What is more appropriate for Full Gospel families?

Question

I want to, in essence, dedicate my son to the Lord, kind of like a Christening, I guess. I want opinions on what you all think is the most fitting ceremony to do this following Full Gospel beliefs. Any Scriptural reference would be most helpful, and I welcome counterpoints with reference, so long as they are kept civil and not rude or disparaging in any way. Any inapporpriate replies (vulgarity, spite, rudeness, etc.) WILL BE REPORTED!!!!! Likewise, I will choose a best answer. Thanks!

Okay, I don't think you all udnerstand this one. I want to DEDICATE my son to the Lord, not force him into one set religion. Until my son is old enough to decide (he is only one year old right now) I want to dedicate him to God for the purose of keeping him safe. As much as it would disappoint me if it came to it, my son will ALWAYS have the option of choosing another religion, but that doesn't mean I can't teach him what I know.

Wow, I cannot believe some of the replies here. I will report rude people, but not people who disagree with me. I said I welcome all replies, but I will report the ones that are batantly hateful. For Pete's ake people, just because I'm a Christian who believes that the Lord can do more to protect my son than the police and (sorry excuse for a protection agency) social services doesn't make some sort of religious zealot who will beat my child or disown him if he ever chooses a path different from the one I follow. When did it come to the point that if you are openly Christian and try to teach your children your beliefs, you are automatically a close-minded, controlling hypocrite?

Answer 1

I wish I could answer this, but I have not heard of Full Gospel Families. What religion or denomination are you with, and can you tell us more?
Update....
Ok, well based on what you told...I would say definitely dedicate him to God, through your church. I have done this with my two sons, and it is nothing like infant baptism, or anything. I think it is a lovely idea, and a perfect way to begin his life. Take pictures, write down the memories, and pray for him always, and remember that day with smiles. Life is so short, and they grow so quickly. Don't worry about rude people. God knows your heart, and you seem a very sweet person with the right motives and it is clear you love your child very much. He is lucky to have you.

Answer 2

Dedication is used instead of "infant baptism", so that the child has the option when he or she becomes an adult to request baptism.

Full Gospel? Many churches claiming to be "full gospel" are infact quite the opposite! 1 Cor. 15:1- tells us what the full gospel is: by which we are saved; that Christ died for our sins, buried, raised again, the fact of His ressurection has witnesses, the promised ressurection of the dead when Jesus returns. This alone is the full gospel! Churches who claim to have some missing part of the gospel- don't understand the gospel, if they had they would not make such a claim. See Gal.1:6-9, [the word here used "other," "another," "different," in the original actualy means: "adding too" see marginal reference].

Back to your question on DEDICATION, the dedication cerimony is in reality a dedication of the parents. The parents are promising to raise the child in the wisdom of the Lord. Therefore hands should be laid upon the parents with public prayer to help them undertake this task. Beauty can make it more meaningfull so the use of a rose or flower can be nice. This is a solemn, yet joyful, commitment. To keep it full gospel- a short reading or message centered upon Jesus, (also born a babe) loved your child so much that he died for your child, and was raised again for your child.

Answer 3

I the Assemblies of God we dedicate our children to the Lord shortly after the are born, much like in Jesus day. We do NOT baptize infants. We have the family bring the before the congregation, talk to the parents about their Biblical responsibilities in raising their child, talk to the congregation about their part in raising the child, present the father with a red rose to represent the blood shed by Jesus, and the blood and sweat the father is to shed in providing for the child. The mother gets a white rose to represent the pure love she is to show the child, and also the fact that the first representation of Christs love the child will know comes from the mother. The child gets a small white carnation to represent the purity of the child. then the pastor takes the child, and prays for him/her and presents him/her to the congregation.

Answer 4

Neither dedications nor infant baptism have any scriptural refferences aside from "Bring the little children to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven was made for such as these" and the same can be applied for both.

I preffer dedications over infant baptism and christening, only because most of the time, the parents of the christened baby never tell them what it means really and will often tell them they wont need to make their own public profession of faith in adulthood.

However, its never a bad thing for a congregation to pray for a child coming into the world and to have someone close to you vow, that if for whatever reason you cannot teach your child the importance of faith and salvation, that they will.

Answer 5

There are no ceremonies are commands concerning dedication of children to the Lord in the Church Age. In most fundamental churches, parents come forward during the invitation time and let the church body know that you are dedicating yourselves, as parents, to raising your child for the Lord. This holds you accountable to God and the church body to do so. Dedication of the child to the Lord is a decision that child must make; you can only dedicate yourselves as parents to raise him for the Lord.

Answer 6

Wow...at the risk of being reported, I'd gently suggest that informing people in your question that if you don't like their replies you'll report them is, well, quite arrogant...and not very social :(

So, report me if you must -- but this is an open forum, and I'll post my opinion in a nice way. If you take offense with my reply, so be it.

My suggestion is that you let your son decide if he's going to "dedicate himself to the lord" or not once he's old enough to do so. Teach your children to be kind, honest, respectful, tolerant, charitable, generous, etc. -- none of these things are "christian" values, they're just good human values. Then let him decide on his own what the best way to live his life is. If you do your job right, he'll be a fine human being whether he's "dedicated to the lord" or not.

Peace.

Answer 7

It was done once that I can remember. The father help the child while the mother offered her prayer for the child then She took the baby while the father offered his prayer. In the Baptist church I saw this done in the Pastor (Teaching Elder) closed by praying for the parents and the family as a whole.. It was quite wonderful not a dry eye... Jim

Answer 8

I guess you could probably say a prayer of dedication. Other than that, the child will have to make a profession of faith before any baptism is needed.

Ephesians 4:5
(5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

Answer 9

My mother dedicated me to the Lord shortly after my birth.

The Bible says that all souls already belong to God ...

Ezekiel 18:4 (King James Version)

4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

I think that dedication of children to the Lord originates with Hannah dedicating her son Samuel to God:

1 Samuel 1:19-28 (King James Version)

19 And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.

20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.

21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.

22 But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.

23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.

24 And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.

25 And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.

26 And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.

27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

28 Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

Answer 10

Numbers 6:24,25,26

Deuteronomy 28:2-14

Psalm 103

These verses are what I use to bless my children. Quite often I will put my hand upon their heads even now that they are grown and bless them in the name of Jesus.

Our children need to be blessed and not cursed.