WHY NOT INFANT BAPTISM   by Daniel P. Trombley

The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion, and is only for those who have fully repented, having turned from their sins and a love of the world. Repentance means a change of views (direction) and purpose, change of heart, change of mind, change of life, transformation, etc. Luke 13:3 says, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”. In other words everyone (adult or child) who recognizes his or her need of the Savior and repents should be baptized in Jesus name (Acts 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, 19:5) and thereby making an informed decision. Infants cannot possibly be expected to make such a decision for themselves. Philippians 2:12 says “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 

In the Scripture there is no record of infants or very young children being baptized. This is because they are not yet able to understand the need of a Savior or fully repent for there sins. In Judaism and with the Jews of Jesus day the “age of accountability” was generally considered to be 13 years old and subsequently that is when the Jewish ceremony called the “Bar-Mitzvah” was administered to every male child.

God places a high priority on children. When asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of God, Jesus responded, "Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). God’s love for children is also shown in the Old Testament. In Leviticus the Lord specifically prohibited the people of Israel from offering their children as a sacrifice to the pagan god, Molech (Leviticus 20:1-5).

It seems fair to conclude that if God forbade children from being sacrificed, He would not order those same children to be placed in the eternal fire of hell. From these Scriptures you can see that God loves children, and until they come to an age of understanding (some call it "the age of accountability"), they have a place in the kingdom of God. What is meant by this term is that children cannot be accountable for their actions until they have a knowledge of good and evil, until they know to refuse the evil and choose the good. This means that should a child die before developing to a point where the knowledge of Christ can be understood and applied through repentance, baptism in Jesus name, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost the child would inherit eternal life in heaven as an heir of God’s kingdom.

In Luke 2 we see the parents of the baby Jesus taking Him to the temple "to present Him to the Lord" (Luke 2:22). Later the Gospels tell us that little children and infants were brought to Jesus for Him to touch them and bless them (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). And in following this practice, we encourage parents to publicly dedicate their children to the Lord. This is usually done in a church service.

In dedicating their child parents acknowledge their child as a gift from God and commit before Him and the congregation to set a godly example for their child and to lead their child into a relationship with Jesus Christ at an early age. The purpose of this service (dedication) is primarily to help parents to appreciate their obligation to train up their child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, that when he shall come to the age of responsibility, he will most naturally turn from the wrong to the right and embrace Jesus Christ as his Saviour and Lord. 

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)