Chapter 2 -

What about baptizing children?

 

 

 

 

Water baptism has often been applied also to small children. People have baptized children who cannot have a similar kind of a biblical faith than older people can. This has been argued by the following kind of points:

 

"Forbid them not". Firstly, baptizing children may have been encouraged so that we would not hinder their access to Jesus by not baptizing them. This is based on the next verses in the Gospels:

 

- (Mark 10:13-16) And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.

14  But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said to them, Suffer the little children to come to me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

15  Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

16  And he took them up in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.

 

Looking at these verses, we should note that it is not a question of water baptism but blessing the children by Jesus putting His hands on them. Baptizing children and blessing them are two different matters then.

   On the other hand if Jesus had really wanted to baptize these children, this would have been a good chance. However, He did not do it even though the Bible tells that He – or actually His disciples – baptized many other people:

 

- (John 4:1,2) When therefore the LORD knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,

2  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

 

Matt 28:19,20. Another thing used to justify baptizing children is the command Jesus gave in Matthew 28. It might be understood from some Bible translations (like the Finnish translation from 1938) that people are made disciples by baptizing and teaching. The command says as follows:

 

- (Matt 28:19,20) Go you 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 whatever I have commanded you: and, see, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Amen.

 

It is, however, good to note that these verses include three participles in the original language which are in a way "equal" to each other. The original version is as follows:

 

"By Going make disciples of all nations, by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, by teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

 

We must then understand that these verses contain three verbs that chronologically follow each other. The two last verbs are not subordinate to the first verb but it is a question of chronological order (First make them disciples, then baptize them, after which teach them). Thus, this verse could have been translated as "Go... baptize... teach.” This order – first make disciples, then baptize, and then teach them to obey everything – also appears in other translations.

   On the other hand, if disciples really were made by using these two ways: 1) baptizing and 2) teaching them to obey everything, we would end up with quite a remarkable heresy, where a person would have to first – in addition to being baptized – know all the commands of Jesus before he or she could be deemed a disciple and a saved person. Salvation would then actually be based on our actions and on how well we have learned the Bible by heart. It is clear that this is not the teaching of the Bible. Instead, we can be immediately saved simply by receiving Jesus into our hearts:

 

- (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name

 

As Matt 28:19,20 is a command given to the disciples, we can ask who could they have baptized if preaching and faith only come after baptism? Would it not have been impossible to obey this command in the society of that time because they were not allowed to baptize adults or children without their consent in order to make them disciples?

   We must, therefore, understand that in the society of those days – just like in the current mission – one cannot start with water baptism: the Gospel must always be preached first (in other words, it would have been very problematic to carry this out in a mission,  to which the command of Jesus refers). As a consequence of preaching, people can then believe and after that also be baptized by water, but water baptism really is always a result of faith.

 

Baptizing entire households. A third claim used to justify baptizing children are household baptisms. Just like we cannot find any direct reference to baptizing children in the New Testament (just as it is difficult for us to find the system of godparents or the grace of water baptism in the NT), people may have thought that household baptisms are still an indication of baptizing children.

   However, it is good to understand that even though the people who were baptized on the Pentecost also had children, only those were baptized who received salvation – there is no mention about baptizing others. If they had baptized others, it would have led to a situation where, after some decades, the majority of the members of the church would have been unbelievers.

 

- (Acts 2:41) Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added to them about three thousand souls.

 

We can also see from the household baptisms how receiving of the Word of God always preceded water baptism. This is mentioned in connection with four household baptisms, and there are a total of five household baptisms in the New Testament. These appear in the New Testament as follows:

 

The household of Cornelius

 

(Acts 11:14) Who shall tell you words, whereby you and all your house shall be saved.

 

- (Acts 10:1,2,33,43-48) There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.

33  Immediately therefore I sent to you; and you have well done that you are come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded you of God.

43  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whoever believes in him shall receive remission of sins.

44  While Peter yet spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45  And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46  For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47  Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48  And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

 

- (Acts15:7-9) And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said to them, Men and brothers, you know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.

8  And God, which knows the hearts, bore them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did to us;

9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

 

The household of Lydia

 

- (Acts 16:13–15, 40) And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spoke to the women which resorted thither.

14  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended to the things which were spoken of Paul.

15  And when she was baptized, and her household, she sought us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

40  And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brothers, they comforted them, and departed.

 

The household of the keeper of the prison

 

- (Acts 16:27,31-34) 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.

31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.

