Should we let our children choose whether to be christened?

Yes

1 of 16

by Valerie J Routhieaux

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Baptism: An Outward Expression of an Inward Commitment

I read the top two articles in this debate. I have my opinions about both of them. One thing I can easily determine from both articles is that neither of the writers are Christians.

Should a child choose to be baptized? The simple answer is yes, but for none of the reasons given in either of the articles I had the privilege to read.

I grew up in a denomination where I was baptized at two weeks old. I lived my childhood in that denomination. I went to church every Sunday, and when I was old enough for school, I went to a parochial school. Did I fault my parents for sending me to a school that allowed me the privilege to know my Lord Jesus Christ? Did I fault my parents for baptizing me as an infant? Did I fault my parents for taking me to church every Sunday? No.

I didn't know I wasn't a Christian until I was in my twenties. I still went to church and Sunday School every Sunday, not because I had to but because I wanted to. But one day I was confronted with the possibility I wasn't a Christian. I found out there was a lot more to being a Christian than going to church every Sunday, knowing some really great Bible verses I learned in school, praying at every meal, and being baptized as an infant.

Being a Christian is having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It's wanting to spend time with Him every waking moment. It's talking to Him no matter where you are. It's being with other believers, getting encouragement through something as simple as a hug or smile. It's knowing that you know that you know that you know everything is going to be all right because God has the solution already worked out. All we have to do is trust and believe.

When I became a Born Again Christian, the first thing I wanted to do was be baptized. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward commitment. For me it was more than obeying Jesus command to be baptized it was saying yes to doing His will every day of my life for as long as I live. Will I succeed in that? No. There have been many times when I wanted to do God's will my way. When I realized His way was better, I asked His forgiveness and got back on track with Him.

I no longer belong to a denominational church, but I do belong to a Christian church. What do I mean by that? I mean the church I belong to teaches the Bible as the inspired infallible word of God. I don't look at my rights as dictated by a government, but I look at the benefits I have as a child of God. If you don't know your benefits, open your Bible and look up Psalm 103.

Or in case you don't own a Bible, or know where Psalms is: Psalm 103:1 <<A Psalm of David.>> Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. (KJV)

Did I baptize my children as infants? Yes I did, because I thought it was the right thing to do. When I became a Christian we all learned together what God wanted from us, and then when they wanted to be baptized they made the choice. Two of my three children were baptized through their own choice, and two of my grandchildren have since been baptized through their choice.

In the article by one of the authors for this title, he says a person should look at every religion and make his or her choice what he or she wants to believe. There is the true story about bank tellers. A bank teller is taught to identify counterfeit money by studying real money. They are not shown any counterfeit money. The reason is so that when they are given a counterfeit bill, they will know it instantly from the real.

A parent can do a lot of harm to their children by allowing them to choose what they want to believe in. If they are never taught the truth, they will believe a lie, it is that simple.

Jesus said in John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (KJV)

In the book of Acts, we read about two instances when baptism was requested by the one who wanted to be baptized.

Concerning an Ethiopian eunuch, Acts 8:35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (KJV)

Concerning the jailer, Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,

30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. (KJV)

As you can see in both instances, believing in Jesus is first. An infant cannot believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as his or her personal Saviour. He must be taught, and make the decision to believe. It was the choice of the new believer to be baptized, not the will of the parents. Recently I had the privilege of witnessing several people baptized in the church I attend. Two of the five were children. There was no coercion, they testified of their faith in Jesus Christ gladly, freely of their own accord.

That is the way baptism should be because it is an outward expression of an inward commitment to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord.

The verses in the Bible known as the Great Commission are Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (KJV)

First we teach, then we baptize, and then we teach some more. The one who is taught makes the choice. It must always be an outward expression of an inward commitment otherwise it will have no meaning.

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