Comments on: Baptizing Young Children http://ryanburns.me/baptizing-young-children/ Yes, that Ryan Burns Sat, 12 May 2012 19:45:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Larry http://ryanburns.me/baptizing-young-children/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Larry Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:22:05 +0000 http://ryanburns.me/?p=99#comment-117 Good post brother. You made some excellent points. Also, I might seriously buy some headphones, since you pressed me on it. Any that you would recommend (that would be appropriate for someone on a budget)? Good post brother. You made some excellent points. Also, I might seriously buy some headphones, since you pressed me on it. Any that you would recommend (that would be appropriate for someone on a budget)?

]]> By: Ryan Burns http://ryanburns.me/baptizing-young-children/comment-page-1/#comment-7 Ryan Burns Sun, 30 May 2010 18:16:19 +0000 http://ryanburns.me/?p=99#comment-7 I think your concern is a concern that many people have. I think, however, the fact that we're leading our children to truth when we point them to faith in Christ (as opposed to Santa) that we are on safe ground. As children, they are trusting that we are telling the truth and based on their understanding that we aren't lying to them, they trust and believe. I think the main problem with waiting until they have "enough age and experience" is that we never have enough age and experience. Even at age 32, I am learning more and more about the gospel and realize that my understanding and faith, even just a few years ago, is far less than it is now. The problem that arises is that we then set some "arbitrary" level we must attain in knowledge, experience, or "fruit" in order to get baptized. This simply isn't what we see in the New Testament. The reality is that many of those baptized in Acts had little understanding of God and the gospel. They simply heard and believed... then off to the water. I think your concern is a concern that many people have. I think, however, the fact that we’re leading our children to truth when we point them to faith in Christ (as opposed to Santa) that we are on safe ground. As children, they are trusting that we are telling the truth and based on their understanding that we aren’t lying to them, they trust and believe.

I think the main problem with waiting until they have “enough age and experience” is that we never have enough age and experience. Even at age 32, I am learning more and more about the gospel and realize that my understanding and faith, even just a few years ago, is far less than it is now. The problem that arises is that we then set some “arbitrary” level we must attain in knowledge, experience, or “fruit” in order to get baptized. This simply isn’t what we see in the New Testament. The reality is that many of those baptized in Acts had little understanding of God and the gospel. They simply heard and believed… then off to the water.

]]> By: Lee http://ryanburns.me/baptizing-young-children/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Lee Sun, 30 May 2010 15:48:26 +0000 http://ryanburns.me/?p=99#comment-6 Very interesting article! Before reading this I was not and am still not in favor of infant "baptism" at all. This post has changed my thoughts about baptizing young kids in terms of an age "requirement" per-se. My main concern when baptizing young folks is that they are professing THEIR faith not the faith of their parents. I think many children would very willingly be baptized into faith in Santa if their parents invited them to do so. It seems to me that it would be best for the person being baptized to have enough age and experience under their belts to be able to discern for themselves the truth behind their beliefs rather than entirely relying on blind acceptance of their parents teaching. Very interesting article! Before reading this I was not and am still not in favor of infant “baptism” at all. This post has changed my thoughts about baptizing young kids in terms of an age “requirement” per-se. My main concern when baptizing young folks is that they are professing THEIR faith not the faith of their parents. I think many children would very willingly be baptized into faith in Santa if their parents invited them to do so. It seems to me that it would be best for the person being baptized to have enough age and experience under their belts to be able to discern for themselves the truth behind their beliefs rather than entirely relying on blind acceptance of their parents teaching.

]]> By: Kat http://ryanburns.me/baptizing-young-children/comment-page-1/#comment-4 Kat Sun, 30 May 2010 06:09:25 +0000 http://ryanburns.me/?p=99#comment-4 Thanks for writing about this, Ryan. I agree with you. I was prevented from being baptised till I was 18, and there was a lot of resentment because of that. I would hope that others in the church would never tell a fellow Christian that they are not ready, be it directly or indirectly, to come to Christ and make a public confession of faith. Thanks for writing about this, Ryan. I agree with you. I was prevented from being baptised till I was 18, and there was a lot of resentment because of that. I would hope that others in the church would never tell a fellow Christian that they are not ready, be it directly or indirectly, to come to Christ and make a public confession of faith.

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