Featured How soon do you baptize?

Shall we gather at the river, seems to have been a baptismal hymn... And as one of our preachers have said if the candidate is not regenerated before they are immersed in the liquid grave they go in a dry devil and come out a wet one... My previous pastor long gone to be with the Lord, didn't let any water hinder him... He was baptized in the Pacific Ocean in San Diego, California... We just couldn't get the Coast Guard out of him... You hear me Squire?... Brother Glen

Btw... I was baptized in the church baptistry!

 

For the very same concerns that you raised here we wait until age 12, and require that the person getting dunked knows what really happened!

 

I disagree. there is no age requirement ever mentioned in scripture.

 

Age of accountablility is not in scripture.

 

Actually, there is one given in the OT, but that age was 20 and above, as those under that age allowed to enter into promised land!

 

The Bible does not mention any age of accountability unless perhaps the moment of conception is considered. Thirteen is the most common age suggested for the age of accountability, based on the Jewish custom that a child becomes an adult at the age of 13. However, the Bible gives no direct support to the age of 13 always being the age of accountability. Jesus’ parents took him to Jerusalem at the age of 12. It was there that he was in the temple questioning the religious leaders. So, some equate 12 as the age of accountability. Charles Spurgeon’s opinion was that “a child of five can as truly be saved and regenerated as an adult.”

A child has passed the age of accountability once he or she is capable of making a faith decision for or against Christ.
Matthew 19:14, “But Jesus said, ‘Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Age of accountability has no impact on the age which baptism should take place. Age of accountability is just a custom when a child becomes an adult, this varies between cultures. Does this mean that we should not baptise anyone before that age. No.

 

I never said you did.

the example is poor. Who says a pastor does need to moderate business meetings? not me. Baptism is a theological issue, who and how is mentioned in scripture. To add or to take away is serious.

From my experience, people who argue for an age of accountability to be applied to baptism do so because they are concerned about baptising those who are not genuine about their faith/repentance. This is noble. However, these people do not place enough concern for denying baptism to those with genuine faith. To deny baptism to someone, on non biblical grounds, is a sin.

 

Really? Can you explain further.

 

I understand and actually agree with your premise, but was just stating what my Church leadership position os on this issue!

 

Aye, no worries mate.

Sadly, I also know that many churches also affirm such a position.

 

Would this not fall under submitting to Pastoral authority, as they have come to this understanding of age to Baptize, and also is this not under if they are persuaded and convinced this is what scriptures teach, would be sin to go against that?

 

Not in Scripture, but early Xians waited up to 3 yrs. and only on Easter

Seems they wanted to see fruit and baptize disciples.