How soon do you baptize?

[tyndale1946]

Good point. We argue (and I believe) that "baptism" means immersion. But it did not mean immersion on many occasions in Scrioture (in fact, I am not sure we can point to one occasion where it without does...we take it from the exact meaning of a word, which is a method we often reject in other instances).

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!

 

[Salty]

Many will look to the Eunuch and say he was immediately baptized.
I would probably would have done the same as - I believed he fully
understood what baptism was all about.

In this day and age, when people mention baptism, many will think about a baby being sprinkled.

I agree with Rlvaughn states that "It signifies a spiritual commitment, that we who are born again are now free to walk in newness of life"

But someone who has no previous Bible training will not fully understand the significance of that spiritual commitment
In addition - a young child - say 4-6 years old will not fully understand either - basically for the reason stated above.

On other thing - normally when a person is baptized - they are also joining the church.
So, Tom gets saved Sun am - baptized Sun Pm - joins the church on Wed PM
then a month or so later we find out that Tom believes in abortion, does not believe in the Trinity, thinks you can loose your salvation -
sees nothing wrong with boozing it up on Fri pm - as long as he is in church Sun AM..

This is my testimony - I was attending church faithfully for over 5 years - thinking I was born again - then in 1963, I came to the conclusion I was not. About a year later I talked to the pastor about being baptized. At our church, candidates would attend a 13 week class. I leaned a lot in those classes - and when i was baptized - it meant so much more to me. I then fully understood the significance of that spiritual commitment. (except at the time, I was not baptized with my wallet) I would never exchange that experience for anything.
And likewise - I doubt I would ever baptize anyone younger that ten years old.

 

[Yeshua1]

Many will look to the Eunuch and say he was immediately baptized.
I would probably would have done the same as - I believed he fully
understood what baptism was all about.

In this day and age, when people mention baptism, many will think about a baby being sprinkled.

I agree with Rlvaughn states that "It signifies a spiritual commitment, that we who are born again are now free to walk in newness of life"

But someone who has no previous Bible training will not fully understand the significance of that spiritual commitment
In addition - a young child - say 4-6 years old will not fully understand either - basically for the reason stated above.

On other thing - normally when a person is baptized - they are also joining the church.
So, Tom gets saved Sun am - baptized Sun Pm - joins the church on Wed PM
then a month or so later we find out that Tom believes in abortion, does not believe in the Trinity, thinks you can loose your salvation -
sees nothing wrong with boozing it up on Fri pm - as long as he is in church Sun AM..

This is my testimony - I was attending church faithfully for over 5 years - thinking I was born again - then in 1963, I came to the conclusion I was not. About a year later I talked to the pastor about being baptized. At our church, candidates would attend a 13 week class. I leaned a lot in those classes - and when i was baptized - it meant so much more to me. I then fully understood the significance of that spiritual commitment. (except at the time, I was not baptized with my wallet) I would never exchange that experience for anything.
And likewise - I doubt I would ever baptize anyone younger that ten years old.

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!

 

[Mikey]

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.

 

[Mikey]

They see it as being the Age of Accountability though, as when the child can take personal responsibility!

Age of accountablility is not in scripture.

 

[Yeshua1]

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!

 

[Mikey]

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.

 

[Salty]

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

We never said there was!
One other thing about immediate baptism
I don't want people to connect baptism with being a part of salvation.

But back to age as a requirement -
Nowhere is there any place in scripture that mentions the Pastor must be the moderator of business meetings.

 

[Salty]

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

We never said there was!.
One other thing about immediate baptism
I don't want people to connect baptism with it being a part of salvation.


But back to age as a requirement -
Nowhere is there any place in scripture that mentions the Pastor must be the moderator of business meetings
though most Baptist churches so so.

 

[Mikey]

We never said there was!
One other thing about immediate baptism
I don't want people to connect baptism with being a part of salvation.

But back to age as a requirement -
Nowhere is there any place in scripture that mentions the Pastor must be the moderator of business meetings.

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.

 

[Salty]

. To deny baptism to someone, on non biblical grounds, is a sin.

totally disagree

 

[Mikey]

totally disagree

Really? Can you explain further.

 

[Yeshua1]

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

 

[Mikey]

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.

 

[Yeshua1]

totally disagree

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?

 

[Marooncat79]

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

Seems they wanted to see fruit and baptize disciples.