Tuesday, July 31, 2007
More good ideas taken to an extreme...
It is popular in some circles to make fun of the church of Christ. Usually this is done by "our people", preachers or those raised in the church. You would almost think that we never have done anything right. But we have. One of our great contributions to the religious world has been our strong position on baptism. We have been right to emphasize it as a response to Jesus. It is Biblical and it is clear. It is an act of love, it is a statement of commitment, it is to die with Christ and be resurrected to new life. It is when our sins our forgiven and when we receive the Holy Spirit. It is where we claim God's amazing and wonderful grace.
But I have been worried lately about how we may be taking it to an extreme. Christians want their children to become Christians. Because we believe in baptism, we look forward to the day our children make that decision. Sometimes we so want it to happen that we take a good thing to a wrong extreme. We sometimes emphasize the response to the gospel without really communicating the gospel. So we baptize 90% of our kids and less than half of them stay faithful.
I worry about the trend lately to baptize children at a younger and younger age. Just because they love Jesus does not mean they are ready to become a Christian. When they cannot sit still in worship, when they have no real concept of sin and forgiveness, when they cannot even process the idea of dying with Jesus... then I am not sure they are ready to be crucified. Do we really think 6 and 7 year olds are in danger of being lost? Is our grasp of grace and salvation so narrow that we are afraid our little ones are not secure? Are we truly so legalistic that we are in a panic until they are immersed?
Why not just baptize all of our babies in the delivery room? Of course, if you still think baptism is for forgiveness of sins you will have to develop a theology of original sin. Oh wait, I think that already happened in church history. Baptism is for believers ready to die with Jesus.
And yes, we will all learn more and more about what this death to life means as we mature as Christians. I understand it so much more now than I used to...and I will understand it even more in the future.
But let's at least let our babies grow up enough to process some of this.
Your thoughts are welcome.
But I have been worried lately about how we may be taking it to an extreme. Christians want their children to become Christians. Because we believe in baptism, we look forward to the day our children make that decision. Sometimes we so want it to happen that we take a good thing to a wrong extreme. We sometimes emphasize the response to the gospel without really communicating the gospel. So we baptize 90% of our kids and less than half of them stay faithful.
I worry about the trend lately to baptize children at a younger and younger age. Just because they love Jesus does not mean they are ready to become a Christian. When they cannot sit still in worship, when they have no real concept of sin and forgiveness, when they cannot even process the idea of dying with Jesus... then I am not sure they are ready to be crucified. Do we really think 6 and 7 year olds are in danger of being lost? Is our grasp of grace and salvation so narrow that we are afraid our little ones are not secure? Are we truly so legalistic that we are in a panic until they are immersed?
Why not just baptize all of our babies in the delivery room? Of course, if you still think baptism is for forgiveness of sins you will have to develop a theology of original sin. Oh wait, I think that already happened in church history. Baptism is for believers ready to die with Jesus.
And yes, we will all learn more and more about what this death to life means as we mature as Christians. I understand it so much more now than I used to...and I will understand it even more in the future.
But let's at least let our babies grow up enough to process some of this.
Your thoughts are welcome.
Comments:
<< Home
Outstanding.
Steve since 3 of my 4 are under 12, this topic rings loud.
Knowing what they know is tough.
Steve since 3 of my 4 are under 12, this topic rings loud.
Knowing what they know is tough.
As a mom that has already been asked SEVERAL times by BOTH kids to be baptized - it ain't easy. We worry that this may be the only time they ask. We worry that the moment may pass for them. We worry.
I also think we want to get away from the leagalistic number we all grew up with - 12 or 13.
My 9 year old made the decision that he wasn't ready after talking and praying with Jim and I. I pray for the day....
My 5-year-old just wants to take the Lord's Supper and see what the water's like. I have taken both my kids up to the baptistry to take away some of the mystery....
The inclusion in the Lord's Supper is another question all together.
Post a Comment
I also think we want to get away from the leagalistic number we all grew up with - 12 or 13.
My 9 year old made the decision that he wasn't ready after talking and praying with Jim and I. I pray for the day....
My 5-year-old just wants to take the Lord's Supper and see what the water's like. I have taken both my kids up to the baptistry to take away some of the mystery....
The inclusion in the Lord's Supper is another question all together.
<< Home
