Why can't christian parents let their children reach the age of reason before baptizing them?

Question

How is that "free will" for the child? They don't have the intellectual capacity to make an informed decision on what they want their religion to be....and that should be a personal choice...

Answer 1

Most Christians baptize only believing people (those who profess faith in Christ) in this country.

Groups like the Presbyterians and their sort view baptism as something of a sign of belonging to the covenant family of God. They figure if the parents are Christian, they aren't going to be raising pagan kids, so they assume the kid will believe when old enough to make the choice. They still require these babies to "confirm" their baptism around Junior High age.

Biblically speaking, there are no infant baptisms in the Bible anywhere. Everyone that got baptized in Scripture was an adult, but I think we needn't divide over the issue. Separate to your best understanding, but still consider them brothers who differ, would be my advise.

Roman Catholics are a different ball of wax, since they think you get your original sin removed when you are baptized, so the sooner the better. Infants are their normal practice.

Answer 2

Parents don't need to let their children reach the age of reason. Baptism does not depend upon the free will of the child, or the intellectual capacity to make any "decision". Some arguments for your consideration:

- Baptism parallels circumcision which was applied to Jesus himself as a Jew.
- Is there any other reason for circumcision to have been dropped as a practice of the church than for baptism to have replaced it? Both are covenants between God and His people.
- Nowhere in Scripture are infants rejected from this practice.
- The baptism of entire households included infants by way of authority rather than age requirements.
- If infants are excluded from baptism, then are not women excluded from Communion for the same reason since all partakers were male as identified in the New Testament?
- Children have inherited original sin and stand, like the adult, in need of a Savior.
- If those below the age of reason are not held accountable for sin, then would it not be better for them to die and enter Heaven in this sinless state rather than risk an eternity in Hell through a "personal choice" later? This is logically macabre.
- If infants are not baptized, what difference is there between the baptized and heathen's child? (oh that's right, they're both going to Heaven. See above.)

Answer 3

A child is baptized to protect its soul and to bring it into the body of Christ. A good parent teaches a child what the child need to know to be a good person and citizen in the culture in which the family lives. You do not wait till a child is 15 and say here are all of the options, make a choice. That would be crazy. The same is true of religion. A child is raised in one faith, and when they are older then they have the free will to stay with it or do something else. Far too many parents these days give their children too much freedom too early. A parents role is to teach and mold the child starting very early.

Answer 4

I don't see why you think it is such a bad thing. I was baptized as a baby and I don't follow the religion, but it's not like anything has hurt me by being baptized. It's not like I am a different person. Something like circumcision I can understand arguing about because it is irreversible, but having a child baptized does not make them any different than any other child. If I want to be apart of another religion, no one is going to stop me. Just a thought..

In the Omish society they wait until they are over 18 to become baptized, they make the choice of whether or not they want to live in the Omish society and become baptized or move into the "Devil's Playground" aka the rest of society. And even Jesus was baptized after his 20ies (maybe even 30ies).. so it would actually make more sense for Christians to follow exactly what Christ did.. I dunno.. :)

Answer 5

Jesus said at Matt. 28: 19,20 "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you."

Ok, "baptizing" and "teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you." Obviously, not a statement meant for babies.

Also, no infants were baptized in Bible times. Jesus himself wasn't baptized until he was 30 yr old. The Ethiopian wasn't baptized (Acts 8:26-39) until he had a thorough understanding of the Scriptures. There's just no Scriptural precedent for infant baptism.

There is also nothing in the Scriptures to back up the belief that if an infant dies and isn't baptized that he will burn forever in hellfire. What kind of God would do such a thing, anyway?

Answer 6

Largely because many Christians have rejected the doctrine of Original Sin, or, how we sinned in Adam.

This inhereted sin was not aquired by a conscious choice, therefore it doesnt need a conscious choice to have it removed.

The Jews did not wait for their children to grow up and make a concious choice to be circumcised. An 8 day old is an infant. For people who claim to follow the bible, they should know that Baptism is the "New Circumcision".

Christian parents teach their children how to be good people, and the best way to do that is by their example. I dont know why you would think you are imposing your beliefs on your children when it is in their best interest that you teach them right from wrong, instead of waiting until its too late.

Answer 7

I'm 21. I was raised a Christian. In fact, my parents are pastors of a church.

I was never baptized because my parents said it would be pointless to do so until I was old enough to make the decision to be baptized on my own.

It IS a personal choice and I should hope that more people will realize that.

Holly
www.iconfessional.com Admin

Answer 8

Don't worry, they can change their mind at any time, as even the proud atheists prove, because they say they had a Christian childhood and "grew out of it". But not baptising the children and not giving them a Christian upbringing would make them vulnerable to all sorts of influences before they can make their own decisions. And I guess you don't have any children, because any parents who love their children will want them to know what is best for them, and will educate them in this way. After they grow up, they will do with their education what they see fit.

Answer 9

In my church (Methodist) we practise infant Baptism. For me infant Baptism is more about the parents promising to God that they will provide a Christian home to raise thei children in and will encourage them as they mature to enter into the full life of the church i.e. To accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

The one sad thing is that we then cannot Baptise them again when they make a mature decision to follow Christ.

Again however Baptism by the Spirit - when the believer truly accepts Jesus is the most important.

Baptism (and I will probably get flack for this) is a symbolic gesture of the person accepting Christ, whether this happens as an infant or as an adult is far less important than whether you actually accept Christ into your life or not.

Answer 10

I agree....there is an "age of accountability." That being said, most parents don't want their children to have to go through the same struggles and searching that they went through. They have found the truth only through trials and tribulation. They don't want their children to suffer searching for answers to questions that they have already found. This is normal, protective, and loving behavior. In the end only God can convert the heart, soul, and mind.