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Infant Baptism One of the topics that is hotly debated in Christendom is the baptism of infants. Many related topics contribute to this debate. For example, can children repent and believe, and are children sinners in need of forgiveness? But the most important questions are over what Baptism is and whose work it is. Is Baptism something we do or something God does? If it is something we do -- if we must willingly come forward and understand what is happening -- then clearly infants should not be baptized. But is our decision and our profession of faith what we should focus on when we look at Baptism? No. If we are looking at our actions, words and beliefs, then we have gotten sidetracked. The central thing in Baptism is what God is doing. Some would argue that without faith, Baptism is nothing. But if we do not believe God's promise or misuse Baptism, does that make it valueless? As Luther says in the Large Catechism, "This is like arguing that if I have no faith in Christ, then Christ is nothing, or that if I am disobedient, then father, mother and superiors are nothing. When someone does not do the thing he ought to do, is it a valid conclusion to say that the thing itself does not exist or is worthless?" When it comes to Baptism, our understanding and faith do not determine whether our Baptism has value. It is God's command and promise that create Baptism and make it a great treasure. Many people do not see God's work in Baptism. Instead they assume that it is important largely or solely because it is a way for us to witness to our faith. Baptism is certainly a way to witness to Christ and the forgiveness of sins He gives to us, but this is not the chief thing. The main thing that we should focus on is God's action. His word and promise mean that Baptism is not a good work that we do, but a good work that He does to wash away our sins and claim us as His children. The reason we baptize children is simply this: Jesus gave the following command to His disciples in the last chapter of Matthew. He said, "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Jesus did not say go to some; He said go to all nations. Children are clearly a part of all nations, just as the elderly, the poor, and women are. If children are to be excluded, there had better be a good reason for it. Some believe they do have good reasons for excluding children. For example, they teach that infants do not sin or are not held accountable for their sins until they reach a certain age. Another common teaching is that children cannot believe. Lutherans are unconvinced by these arguments. We not only see no Bible passages to support these beliefs, we find clear passages that contradict them. David for example writes in Psalm 51, "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me," revealing that he was a sinner when he was an infant. Jesus warned in Matthew 18, "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea," revealing that infants can indeed trust Jesus. Certainly, children are not to be baptized with the thought that Baptism is magical and places some kind of indelible mark on them, which will protect them forever whether they believe or not. If we do not believe, then we have discarded God's gifts and will not benefit from our Baptism. It is therefore vital that children be brought "up in the training and instruction of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). We want children to understand what God has done for them in their Baptism and treasure it. We want them to grow up in the Christian faith and learn to put their faith into practice day to day. |
