Q & A For Your Thursday from The Enon Church of Christ

Enon Church of Christ -- A Little Q & A For Your Thursday

 The Question:

 Dear Brother:  I have a two year old son who has never attended church.  I am concerned about him; would you baptize him?

 The Answer:

 There is no record in the New Testament of a young child being baptized.  Baptism is an act of faith.  “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).  To be baptized, a person must have personal faith first.

 Baptism is also preceded by repentance.  “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38).  Repentance requires thought, awareness and enough maturity to understand what it means to leave sin and follow God.  Both faith and repentance come before baptism.

 Since we want to do only what the Bible says, baptizing a two year old would have no purpose.  My best suggestion is for you to find a New Testament church and start attending with your child.  Learn about God, and His will, from His word, and let your son grow in faith as he grows physically.  Then, when he is old enough to have his own faith and to grasp the meaning of repentance, he can decide for himself about baptism.

 I hope this helps.