Is My Child Ready to Be Baptized?

After a couple of weeks, I asked Daved if he remembered the conversation. Of course he did, this kid almost never forgot anything; which is why we couldn’t just promise something to appease him; he would remind us regularly. I asked, just to confirm, and he gleefully responded that he ‘couldn’t wait’ to get baptized. So, when we got to church that Sunday, I pulled the pastor aside and had the conversation with him. His concern was if Daved was ready. After a brief conversation, he asked me when we would like to do it. I asked him if he had any advice to help Daved understand the baptism. His response? “He’s a toddler, the act is more important than his level of understanding. Get him baptized and he will learn as he grows older.” This is when I had my own revelation in regards to a child’s baptism; far too many people, including ministers, are all too happy to hold the event and go through the motions, but not be concerned on if the child truly understands what they are doing. Making the decision to accept Jesus and follow Him is not one to make hastily or take lightly. Jesus did not promise that a life following Him would be easy and full of the lands of milk and honey; in fact, He tells us “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you; and you shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matthew 24:9) Following Jesus comes with a price, and that price may very well be our physical lives. Every person has the responsibility to make their own decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and it is not one to be done lightly at all. Just going through the motions is not what is important, what is important is the understanding the person carries within their heart when they are baptized. A child’s baptism is just as ceremonious, just as intrinsic, and just as impactful as a middle-aged adult who has a difficult past to overcome. While it is true that a young child will not have a full confession to offer, and will not understand scripture on the same level as an adult, it is still just as important that they understand what they are actually doing. The commitment made by a person who allows their heart to accept the salvation promised through the blood of Jesus Christ is one that God takes seriously. Scripture even tells us that “...there is rejoicing in heaven in the presence of the angels of God for one sinner who repents.” In Luke 15:10, and that “whosoever (in other words, all) who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” In Acts 2:21. Notice what is not found in those passages (or any other for that matter)? They don’t tell us that children are exempt, or that age or mental/emotional capacity matters. They tell us that every single person who makes this commitment will be given the same right as everyone else, “To all who receive Him, He gave them the right to be called children of God.” (John 1:12). As far as the ability for children to accept Christ, Jesus makes it absolutely clear how God feels about this: “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child, will never enter it.” (Mark 10:15) Before we begin to teach the value and impression of baptism on a child’s life, we must understand the process that happens to a person and in their life with baptism. As has been previously stated, we may see it is a child being baptized, but God sees a lost soul seeking to return home to His loving care. Whether a person calls out to Jesus at age 5 or at age 75, their Heavenly Father receives them with wide open arms, just as the father received the prodigal son in Luke, chapter 3.