Does Your Church have Age Requirement for baptism?

[JesusFan]

Just curious, as though we believe the Lord can save children, we have a policy to only water baptise children at 12 on up...

Any one else have an age limitattion in place?

 

[Alcott]

I don't think so. If we do, I know it's much younger than 12. We had one baptized 2 or 3 weeks ago whom the baptizer said was 6. It's only my opinion, but I think it's quite likely that anyone baptized very young like that will have one of those periods in which he will start to think he "didn't really know what he was doing," and go in for 'counseling,' and may be baptized again. But it's grace through faith that saves-- which is why I, who professed faith and was baptized at 10, have never had an urge to have it done again, in spite of my learning so much more years later.

 

[Zenas]

Just curious, as though we believe the Lord can save children, we have a policy to only water baptise children at 12 on up...

Any one else have an age limitattion in place?

No, and I would not belong to a church that did. If my church wanted to adopt it, I would oppose it. If they adopted it anyway, I would move my membership. If a person is old enough to make a public profession of faith he is old enough to be baptized. My wife was baptized at age 4 and never looked back or had any second thoughts.

 

[matt wade]

Just curious, as though we believe the Lord can save children, we have a policy to only water baptise children at 12 on up...

Any one else have an age limitattion in place?

Obviously your church can do whatever it wants, but the practice is not biblical.

If someone is old enough to be saved, they are old enough to be baptized.

 

[InTheLight]

Originally Posted by JesusFan
Just curious, as though we believe the Lord can save children, we have a policy to only water baptise children at 12 on up...

Any one else have an age limitattion in place?

Obviously your church can do whatever it wants, but the practice is not biblical.

If someone is old enough to be saved, they are old enough to be baptized.

Amen!

Withholding a church ordinance on the randomly selected criteria of age is wrong.

Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

 

[Iconoclast]

This is a hot button issue. Baptists say padeo baptists are wrong...but the first time one of their children says Jesus...they look to baptize.
Do you really think the real little ones really know and understand the issue?
God saves people when he saves them...for sure. It seems however that sometimes it is the parents emotions getting the best of them. they want to "know" that their child is saved......but is it reflected in the childs life.Some of my children were very compliant when they were young...but as they got older......

Does a 4 yr old who gets baptized vote on the church budget...or help determine church policies along with the other members?

Do we allow 6,or 7 yr olds to drive cars? What is the rush?

 

[JesusFan]

This is a hot button issue. Baptists say padeo baptists are wrong...but the first time one of their children says Jesus...they look to baptize.
Do you really think the real little ones really know and understand the issue?
God saves people when he saves them...for sure. It seems however that sometimes it is the parents emotions getting the best of them. they want to "know" that their child is saved......but is it reflected in the childs life.Some of my children were very compliant when they were young...but as they got older......

Does a 4 yr old who gets baptized vote on the church budget...or help determine church policies along with the other members?

Do we allow 6,or 7 yr olds to drive cars? What is the rush?

We do it in order to give some time to show that the child was really saved, not just emotionally, got caught up in the moment, friends did it etc

Also, we do use that as the entry way into becoming an official member ofthe church, which entails voting, instruction etc

We just think that while the lord can save us young, prudent to wait upon the lord...

as unlike say RCC/Church of Christ/Lutheryns eyc we do not see thw water baptism as being essentially to them be saved!

Important yes, but there is a time for all things, as per Solomon himself!

 

[Martin]

Just curious, as though we believe the Lord can save children, we have a policy to only water baptise children at 12 on up...

Any one else have an age limitattion in place?

==No. What is the Biblical basis for the policy at your church? Just asking.

 

[InTheLight]

Do you really think the real little ones really know and understand the issue?

Obviously there needs to be a Q&A session between the pastor and the child to determine if there is understanding.

God saves people when he saves them...for sure. It seems however that sometimes it is the parents emotions getting the best of them. they want to "know" that their child is saved......but is it reflected in the childs life.Some of my children were very compliant when they were young...but as they got older......

What is with Calvinists and their wariness of believing someone is actually saved?

Does a 4 yr old who gets baptized vote on the church budget...or help determine church policies along with the other members?

Do we allow 6,or 7 yr olds to drive cars?

<Sigh> Non-sequiturs.

 

[JesusFan]

==No. What is the Biblical basis for the policy at your church? Just asking.

We tie it into the idea of jewish boys becoming men, officially part of the community at same age, that jesus commissioned the church to teach and make converts and disciples and than water baptise, and that that oridance reserved to those who know what it represents/means, and that can can now become official part of the local church 'membership"...

We DO recognize that the Lord can save bu His grace kids, but since we tend to view baptism as the ordinence to bring them officially into church membership, hold off based upon those detailed points above...

not saying others need to adopt this, view this as being under "freedom to choose" As baptists...

