Should there be a minimum age for baptism? Is age 7 reasonable? Is that the age that we really understand?

Question

My mom was a Jew, and my dad was Catholic.

I was "christened" as a baby in the church of my father. It was called baptism, but how could it be, when I did not do it intentionally???

Then I gave my heart to Jesus in a protestant church and was "baptized' in ful knowledge of what I was doing!

I leave you wth a little story...

A little child in church for the first time watched as the ushers passed the offering plates.

When they neared the pew where he sat, the youngster piped up so that everyone could hear, "Don't pay for me, Daddy. I'm under five."

Answer 1

I believe each child is different. We have a child in our church (now almost 8) who knew and understood about Jesus when he was 5, and he accepted Jesus as his Savior. I don't remember him being baptized though, I'll have to ask his parents.

I think Christians should definitely dedicate their babies to the Lord, but baptism is an outward showing of an inward change (it represents a new life in Christ), as I'm sure you know.

Great question, by the way. You definitely get people talking!

Answer 2

To answer your direct question: No.

I've read several excellent answers here, from Christians and some answers from others who obviously don't know the Lord even yet.

However, the child should be the one who has already:

1. Been saved

2. Understands what salvation is

3. Understands what baptism is

and

4. Is asking to be baptized

When the parents are asking for their child to be baptized, then their child is too young.

I have never set a minimum age for a child to be baptized in any church where I was in charge.

But I have told parents who called me on the phone asking about making arrangements for their child's baptism, if little Johnny wants to be baptized . . .

1. Its his decision, not yours

2. When he is ready to talk about, he should call the Pastor and then little Johnny and the Pastor can discuss it.

I've seen some children initiate this conversation at age 5 or 6 and others not be ready until they are 15.

Its different with each child.

I know one five year old who approached his Pastor about being baptized and the Pastor told the child's parents, "He's only 5, he's too young."

Two years later at age 7, that child was finally baptized.

On the very same day that 7 year old was Baptized, that Pastor baptized his very own 5 year old son.

So the bottom line is that in my opinion there should be no minimum age, however the child should be old enough to be making the request for himself or herself.

It should not be inititated on the child's behalf by anyone else.

There is no harm done if the baptism of a child is delayed if the Pastor feels its too early. Or of the parents feel its too early.

Both the parents and the Pastor should be agreement on this.

If either feel the child is too young, I'd suggest delay it.

Then again in the case of parents who are not Christians, perhaps their input is less valuable.

Those are my toughts.

Pastor Art

Answer 3

Where infant Baptism has become the form in which this sacrament is usually celebrated, it has become a single act encapsulating the preparatory stages of Christian initiation in a very abridged way. By its very nature infant Baptism requires a post-baptismal catechumenate. Not only is there a need for instruction after Baptism, but also for the necessary flowering of baptismal grace in personal growth. The catechism has its proper place here.
The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole "households" received baptism, infants may also have been baptized

Answer 4

A. - I don't think there is an appropriate or innappropriate age for Baptism.
If a child is Baptised as an infant - count it as a plus/ a blessing - if anything harsh were to happen to that child.
As an adult you understand more about what Baptism means - it is a sincere act - from the mind and heart - it means more - so much more because it is almost like giving back to God of ourselves and saying to Him "here I am - I give you myself!" as I am.
But Baptism as an adult brings with it greater responsibility for you - than when you were a little child.
I count it a blessing that God allowed me to live long enough to understand these two actions and gave me the wisdom
to make the second choice.

Answer 5

First of all, I am very happy for you that you experienced salvation and believers' baptism.

My faith (Baptist) teaches the the proper sequence and method of baptism is total immersion for a believer who has already accepted Christ as Savior. We don't christen babies, although some have what is called a baby dedication service which is actually more of a HOME dedication service where the parents and other relatives present pray for God's blessing on the home and commit to raising the child in a Christian environment.

