary for salvation.
I had a lady, in her 80’s, in our church that wanted her 5 year old autistic grandson baptized before she passed.
I wasn’t comfortable with it and didn’t do it.
My concern was giving the child, or others, a false hope of salvation when there was really no evidence of Holy Spirit involvement.
I would consider each case independently, but I would certainly observe who wanted the baptism the most… the child?, the parents?, the grandparents?
Peace to you -
Not yet a born again believer are too young for believer's baptism. -
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Young people have a strong desire to please others and be part of the crowd. -
How many times have we heard someone testify they were saved as a child, then fell away as a teen and then in their 20’s or 30’s want to “rededicate” their lives to Christ?
My question to them is, “when were you ever dedicated to Christ”?
You get some strange looks with that question
peace to you -
Charles Spurgeon:
https://www.spurgeongems.org/vols7-9/chs381.pdf
“We do not contend for the baptism of adults; we contend for the baptism of believers. Show us a child however young, who believes in Christ, and we gladly accept him” -
Benjamin Keach (prominent 1600s Particular Baptist):
"little Children who do believe in Christ, have an indubitable right to Baptism"
"God hath in our days wrought by his Spirit, savingly on several little Children, some three or four years old, others about six or seven"
p. 16, “A Counter-Antidote…Wherein the Baptism of Believers Is Evinced to Be God’s Ordinance” by Benjamin Keach (London, 1694) -
He proclaimed Christ crucified for sins in every sermon and urged all to come to Christ for salvation, even children.
He very clearly states he would baptize a child (not an infant) if the child gave a credible profession of faith.
I would expect he would hold all professing believers to a similar or identical standard when articulating that belief and request for baptism
peace to you -
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tyndale1946 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Acts of the Apostles 8:37 tradition.
Also 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
And John 3:16. -
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Marooncat79 Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
Young children can learn Christianese. Seriously
they hear our answers and parrot them
it’s extremely important to make sure