HELP! My child has asked to be baptised

At Kerith we love to encourage baptism because it’s a great way to tell the world how God has changed your life and an opportunity to say that you have made a lifelong decision to commit your life to Him – the water isn’t magical but it is symbolic of our new life as a Christian.  And it is a very symbolic act: you get fully immersed in water and are lifted out again as a sign that you identify with Jesus Christ in his death, burial and resurrection – “3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:3-4). It symbolises dying to your old life and being raised to a new life with Christ.

If you have chosen to follow Jesus, the next step is to “go public” and be baptised. You get to share your story of how you came to believe in Jesus, and it’s a time for the church community to celebrate with you as you join the worldwide family of believers.

So what do you if your child asks to be baptised?

When a child asks to be fully baptised this can raise lots of questions, such as:

·       Are they ready for full baptism?

·       How can we help them understand what baptism is about?

When thinking about the baptism of children the majority of the principles and practices are the same as apply to adults - which should come as no surprise really, as Jesus welcomes little ones into the Kingdom on the same terms as adults! However, one dynamic that does make a difference is the role of parents, who need to be fully involved in the decisions surrounding this important event in the life of their child.

So let’s dive in a bit deeper (pardon the pun!) ….

There’s no reference in the Bible to a specific age at which children can or should be baptised. However, God does provide guidelines that we should take into consideration: A child, like any adult, must understand the Gospel message; repent of their sin; and choose to follow Christ. In Kerith Kids we regularly give children the opportunity to do this.

You might have concerns such as: “I’ve known children turn away from God after baptism” (I’ve known adults do that too!) or “Children don’t all understand” (Neither do all adults!). This is where parents and the church have a role in ensuring the child is ready.

As we consider children being baptised I want to draw our attention to the words of Jesus, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matt. 19:14).  The child’s faith and understanding may be a better gauge than just their age, concerning being ready for baptism.

Baptism is an incredibly significant step on the Christian journey, and one that releases the blessings of God – can we deny our children the opportunity to obey and receive that blessing?

Here are some recent testimonies following child baptisms:

“Getting baptised made me feel more close to God and bolder to do God’s work. I’m pleased that I chose to get baptised”. James (age 9)

“When my children were baptised it was a very special day to witness them taking a step of faith on their own. I’ve watched them continuing to grow in the Lord”. (Parent)

If a child is serious about wanting to be baptised then - like for adults - this should be a memorable and meaningful experience. With this in mind, if you agree to your child being baptised then please speak to your site Kids Co-ordinator. We have a baptism guide that they will go through with any children that were thinking about baptism, exploring with them fully what baptism is all about and filling in any gaps.  

Finally, remember that this, like everything, is an opportunity to trust God and see the Spirit work in your child’s (and your own) life. God knows what He is doing even if we don't!