I really don't understand the whole baby christening thing--I think it has something to do with the Catholic's (and others') beliefs about purgatory and hell and that they actually have the power to intercede for others for salvation. This is not taught in Scripture. Baptism has no power to save a person; it is merely symbolic of the death to the old sin nature and new life in Christ. We practice this ordinance as a step of obedience to Christ and as a path to membership in the church AFTER we have been saved.

As far as the age, there is no one right age. A child who has been brought up in the church and has heard the gospel message will probably start asking questions and coming to a realization of the need for salvation in the pre-teen years. This is the work of the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, and shouldn't be pressured on a child (or anyone for that matter.) If the opportunity to accept the Lord is given at and after the "age of accountability", when a person understands the difference between right and wrong and that he/she needs the saving grace of Jesus to atone for his/her sins, the Holy Spirit will work in that person's heart to bring about repentance and salvation.

While I certainly don't believe in forcing or pressuring a young child into a false profession of faith, at some point it becomes harder to reach people. The pride of life kicks in for most of us somewhere during adolescence, and it becomes more difficult (although not impossible) for the Spirit to overcome our sinful human will. Sadly, many adults who are not raised in Christian homes and/or saved at a young age have to experience some tragic consequences of sin before they realize their need for repentance and salvation. Others completely close their minds and hearts to Christ and may not be able to have the "faith of a child" as Jesus taught.

I used to know a cute joke about a kid trying to immerse baptize the family cat in a tub of water without success. After several tries, he was seen squirting the cat with the water hose instead of dunking it under the water and saying "Fine, be a Methodist then!" (I guess you could substitute Catholic or whatever!)

Answer 6

Here's what the original Christians said:

Irenaeus
"Jesus came to save all through himself; all, I say, who through him are reborn in God: infants, and children, and youths, and old men. Therefore he passed through every age, becoming an infant for infants, sanctifying infants; a child for children, sanctifying those who are of that age . . . [so that] he might be the perfect teacher in all things, perfect not only in respect to the setting forth of truth, perfect also in respect to relative age" (Against Heresies 2:22:4 [A.D. 189]).


Hippolytus
"Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them" (The Apostolic Tradition 21:16 [A.D. 215]).

Origen
"The Church received from the apostles the tradition of giving baptism even to infants. The apostles, to whom were committed the secrets of the divine sacraments, knew there are in everyone innate strains of [original] sin, which must be washed away through water and the Spirit" (Commentaries on Romans 5:9 [A.D. 248]).

Later people made up their own understanding about baptism. But the apostles baptized infants.

Cheers,
Bruce

Answer 7

By your "christening" (which would have been a baptism), you entered into a covenant with God that reflects Old Testament circumcision and would be a Christian replacement for this Jewish rite.

By being rebaptized at a later point in life, full knowledge or not, you denied the effect of this covenant, substituting your own rules for God's prerogative. Your parents brought you to the Lord in submission to Him, placing you in the shadow of the cross of Christ, FOR YOU, Michael P, and you basically told them that their actions were worthless, dirt to be trampled on. Shame on you. Your infant baptism carried the same weight as infant circumcision, a profound mark on God's own, and you shook your fist at it. Tell your parents, Michael P, it's age 7.

Answer 8

I believe baptism should be done when the person has reached the age of accountability. It's personal and varies upon the individual. I would think a young teen is able to understand sin and it's consequences

Answer 9

My daughter is 9 and ready to be baptized, but we missed the last one sadly....she knows what salvation in Jesus Christ is, and has given her life to the Lord. They must understand why they need Christ-- the must understand salvation before they are baptized-- otherwise they will have NO idea why they are being baptized!
That is why babies should not be baptized, they are too young to be held accountable, and too young to know what sin is, to be saved- they cannot grasp that as infants....they must be old enough to know what the Bible says and understand it.
Paul says in the N.T "believe and be baptized"
A baby cannot "believe" -- they are not capable!

Answer 10

No, there should not be a minimum age. Such decisions are to be made ONLY in the fullness of spiritual maturity and understanding. I will say that it's POSSIBLE for a 7 year old to understand the concept in a very basic manner, but I wouldn't push it upon them if they didn't understand the consequences.