32  And they spoke to 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.

 

The household of Crispus

 

- (Acts 18:5,8) And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

8  And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.

 

The household of Stephan

 

- (1 Cor 1:16,) And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

 

- (1 Cor 16:15,16) I beseech you, brothers, (you know the house of Stephanas, that it is the first fruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)

16  That you submit yourselves to such, and to every one that helps with us, and labors.

 

A Conscious ISSUE and choice

 

When the New Testament speaks about water baptism, also about the baptism of households, it is always in connection with repentance, faith, trusting God's promises, and asking for a clear conscience in front of God. They all are things small babies cannot yet have because they simply cannot have a similar change of mind or faith in biblical promises like older people. Children cannot properly understand these issues and that is why they cannot be in the same way responsible as other people.

   In any case, we can easily find a clear system from the New Testament in which the Apostles always first preached the word of God and encouraged people to repent and change the way they related to God, and this could then lead to these people finally being baptized. This was the Apostles’ line of action from the very beginning:

 

- (Luke 24:47) And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

 

- (Acts 2:37,38) Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said to Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brothers, what shall we do?

38  Then Peter said to them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

 

- (Acts 3:19) Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

 

- (Acts 4:4) However, many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.

 

 - (Acts 8:12) But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

 

- (Acts 11:20,21) And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spoke to the Grecians, preaching the LORD Jesus.

21  And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned to the Lord.

 

- (Acts 17:2-4) And Paul, as his manner was, went in to them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,

3  Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach to you, is Christ.

4  And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

 

- (Acts 17:10-12) And the brothers immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night to Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

12  Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few.

 

- (Acts 18:4,5) And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

5  And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.

 

- (Acts 20:21) Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

- (Acts 26:18-20) To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

19  Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision:

20  But showed first to them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.

 

- (1 Peter 3:20, 21) Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

21  The like figure whereunto even baptism does also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ

 

What problems DOES baptiZING CHILDREN cause?

 

If we believe in baptizing children, it will cause certain kinds of problems because this idea cannot be found in the word of God. It can lead to regarding all nonbelievers, also those who have been baptized as children, as the body of Christ, meaning that the congregation would actually be the same as the world. Then, we do not understand the simple fact that the early church was composed only of believers and saints (Romans 1:7, 1 Cor 1:2, 2 Cor 1:1, Eph 1:1, Phil 1:1, Col 1:2, etc.), and that it increased only by joining of those who had received salvation (Acts 2:47), not by those born from the flesh (John 3:6).

   The word church was not even known at that time; people started to use it when the concepts of "the world" and "the congregation" got mixed up and apostasy entered the congregation. (The OT always uses the word “congregation”, never “the church”.) The current view, in which all unbelievers are members of the church, can therefore be seen as a logical consequence of apostasy.

   However, the worst thing is people thinking that they are saved because they were baptized as children – this danger is, of course, eminent also among those people who are baptized at some other point in their lives. People may be lulled into a wrong kind of peace of mind because they have been baptized as children.

   Charles G. Finney, who lived in the 19^th century, tells an example (Ihmeellisiä herätyksiä, p. 211) that describes this situation well. The example tells about people who thought that they were Christians because they had been baptized and went to the Holy Communion, even though they had not been born again. This made it difficult for them to receive salvation:

 

In many respects, there were many touching and interesting things in this revival. It moved among people who did not have any kind of understanding of spiritual revivals. The Germans thought that they were "Christians" because they had been baptized and went to the Communion. Almost all people who were asked whether they wanted to be born again, answered that they had Communion on that and that day, given by a priest called so and so. And when I asked whether they thought this was "religion", they said yes. And so did their priest. When I walked beside him at doctor Green’s funeral, he told me that he “had made” about 160 Christians by water baptism and the Holy Communion in that congregation. This priest himself did not seem to know any other way to Christianity than the teaching of the catechism, water baptism, and the Holy Communion. This was the general idea the revival had to face.

 

The next example also well describes how people can be led into believing that they are children of God on grounds of being baptized as children, even though they may later completely deny God and not live for Him. This example told by the well known Finnish preacher Niilo Yli-Vainio (Kristitty vai käännynnäinen, p. 35) is not even unusual; it describes the condition of those people who have been baptized as children. It indicates that even though we had been baptized as children, it has not been of any use to us:

 

Both powerfully assured their listeners that they had been baptized as children and were the children of God.

   After the speeches, the priest came to the chamber which was also full of people. I was there as well. I asked the priest, - Are all of these listeners disciples? He replied, - Yes, they are.

   Beside me stood a man from the village. I asked him, - Are you a believer? The man immediately answered, - I am not. I asked, - Well, have you been baptized as a child? The man answered, - Yes. I turned to the priest and said, - This man says that he was baptized as a child, but that he is not a believer. People around us listened to our conversation.

   There was an old man in the meeting, an important person in the village. Some villagers called him the Anti Christ, because he had told the villagers that there was no God. But from what the dean and vicar were saying, one could get the idea that he too was a disciple, because he had been baptized as a child. The only non-disciples in that meeting, then, were we who had preached revival to the village, and those who had just publicly confessed their belief in Jesus.