Baby and Child Dedications
We want to ensure that all parents interested in dedicating their child understand and have the opportunity to understand our stance on why we encourage and offer Child Dedications instead of an Infant Baptism.
Following scripture as our guide, everyone (adult and child) who recognizes their need of a Savior then repents and believes in Christ should be baptized (Acts 2:38, 41; 8:36-38). In the Bible, there is no record of infants or very young children being baptized. We believe this is because they are not yet able to understand their need for salvation. Undoubtedly, God places a high priority on children. When asked who is the greatest in the Kingdom of God, Jesus responded, “Unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3, NLT).
In Luke 2, the parents of Jesus take Him to the temple “to present Him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22). Later, the Gospels tell us that little children and infants were brought to Jesus for Him to bless them (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). In following this practice, we encourage parents to publicly dedicate their children to the Lord. In dedicating their child, the parents acknowledge the child as a gift from God and vow, before Him and those present, to set a godly example for the child and commit to lead the child to Christ at an early age. As a child matures and recognizes their need for Salvation, we encourage baptism as a public act of obedience to Scripture and following the example of Jesus Christ.
Following scripture as our guide, everyone (adult and child) who recognizes their need of a Savior then repents and believes in Christ should be baptized (Acts 2:38, 41; 8:36-38). In the Bible, there is no record of infants or very young children being baptized. We believe this is because they are not yet able to understand their need for salvation. Undoubtedly, God places a high priority on children. When asked who is the greatest in the Kingdom of God, Jesus responded, “Unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 18:3, NLT).
In Luke 2, the parents of Jesus take Him to the temple “to present Him to the Lord” (Luke 2:22). Later, the Gospels tell us that little children and infants were brought to Jesus for Him to bless them (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). In following this practice, we encourage parents to publicly dedicate their children to the Lord. In dedicating their child, the parents acknowledge the child as a gift from God and vow, before Him and those present, to set a godly example for the child and commit to lead the child to Christ at an early age. As a child matures and recognizes their need for Salvation, we encourage baptism as a public act of obedience to Scripture and following the example of Jesus Christ.
For any further questions, please contact our Lead Pastor Dennis Calhoun or any member of the Lead Team at contact@soulschurch.org!