With the recent arrival of the kipling, questions inevitably arise about the status of our little munchkin and in particular, whether it is right (or not) to give him the sign of the covenant: baptism. Now if any of you reading this know me well, you'll be aware that I'm a Firm paedobaptist (yes the captial "f" is intentional) so this post is not an indication of my wobbling on that issue rather it is an opportunity to converse, engage (and hopefully convert) you baptists to affirm the biblically warranted practice of baptising covenant children. I'll do this by posing various questions on this blog on different biblical passages that point to the validity and requirement of fully welcoming our children as members of God's household. As a friend at college used to say often: "just read the Word - it's all in there." I agree - the baptism of infants is clearly proclaimed in Scripture and thus I am not one of those who think that this is a small intramural issue that we can happily disagree about as we chew our cigars and drink port - No! I'm actually convinced that on this issue, our baptist brothers are in error and regularly pray that they will be delivered from this serious sin of omission. Ok enough background, Now to our first question...
Dear Baptist,
Genesis 6 describes Noah as the only righteous person in his generation (6:9) and yet, it is not just him who is saved but he and all his family (6:18; 1 Peter 3:20). Do you think God still works this way? Does he still operate this household principle of calling the head but also choosing to save their whole household? If yes (and the answer is yes) why the objection to baptising our children?
Hey Kipster,
ReplyDeleteu nuttah! (speaking the truth in love and all that!)
'the baptism of infants is clearly proclaimed in Scripture'. CLEARLY proclaimed? Let's be straight: *you* are not just talking about the baptism, but more importantly the salvation of infants born of Christian parents from conception?
I am familiar with how you derive it from biblical theology. But you failed to provide any clear verses that teach baptism/salvation of children of Christian parents. Perhaps you mean the 'you and your household verses' are the 'clear proclamation' of instantaneous salvation for all in family if one member believes (does it have to be the male head)?
We see salvation as absolutely massive, and someone crossing from death to life as of paramount importance, hence we want explicit texts on this stuff, it's too important to be unclear. The faith of your parents does not save you. Repent and be baptised, believe and be baptised, now those are CLEAR proclamations for the baptism of repentant believing individuals. You at best have implicit stuff. Which is not enough on such cataclysmic territory.
There we are the baptists begin to respond, i've got to go and post on your other slightly crazzy baptismal regeneration post too! ;)
Lots of love in Christ,
Tom
Yo Seidler,
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting and great to hear from you...
Regarding my comment that baptism is clearly proclaimed in Scripture. Well I am convinced that it is and over the next few weeks as we consider various passages, this will become evident. Of course it is not evident in the here is a specific verse and chapter saying "thou shall baptise thy infants" but more by examining what Scripture says about parents, children, family, God's covenant and the like. As one of my contemporary heroes says "Many Christians have come to baptistic conclusions because they simply took a Bible and a concordance, and then looked up every incident of baptism in the New Testament. This is objectionable, not because they studied they pasages concerned with baptism, but because they did not look up all the passages that addressed parents, children, generations, descendants, promises, covenants, circumcision, Gentiles, Jews, olive trees and countless other important areas. In other words, the subject is bigger than it looks" Let me put it another way by considering slightly different examples - where is the explicit verse on the Trinity? Or that we should have sermons when we meet on Sunday? Or that when you "come of age" you are to be baptised? Do you have specific chapter and verse for any of these?
Much love,
Kipper