Good Question!! When our youngest asked Jesus Christ into his life at 8 years old, we were excited and willing to help him to grow as a christian, but we honestly were a little apprehensive when he asked to be baptized. I guess we should not have been surprised since we raised him to know the Word of God and to live it. "Don't be just a hearer of the Word, but a Doer", we said!
My husband and I needed to re-research the Word on this. In Matthew's gospel, it is clear that making disciples includes baptizing them and teaching them to observe all things that Jesus commands (Matthew 28). Well...the Bible also mentions children reaching the age of accountability when they can answer for themselves before God, but how old is that exactly? (Isaiah 7:15, Ezekiel 18:2-20, Matthew 18:3, Romans 14:10,12).
The Bible also mentions to "forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:14). We are not Catholic, so they had never been sprinkled or dunked or submerged in any water unless they were taking a bath or in a local pool or something. This was much more serious. As parents, God will hold us responsible for the actions of our children until they did so for themselves. This is similar to the warning about taking the Lord's Supper unworthily. We would not be good parents if we did not instruct our children to not take part of the Lord's table unless they were right before God. The Bible says that many are sick or even dead because they do not take the warning seriously! We certainly were not going to risk it in any church ordinance. We decided instead to allow the boys to take the four required classes necessary to "prove" their knowledge about these ordinances of The Lord's Supper and Baptism. We would only deny them until they did the work.
We would not say No to baptism, but we could not say Yes until they proved their accountability.
They did it!! They finished every class and explained the entire process to the Deacons in charge of preparations. They were even quizzed and passed with flying colors. Our confidence in our sons and in our church was now established. I am proud of our church for being thorough (because it is really the parent's job to ensure that the Church is teaching their children correctly). They were ready and anxious to let everyone know that they were obedient to Christ and willing to be associated with Jesus as His disciples.
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. 3 John 1:4
Proud is not a great enough adjective to describe our emotions at that moment! I thank God for allowing me to see this day and for my children to stand as witnesses to the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ as His disciples! *tear*
