What did John the Baptist say to the people? Was it not to repent and then he baptised them? Babies cannot repent nior can they confess anything or accept the kingdom or Jesus, so while a nice ceremionmy not exactly what was stated in the bible
John was doing a JEWISH baptism of repentance. I think we're discussing CHRISTIAN baptism?
I agree that babies can't do much (well, sleep and poop). So in terms of the LAW, they can only disobey. But I don't think that babies render God impotent or the Gospel irrelevant; I don't personally believe that God is impotent unless WE help Him out, unless WE have attained a certain IQ or age, unless WE are a certain race or color or gender or nationality, unless WE generate a certain emotion, unless WE do x,y,z (so that SELF is the Savior - at least in part - rather than Jesus). I think that while a person may utter words and put water on the person, the actions of that person (uttering syllibles and placing water) is not the issue, I think God's grace, God's mercy, God's love, God's forgiveness, God's grace is the issue.
Another thing.... the Bible states that NO ONE can say "Jesus is Lord" (come to faith). NO ONE. I doesn't say, "Only those who have attained the age of X can say...." Or, "only those who have an IQ of at least X can say...." Or, "only those who have learned x,y,z and understand them can say...." It says
NO ONE. I believe the Holy Spirit GIVES faith, GIVES life..... and God can do so with any, I reject that God is impotent unless and until WE become savable by what WE do and accomplish and feel - our intelligence or knowledge or emotions or race or gender or color or..... A 45 year old German male with an IQ of 300, 4 Ph.D.'s and who has memorized all the words of the Bible CANNOT say "Jesus is Lord" - come to faith. Faith is "THE GIFT OF GOD" the Bible says. An African American baby girl with an IQ of 60 and no education at all CANNOT say "Jesus is Lord" - come to faith. Faith is "the gift of God" the Bible says. I believe God saves. I believe God loves, justified, grants faith. I belive that Sola Gratia - Solus Christus - Sola Fide are GOD'S doing. And IMO, God is not rendered impotent by babies. By believe there.
Now, I don't deny that faith - knowledge - repentance - obedience - love - these are all inter-related and all mandated, I just reject that 1) God is rendered impotent to save unless WE FIRST perform certain things, jump through certain hoops, essentially saving ourselves (partly, at least). And (to the point of discussion) that there is any mandate in Scripture that we are forbidden, prohibited from baptizing someone unless FIRST they have repented and/or said the 'sinner's prayer' and/or responded to an altar call and/or attending X under of Bible studies and/or attained the age of X and/or have at least the IQ of X.
This "God PLUS ME" approach is exactly what Luther and Calvin "protested." This "God PLUS ME" rejection is what makes a Protestant, well..... Protestant.... this mixing/blending of Law and Gospel, of Jesus and self, this confusion of God's grace with our merit is EXACTLY what caused Luther and Calvin to protest. YES - the saved are to be HOLY, PERFECT, LOVING, REPENTANT!!!
Absolutely! But no, being holy, perfect, loving, repentant is not what makes us saved (rendering Jesus irrelevant). As a Protestant, I've very uncomfortable with this "YOU GOTTA....." inserted into the Gospel, so that justification actually hinges on ME - MY age, MY intelligence, MY knowledge, MY righteousness, MY emotions/feelings, MY obedience.... "Jesus PLUS" is the thing Luther and Calvin protested against.
"God's grace PLUS your ______" is the very thing Protestants protest; rejecting and protesting that is what makes us Protestant.
IMO, the Command (not suggestion, lol) is to go and make disciples - baptizing and teaching. Until I can find the verse that says, "But NOT - listen NOT - NOT unless they FIRST have attained the age of X or the IQ of X, NOT unless they have FIRST said the sinner's prayer or responded to an altar call, NOT unless they first have enough of a feeling of _________ - you are forbidden to teach and baptize them!!!" Until I see that in Scripture, I am uncomfortable putting up road blocks, limitations, prohibitions where God did not. See my perspective?
Yes, one could say, "But nowhere does it say to baptize and teach
specifically CHILDREN" and I agree..... but then it doesn't specifically say to baptize and teach Americans or Germans or Asians or Indians either.... or ONLY those over the age of X or of an IQ over X or ..... Yes, one could say, "you have no SPECIFIC command to baptize and teach all ages" and I agree.... but then we have no prohibition from baptizing and teaching people above or below any certain age either. AND.... going back to the original post, we see that the early church, the early Christians CLEARLY understood the great commission to including children and infants, they didn't understand some UNSTATED prohibition. Jesus said, "Love one another." Now, you could argue that doesn't specifically state "your wife" and so you shouldn't love your wife because it doesn't specifically say "YOUR WIFE." Or you could say, "I don't have to love those over the age of X because Jesus didn't specifically say "of all ages". Well..... we are told to go.... make disciples...... baptize...... teach....... I can't find anything that FORBID us to teach and baptize those under the age of X, and I don't buy that if commands don't have restrictions, we can appoint self to make them, especially as a dogma or mandate.
See my perspective? (okay if you don't share it, obviously, lol)
Pax
- Josiah
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