Keith Mullins
Member
What are your thoughts on baptizing youth? Do you have a minimum age requirement, base it on a personal interview with the youngster to determine if they understand? Are there any scriptures to provide guidance?
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How young is to young for baptism?
- Thread starter Keith Mullins
- Start date
No age requirements
certainly 5 to at least 14 or 15 is too young
certainly 5 to at least 14 or 15 is too young
canadyjd
Well-Known Member
The good news is that baptism isn’t necessary for salvation.
I had a lady, in her 80’s, in our church that wanted her 5 year old autistic grandson baptized before she passed.
I wasn’t comfortable with it and didn’t do it.
My concern was giving the child, or others, a false hope of salvation when there was really no evidence of Holy Spirit involvement.
I would consider each case independently, but I would certainly observe who wanted the baptism the most… the child?, the parents?, the grandparents?
Peace to you
I had a lady, in her 80’s, in our church that wanted her 5 year old autistic grandson baptized before she passed.
I wasn’t comfortable with it and didn’t do it.
My concern was giving the child, or others, a false hope of salvation when there was really no evidence of Holy Spirit involvement.
I would consider each case independently, but I would certainly observe who wanted the baptism the most… the child?, the parents?, the grandparents?
Peace to you
37818
Well-Known Member
Simple.
Not yet a born again believer are too young for believer's baptism.
Keith Mullins
Member
Absolutely true. When an 8 year old says they are born again, do you take them at their word. They may know all the right words but do they understand?
Keith Mullins
Member
Giving a false sense of salvation is my concern. I have witnessed teens come to Christ when their parents say they were saved as a child. The teens knew they were not.
Young people have a strong desire to please others and be part of the crowd.
canadyjd
Well-Known Member
Yes, very true.
How many times have we heard someone testify they were saved as a child, then fell away as a teen and then in their 20’s or 30’s want to “rededicate” their lives to Christ?
My question to them is, “when were you ever dedicated to Christ”?
You get some strange looks with that question
peace to you
Charles Spurgeon:
https://www.spurgeongems.org/vols7-9/chs381.pdf
“We do not contend for the baptism of adults; we contend for the baptism of believers. Show us a child however young, who believes in Christ, and we gladly accept him”
https://www.spurgeongems.org/vols7-9/chs381.pdf
“We do not contend for the baptism of adults; we contend for the baptism of believers. Show us a child however young, who believes in Christ, and we gladly accept him”
Benjamin Keach (prominent 1600s Particular Baptist):
"little Children who do believe in Christ, have an indubitable right to Baptism"
"God hath in our days wrought by his Spirit, savingly on several little Children, some three or four years old, others about six or seven"
p. 16, “A Counter-Antidote…Wherein the Baptism of Believers Is Evinced to Be God’s Ordinance” by Benjamin Keach (London, 1694)
"little Children who do believe in Christ, have an indubitable right to Baptism"
"God hath in our days wrought by his Spirit, savingly on several little Children, some three or four years old, others about six or seven"
p. 16, “A Counter-Antidote…Wherein the Baptism of Believers Is Evinced to Be God’s Ordinance” by Benjamin Keach (London, 1694)
canadyjd
Well-Known Member
Spurgeon had classes that professing believers attended prior to baptism (if memory serves)
He proclaimed Christ crucified for sins in every sermon and urged all to come to Christ for salvation, even children.
He very clearly states he would baptize a child (not an infant) if the child gave a credible profession of faith.
I would expect he would hold all professing believers to a similar or identical standard when articulating that belief and request for baptism
peace to you
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Keith Mullins
Member
We have a 2 year old at our church that will tell you he believes in Christ. Would you baptize him?
What do you do about a person with disability, they can't read the Bible, they listen to the sermon, they are loving and the only thing they can say is I love the Lord... If it was up to me I would baptize, that individual in a heartbeat... They already belong to the Lord, they were baptized by the Holy Spirit... Water baptism is a public declaration of who they belong to Jesus Christ... Brother Glen
37818
Well-Known Member
It depends what he says he believes.
Acts of the Apostles 8:37 tradition.
Also 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
And John 3:16.
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Age has nothing to do with it. Understanding does. When questioned does the child seem to understand and has there been a change in the child's life. Does the child relate a need to live for God?
Young children can learn Christianese. Seriously
they hear our answers and parrot them
it’s extremely important to make sure
they hear our answers and parrot them
it’s extremely important to make sure