Many Christian parents struggle with when their child is truly saved and ready for believer’s baptism. It can be difficult to accurately discern if the child is truly repentant and accepting of Christ by faith or if they are just trying to impress their moms and dads.
I heard Dr. James Dobson give his testimony once on Focus on the Family. He shared that he was saved at age 3 in a revival meeting that his father was preaching as an evangelist. I thought, “Boy, three years old is really young. How much sin does a 3 year old need to confess?”
I can just hear Dr. Dobson saying, “God forgive me for eating too many cookies and saying the word doo doo.”
But in reality, children can come to faith early in their lives. Especially, if parents have been faithful to teach them the message of God’s love, people’s sinfulness, and the hope found only in Jesus. The Gospel makes a lot of sense to children who already have child-like faith.
I believe Dr. Dobson is saved, don’t you? I believe him when he says he prayed to receive Christ as a 3 year old. If the fruit of repentance is there, can we judge that young heart?
But baptism is a different story. Baptism is the public symbol of the private decision. Baptism is a physical representation of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus in the heart of the believer (Romans 6). Baptism is something which I believe can be delayed.
No where in Scripture does it proclaim baptism as being necessary for salvation. While some denominations would disagree with that statement, it is hard to prove biblically. Baptism should be encourage and taught to children; but not forced as a means to “complete” their salvation. Delaying baptism until the children really understands what they are doing is definitely a good thing.
But don’t push children away from doing what they believe God wants them to do. We all must heed Jesus’ rebuke of the disciples.
“But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.’” (Mark 10:14, ESV)