Issue 31 | A Delight-Based Gospel
Plus a few thoughts on baptism
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ISSUE 31 | KINGDOM HEARD
A Delight-Based Gospel
Christianity is a love-hate religion and true conversion will produce holy affections. But what if it doesn’t?
A few thoughts on baptism
A few weeks ago we had the incredible honor of baptizing two of our daughters. It was attended to by brothers and sisters from four different churches which was a wonderful display of the unity of Christ’s body. All of those who joined had played a part in the loving, sowing, watering, and tending of the gospel as it has taken root in our daughter’s lives, so it was great to be able to celebrate alongside them.
For those with young children, who practice a believer’s baptism, and hold to the importance of the regenerating work of the Spirit, it can be a challenge to know how to approach baptism. Namely:
When are they ready?
What does the new birth look like in children?
Is it simply agreement to a set of factual statements or is it something more?
How do we guard against false conversions driven by social or parental pressures?
Sadly we see so many grow up Christian only to “fall away” once they leave the home, coming to the conclusion that this was always just their parent’s faith. Still, God is sovereign, and He perfectly accomplishes His gloriously unchangeable ends even in these situations. However, we who have been entrusted with the gift of children, and especially fathers as the head of the household, must act with as much care as possible.
I trust the Lord will lead you in your unique situation, that His word still speaks, and that He has placed you in the care and oversight of a local fellowship, so that confusion need not abound. In addition to these means, and in the small chance it may be helpful, I wanted to also share two documents we created to guide our daughters through baptism.
First, a study of baptism. Looking at what it is, what the Scriptures have to say about it, and guiding them through their own examination. This is a longer document, so I’ll link to it here. Though we don’t need to overcomplicate the matter, and some of these truths will become more clear the longer we walk with Him, going through a basic understanding of baptism can be a very fruitful exercise.
Not only this, but it reinforces and builds from the very beginning the habit of going straight to the Scriptures, to God’s very words, for our direction. Such treasure, such wisdom, such light, without shadow or turning, yet how quickly it gets laid aside for the more palatable words of man. “Give us a mediator that we can see! To summarize, commentate, and motivate as our go-between.” All while that One Great Mediator between God and man stands ready to meet us directly.
Second, the script we read over them at the baptism. I’ll paste it below. Rest assured, we don’t believe in magic spells, nor in the conjuring of experiences based on calling them down. However, we do believe that somehow the words we speak contain power. That for some reason, when we speak, God responds. That when we ask, using specific words to request specific things, He answers. And therefore, we believe that precision in our words matters. This is nothing to be overly dogmatic about, but oh how I desire for every one of these words to be both true and real for my daughters from this point forward.
From a procedural standpoint, we printed out a copy of this script and then had everyone who attended sign it and give a note of encouragement. Again, a small token of the beauty of this great cloud of witnesses we get to be a part of.
BAPTISM SCRIPT
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Prior to baptism
Upon examination, we, the fellowship of the saints around you, find your confession in Christ as Lord to be true and your faith in His atoning blood to be genuine. May your love for Him endure until the end and never waver, for He who promised is faithful.
As you go under the water, may your old life also go under and remain under as you reckon yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
As you come up, may His new life also rise up in you and reign in your mortal body as you put on the new man, until the day He raises you incorruptible and immortal.
As you walk in newness of life, may you never forget, it is God Himself who goes before, lives inside, and performs valiantly, that the excellence of the power may be seen to be His and not yours. Let, "By His Spirit," be your humble rallying cry.
With this commission, and based on your profession, I now baptize you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
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Immediately afterwards
Now, we lay our hands on you and pray, “Be empowered for your ministry and your commission.”
In love,
Derek