I am comfortable baptizing a 13 year old when...(Fill in the Blank)
Currently I am studying and thinking through the issue of when to baptize a young man or woman in youth ministry. It is obviously important for Youth Pastors to come to conviction in this area. I would like to get your wisdom and counsel. So...I am comfortable baptizing a 13 year old when...(YOU fill in the blank)
Good Work Kyle!!!! This is a tough question by means of "human" pressure.
ReplyDeleteIf it's okay, let me answer this in the negative.
I am not comfortable when:
1. The parents are pressuring for their child's baptism
2. The student fails to articulate the gospel
3. the student is relying on last year's summer camp commitment
4. The student fails to distinguish justification and sanctification
5. Views baptism as a means of spiritual cleansing and an active part in salvation.
6. The student is desiring baptism b/c mom and dad said that is what's next.
Those are a few negatives, but the positives could be some of the following.
I am comfortable baptizing a 13 year old when...
1. The parents have theological awareness of their child's depravity, theological comprehension, and beginning pursuit towards sanctification.
2. When the student can have good and clear theological and scriptural articulation of the Gospel, baptism, and beginning aspects of sanctification.
3. Theological awareness has clarity between justification and sanctification.
4. The student has a desire to be obedient to the commands of scripture.
...these are just a few.
I find the issues that blend together in young students minds are a works-based model of baptism. That is, baptism is a further means to make them acceptable to God. A second confusion is the blending together and failure to distinguish justification and sanctification.
Hope this helps and am looking forward to hearing some of the other's perspectives as well!
cheers,
shawn
Thanks Shawn for the helpful thoughts. Can't say I would argue with any of them.
DeleteKudos to Shawn for being the world's quickest and best blogger.
ReplyDeleteI appreciated Shawn's negative statements to start with. I can only agree with his assessment-
1. AFFIRMATION- Parents affirm the child's faith and desires for Christ. This becomes a problem when the parents aren't in church. If they aren't, they at least need to be aware of their child's desires. Whether they will allow or not and what to do about it is another blog discussion!
2. ARTICULATION- The student understands and can articulate the gospel, even if it's basic.
3. OBEDIENCE- Desire for obedience is essential. Often baptism is "this is what I am supposed to do", rather than "this is what I want to do because I want to obey my Master." We need to shepherd towards that because we don't want them to do the right thing (baptism) in the wrong way (supposed to).
There are always mine fields to walk through as Shawn has mentioned. A baptism class for those desiring baptism (ht: GCC) would help dispel the common issues he mentioned.
I would urge you and your elders to come to an agreement and establish a statement on the lowest age that you will baptize.
Thanks Andrew for weighing in as well. The affirmation seems to be right on as parents (hopefully) have the most to offer as far as observing faith in Christ and desire for Him. It is encouraging to be on the same page with this stuff. I have a follow up question but will wait one more day to hear from any other brothers who might have some more thoughts.
DeleteHi Brother Kyle,
ReplyDeleteThanks for silencing those crickets!
Assuming they have and can articulate a good understanding of the Gospel, and express a solid testimony of their own salvation experience which is backed up by walking with the Lord in their young life so far…A 13 yr old is typically in 8th (or 7th?) grade. Not a whole lotta time to “bear fruit appropriate to repentance” or to have one’s faith ‘justified’ (evidenced) by good works (Jms. 2:14-26). They haven’t even reached high school (and all of its new sights & sounds & temptations etc) yet, to have their faith tested and ‘proven’.
So, generally, I am more comfortable waiting (and continuing to shepherd & encourage this young person’s profession of faith) until there’s more time for that faith to bear fruit. I’d rather err on the side of caution. However, I would be talking closely with the parents too to get their perspective, they know their kid better than I do and have seen him/her in more varied situations at home & elsewhere. (Of course, how much weight I give to their perspective depends upon their spiritual maturity as well...)
I think there would be exceptional cases where even a 13 yr old has a clear love for Jesus (which includes consistently telling others about Him), a marked hatred for sin (esp. their own), a love for God’s Word (a high view of it in knowledge AND practice), loves truth (refuses worldly wisdom), and loves people (esp. other believers/the church, in that supernatural sense). [Thanks to Jonathan Edwards for those ‘marks of a truly converted soul.] If all of those things were in place, I might be comfortable baptizing a 13 yr old.
That’s where I am on this brother, hope it’s helpful.
Btw --- This may or may not "muddy the waters", but some related links from solid resources (which you may have seen):
http://www.challies.com/articles/when-should-my-children-be-baptized#redirect?thread=838367426&forum=[object%20Object]&zone=internal_discovery&variant=metadata&imp=1348001379672984480&source_thread_id=848427869
http://thegospelcoalition.org/videos/45999187
Blessings, GH
Btw, mark the day! This old man was able to post a comment on this blog and the Internet did not blow up. Thanks for the encouragement Kyle!
ReplyDeleteHopefully I'm not breaking any commenting rules right now with this comment. Pls feel free to delete if so.
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ReplyDeleteWhat harm do you create if you wait and they are saved?
ReplyDeleteWhat harm do you create if you go ahead and they aren't saved?
I can't say it any better than George, "I am more comfortable waiting (and continuing to shepherd & encourage this young person’s profession of faith) until there’s more time for that faith to bear fruit. I’d rather err on the side of caution."
With that said, I am comfortable baptizing a 13 year old when...
1) They can biblically answer the question, "Why do you want to be baptized" without the prompting of the parents; the answer needs to be genuine, i.e. not a Sunday school answer.
2) They can give specifics about how their life is different and what sins have they repented of.
3) They know where their sin struggles are and are currently using Scripture to do battle on the flesh.
4) They can publicly give their testimony.
No 13 year olds in our church have even come close to this evaluation. However, each time we have had to turn down a young teenager for baptism the parents supported us - very, very importnat.
Thank you George (Mr. Social Media-Savvy) and Paul for weighing in. I hope to offer a follow up blog post sometime this week.
ReplyDelete