Do they encourage? Do they discourage? Are they counciled? By whom? Is there a waiting period for baptism? In my church there are what seems an unusual number of people giving testimonies that they didn't feel that they had a genuine soul saving experience as a child and later were actually born again. These persons are rebaptised.I personally feel childhood decisions should not be solicited or encouraged, but never discouraged.
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How does your Church deal with Child professions of Faith?
- Thread starter Berean
- Start date
I will repeat a story - At Trinity Baptist, Hopewell, VA; a little boy (6?) came forwarded during the invitation to be saved. I counslerd him. I asked him if he had ever sinned. He said no! Mr. Bean got upset with me becasue I would not fill out a "salvation card" on the boy. Come to find out this little boy would come forward about once a month to "get saved" He had absoutely no ideal was salvation was about (BTW, he was not from a Christian home) IMHO, the church just like having"numbers"
Berean, I like your statement "I personally feel childhood decisions should not be solicited or encouraged, but never discouraged."
We have a specific class where we send parents and their child(ren) that meets about five or six times a year. In this class (we require parents...both if possible) to be present and we talk earnestly about what salvation means and counsel each child specifically.
We also use this time to instruct parents that they are the most responsible agent for their children's faith journey (outside of the child themselves) during these formative years.
Then we schedule their baptism date, following what we believe is a genuine salvation experience. We allow them as much time as they desire. We generally attempt to give very young children a bit more time, but welcome them into this process.
Berean said:
Yeah, I've heard this too. I don't know what to do about it because we have even more people who cite their early salvation and how it allowed them to grow in their faith. My own experience was when I was six I received Christ and never doubted.
I know adults who have said that they prayed to receive Christ at one point and then said later they didn't really understand/mean it then and did over again. This is part of ministry.
An excellent post. :thumbsup:
The age of the person being saved is irrelevant. A 5 year old can get saved and understand everything. A 40 year old can just say some words and think they are saved. People that "get saved" and then later realized they were not saved was probably because somebody had a higher priority on numbers than sharing the gospel. There are many that will try to just get people to say some prayer and then say they are saved. This can happen at any age. I was saved when I was 5. God can save a 5 year old.
He did today. My daughter is 5 and welcomed Christ today (the reason I find this thread ironic today). There was no coersion...in fact I was probably being too much of a hinderance to her. She knows she is a sinner. She knows Jesus took her punishment (we just watcher The Passion a couple weeks ago, and she was really interested in The Bible series).
My son had just turned 6 when he randomly announced his decision to himself on the way home from Walmart a week before Christmas 2 years ago. Again, a God thing.
I was 7 and I had no doubts and complete assurance.
Thank you for saying that! I recall my brother telling me one day that my 5 YO niece was ready. This child was very quiet & somewhat shy so when he announced this (Good Fundamentalist pastor he was)
I was incredulous. I asked him politely if he (my brother) was sure of this so he takes the kid & puts her on his lap & says to her, tell uncle Steve how you have been born again. My nieces eyes protruded out like a deer caught in headlights so I chose not to embarrass her any more & I shut up. Today she (at 19 YO) has run away from home & living in sin with a guy down in Mississippi. (shakes head)Thank you for saying that! I recall my brother telling me one day that my 5 YO niece was ready. This child was very quiet & somewhat shy so when he announced this (Good Fundamentalist pastor he was)
That would be an example of a child that didn't understand. There are times parents or pastors or teachers that push people into "getting saved." This doesn't mean that no 5 year old understands.
That could probably be said of some even on this board. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water is quite an appropriate phrase.Thank you for saying that! I recall my brother telling me one day that my 5 YO niece was ready. This child was very quiet & somewhat shy so when he announced this (Good Fundamentalist pastor he was)
I do not know what you find ironic, I had no knowledge of your childs conversion. Just wanted to see how differently individual churches dealt with this. Sorry if you took offense.
Yes.... I hear Roman Catholics using that same phrase quite often as a matter of fact. However I am glad your daughter is in Christ.
No problem, misunderstanding on my part.
salzer mtn
Well-Known Member
IMO as a general rule, children that are of the single digit age think Jesus is still a baby in a manger and if they make professions it is to get love or attention from grown ups, or it is a make believe game to them. Most children sleep during the sermons so their ears don't hear anything but when christmas comes around their eyes see baby Jesus is a manger in the nativity programs.
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I didn't know that you were an expert in child spiritual psychology, insulting to the Holy Spirit, and to many who were saved as children. So, I guess you are saying that when I became a Christian at age six that it was all about getting attention and seeing baby Jesus in a manger. You could not be more wrong! I knew that Jesus died on a cross, was buried, and rose again on the third day. I confessed Jesus as Lord. True, I have matured in my understanding, but even then I knew exactly what I was doing. Jesus called and I responded.
That tells me everything I wanted to know...except what is your age today if I might ask?. Thanks.
I in no way dispute that you were saved at the age of 6. But I will compliment you by saying you were exceedingly comprehensive at an early age by having such a complete and clear understanding of what you were doing.
As a career sinner...I guess I find it difficult to think of a life lived w/o the sins ive committed. I was what 53 when saved so now I can really appreciate thegift of salvation. Now of course, I have regrets...and like Sinatra says...but to few to mention. Some of these sins were honestly fun in a bitter sweet way...but all were learning lessions...some that make me smile & thank God he allowed me to live, experience & learn from them. :godisgood: thank you Lord.
Let me ask...did the thief on the cross have such a complete and clear understanding of what he was doing, or did he simply understand his condition and cry out for help?