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THE
BAPTISM OF CHILDREN
You
have a new baby. Congratulations! The birth of a baby is a special
event in the life of your family. As parents you should thank God for
the little one entrusted to you. This article is designed to help you
understand what is involved in the baptism of children.
Baptism
is very important and meaningful for the person baptised, for
Christian parents and for the Church. It was the Lord Jesus Christ
who instructed us to baptise (Matthew Ch.28 v. 19-20), so baptism
must be taken seriously by all concerned.
People
often have wrong ideas about baptism. Some think it is a ceremony
which gives the child its name, others that it will make the child
thrive and many feel that it is the proper thing to do for every
child. Some refer to it as "christening", believing that it
automatically makes a child a Christian. None of these ideas is true. |
What
is Baptism?
Baptism
is God's sign which illustrates important aspects of His salvation.
Just as water makes us clean, so baptism pictures how God, through
Jesus Christ, can make our whole lives clean, forgiving sins and
giving us new life in the Holy Spirit.
When
a child is baptised God is declaring that the child is special to
Him. Although salvation is promised, in time the child must come to
God and by faith acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. When a
child is baptised parents are declaring openly that they are
Christians and that they want their child to come to know Jesus
Christ in a personal way and to grow up to serve Him. They are asking
for God's help and the support of the Church as they bring up their
child in the ways of Christ.
What
is required of parents for the baptism of their child?
In
the Presbyterian Church the baptism of a child can only take place
where at least one parent professes faith in Jesus Christ. This faith
will show itself in love for Christ, obedience to God in everyday
life, interest in the life and work of the Church including regular
attendance at public worship. Some people think that a child may be
baptised even if parents are not regular churchgoers, or do not have
real faith, or are not yet married. This is not so. Baptism belongs
to the Christian Church, to practising Christians and their children.
What
happens at a Baptismal Service? 
Parents
will be asked: "In presenting this child for baptism do you
profess your faith in God as your Creator and Father, in Jesus Christ
as your Lord and Saviour, and in the Holy Spirit as your Sanctifier
and Guide?"
"Will
you, by God's help, provide a Christian home, and bring up this
child in the worship and teaching of the Church, so that your child
may come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour?"
The
child will be baptised with water, by the Minister, in the name of
the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.
Parents
should examine their own lives to see if they are true Christians
and can honestly answer these questions before God and the Church.
Where baptismal vows are kept. God's blessing will come upon child
and home.
Where
neither parent is able to profess faith in Jesus Christ baptism will
be delayed for the present, because a false profession is a sin. Such
parents should commit their lives to Christ, for the best start a
child can have is a Christian home.
We
hope that this article has helped you understand the meaning of
baptism. Your minister will be glad to discuss the matter with you
and answer any questions you may have.
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