 

[InTheLight]

tie it into the idea of jewish boys becoming men, officially part of the community at same age,

Why tie this in? Why in the world is this relevant?

that jesus commissioned the church to teach and make converts and disciples and than water baptise, and that that oridance reserved to those who know what it represents/means

Ever hear of asking the child if they understand why they want to be baptized? You seem to be saying that no one under 12 years old can be saved or understand salvation.

 

[Tom Bryant]

We have no age requirement, but the child who makes a profession of faith must first talk to the SS teacher, then the head of our children's ministry, then we talk to the parents to see what they think, then the child comes to me. The child needs to be able to understand what sin is, who Jesus is and what they need to do to be saved ("believe"). The questions we ask try to have the child describe for her/him self what happened. We don't coach them. We want the child to verbalize on their own what salvation is.

If at any point the teacher, dep't head, parent or myself think the child doesn't understand what they did or why they did it, we can ask for a postponement in their baptism until they really understand.

Have we postponed a baptism? yes, several times. We'd rather wait and be sure than have a child think they are saved because they walked an aisle and got wet.

 

[JesusFan]

Why tie this in? Why in the world is this relevant?

{quote] we just use that as a pattern in approaching it!

Ever hear of asking the child if they understand why they want to be baptized? You seem to be saying that no one under 12 years old can be saved or understand salvation.[/QUOTE]

we DO indeed recognize that the Lord can save kids, its just that we also hold that there is a proper place and time for the ordinance to be performed !

 

[InTheLight]

We have no age requirement, but the child who makes a profession of faith must first talk to the SS teacher, then the head of our children's ministry, then we talk to the parents to see what they think, then the child comes to me. The child needs to be able to understand what sin is, who Jesus is and what they need to do to be saved ("believe"). The questions we ask try to have the child describe for her/him self what happened. We don't coach them. We want the child to verbalize on their own what salvation is.

If at any point the teacher, dep't head, parent or myself think the child doesn't understand what they did or why they did it, we can ask for a postponement in their baptism until they really understand.

Have we postponed a baptism? yes, several times. We'd rather wait and be sure than have a child think they are saved because they walked an aisle and got wet.

Yes! :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[InTheLight]

we DO indeed recognize that the Lord can save kids, its just that we also hold that there is a proper place and time for the ordinance to be performed !

Well you don't follow the Bible way, as in:

Acts 8:36 Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”
37 Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.”
And he answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”


Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.

 

[JesusFan]

We have no age requirement, but the child who makes a profession of faith must first talk to the SS teacher, then the head of our children's ministry, then we talk to the parents to see what they think, then the child comes to me. The child needs to be able to understand what sin is, who Jesus is and what they need to do to be saved ("believe"). The questions we ask try to have the child describe for her/him self what happened. We don't coach them. We want the child to verbalize on their own what salvation is.

If at any point the teacher, dep't head, parent or myself think the child doesn't understand what they did or why they did it, we can ask for a postponement in their baptism until they really understand.

Have we postponed a baptism? yes, several times. We'd rather wait and be sure than have a child think they are saved because they walked an aisle and got wet.

Do you think that the Bible actually proscribes the practice to get saved, immediatly get dunked?

Know was done such in Acts, but what about remainder of the NT scriptures?

 

[InTheLight]

Do you think that the Bible actually proscribes the practice to get saved, immediatly get dunked?

Know was done such in Acts, but what about remainder of the NT scriptures?

The practice as described in Acts isn't good enough? As far as I know there is no mention of the timing of baptism after salvation except in the book of Acts.

Besides, now you are changing your question from an age limitation on baptism to how quickly after salvation one should be baptized. There is another thread dealing with this topic here:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=76058

 

[JesusFan]

The practice as described in Acts isn't good enough? As far as I know there is no mention of the timing of baptism after salvation except in the book of Acts.

Besides, now you are changing your question from an age limitation on baptism to how quickly after salvation one should be baptized. There is another thread dealing with this topic here:

http://www.baptistboard.com/showthread.php?t=76058

actually, they tie together, for IF the Bible allows latitude for there being a time period between saved and batised, age requirement for kids just expand it further out!

 

[Jerome]

Here is the ruling handed down from the the Elders of Capitol Hill Baptist Church (home base of Mark Dever's "9Marks" Calvinist faction):

As they assume adult responsibilities (sometime in late high school with driving, employment, non-Christian friends, voting, legality of marriage), then part of this, we would think, would be to declare publicly their allegiance to Christ by baptism.

http://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/we-equip/children/baptism-of-children/

 

[Jerome]

It seems delayed baptism is a hallmark of these hard-shell Baptists:

Pilgrims of Paradox: Calvinism and Experience among the Primitive Baptists of the Blue Ridge:

baptism often occurs very late in the life of the Primitive Baptist — perhaps in middle age or even very old age. Accordingly, one may be married before being baptized. Some persons have been baptized, ordained as deacons, and then buried in close succession, owing to the late age of baptism.

Encyclopedia of Religion in the South:

Baptism of pre-adolescents and even adolescents is held in profound distrust. Many Old Regular Baptists attending church since youth delay baptism until middle age or later.