Out of no where multiple conversations opened up about waiting until after 18 to be baptized in order to prevent false conversions. Two such conversations revolved around churches considering or have already adopted the stance. In this article I want to do three things: First, the discussion on when to baptize our children is a hard yet important conversation to have. Second, setting a church regulation for 18 and over is apostasy. Third, points of wisdom on considering when to baptize or not.

A needed conversation 

When it comes to children, especially 12 and under, baptism is a tricky discussion for those in the credobaptism position. I whole heartedly reject paedobaptism because 1) it’s no where in Scripture 2) baptism is clearly connected to reception of the word 3) the church being a new covenant community requires all to be saved, thus requiring credobaptism. As children are naturally wired to please there is concern that baptism would give false assurance of the child’s salvation. Our concern is later as an adult they don’t live for Christ and thus question whether saved or not. The concern rightly felt but wrongly acted on is to make sure faith is genuine to prevent issues in the future. This is an area we will wrestle with until the Rapture. We should not be afraid of this conversation at the same time we must also be aware that some stances that cross biblical lines into apostasy, as the 18 and older stance does. 

Setting a church policy for 18 and over to get baptized is apostasy

While I do firmly believe the stance as regulation is apostate, it narrowly crosses that threshold. As one friend said, “for sure a felony was committed, I need to think on the apostasy aspect.” (Friend later agreed it’s apostasy based on Colossians 2:8-12.) Baptism, while not how one gets saved, is so tightly connected to the Gospel as a first fruit of repentance and a picture of our standing in Christ, a regulation of denial alters the Gospel the Apostles preached. “Repent (salvation) and be baptized (first fruit of repentance) for the forgiveness of your sins (whole package of faith followed by obedience)” Acts 2:38. Denying people of faith this ordinance that is commanded and central to being a part of the church is heretical. It violates the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20), removes the needed appeal to conscience (1 Peter 3:18-22; Col 2:8-12), and membership to the body of Christ (Acts 2:41; Ephesians 4:4-6). By adding regulation/policy of baptism only for 18 and older one crosses the line to apostasy (Galatians 1:8-9; 3:25-27; 5:7-12; Col 2:8-12) because it removes a demonstration of salvation by faith to a works based salvation. Baptism is a picture of our position and standing in Christ (Romans 6:3-11, Galatians 3:25-27, Colossians 2:8-12). The pattern we see mirrors the great commission, people who received the word were then baptized. Time between salvation and baptism is unwise. Baptism demonstrates a fruit of obedience to Christ. Denying baptism until works demonstrating repentance is no where found in Scripture and moves the Gospel from being faith based to works. Galatians explicitly argues against such acts and calls it a false gospel that is accursed and those who cause such trouble be emasculated. The 18 and older stance crosses a biblical boundary and should be wholly rejected. 

The matter of conscience found in 1 Corinthians 8 and Romans 14 is not at play. The reason is the issue of getting baptized is a command for new believers. Conscience matters apply when the Bible isn’t clear. Baptism’s role in the discipling making process is explicit. So explicitly baptism is in the prime directive of the church. If one is able to accept Christ, one is able to be baptized. 

Points of wisdom on considering when to baptize or not

As we should be concerned about false conversations, we should be MORE concerned about causing children to stumble (Matthew 18:6). We should understand that denying baptism to children is a line Jesus would not be comfortable with (Matthew 18:5, Mark 9:37). We should remember that children model how to get saved (Mark 10:15), and that fathers have the responsibility of the faith development of their children (Ephesians 6:1-4). Denying dads what is explicitly commanded causes them to fail in their duty to Christ. It also violates their spiritual authority in the home. 

If we deny baptism because we are concerned they may not be genuinely saved, it is even more urgent that we deny access to the Lord’s Table. There are no warnings concerning false baptisms, but 1 Cor 11:27-32 explicitly warns against the unsaved from partaking communion. This creates a significant dilemma, for now we are excluding people from the ordnances and the start of evangelism: “as often as you do this you proclaim Christ’s death until he returns.” Ordnances reinforce and remind us of our faith, something we deny with apostate regulation. We essentially deny children from being a part of the church. 

So here points to consider on whether to baptize or not:

• Simple faith obedience matters. It is better to obey than to sacrifice. Trust and obey for there is no other way than to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey. 
• We cannot control or know what happens next. This is a major lesson from Ecclesiastes. The 18 and above apostasy seeks to control what is not controllable. For one example of this: How many no longer pastor because they morally failed? Obedience to biblical commands is an act of faith. We trust in God to produce roots and fruits of the Gospel. 
• If children can trust Jesus, children can obey Jesus. Their faith capacity is undervalued in churches. Sadly many churches view children’s ministry as childcare rather than what it should be, discipleship. Wanting to take simple steps of faith obedience is good. Denying it can cause one to doubt, a dangerous precipice. 
• The issue isn’t false conversions but of bad discipleship. That’s on us as church leaders and not on the child. Children who remain faithful have a key aspect in common: at least 1-2 other adults other than parents poured their faith into the life of the child. 
• The parable of the wheat and tares teaches us that they exist together and that it is God’s role to sort them out, not us. God is God, we are not. True and false conversations will coexist until the judgement.
• The child should be in the driver seat of their faith. If they pursue God to the best of their developmental ability, then by all means baptize them. If they are unclear on the Gospel and just want to be baptized because parents want them to, don’t. Patiently instruct parents that the child is demonstrating faith by wanting to obey their parents, but if there is lack of clarity on the Gospel so we should wait. The line of holding off or allowing baptism will be different for each child. 
• Be sober minded when instructing what Baptism means. I often ask people to give me a spiritual growth plan after they get dunked. Why? Because you’re saying you are following Jesus, that’s an active not a passive pursuit. A sense of fear about getting baptized is not a bad thing for children. It’s a serious matter.
• Some baptized people will break your heart and others will surprise you. The parable of the sower tells us that the implanted word has a 1/4 chance of producing good roots and fruits. Not sowing because some seeds may fall into bad ground is bad policy. Pull rocks, weed, get the soil conditions right instead, but by all means KEEP SOWING!!!
• Policies make life simpler but they can be an excuse for the hard work of discipleship. Take each child situation case by case. You’ll get some right and some wrong. Some you’re not confident in will surprise you and those you are confident in can break your heart. You and I are not God, nor are we responsible for a child’s faith choices. Christianity is a faith enterprise. So live by faith. Baptize in faithful obedience to God’s Word. But by all means also disciple as if the child’s faith life depends on it, because it does.

My story

The church I grew up in sinned against me by not allowing me to be baptized until I was in youth group. I was very aware of my salvation and the need to be baptized. I was frustrated I had to wait. I shared the gospel with classmates, but could be baptized as the great commission said. The summer before my 7th grade year I started teaching the Bible. I have not stopped since. I lead Bible studies before I was baptized, lead people to Christ before I was baptized. Worshiped, studied the Bible, served at every opportunity I could. But I wasn’t baptized. 

Evangelism training was for adults. I showed up on Tuesday night evangelism and people wondered what I was doing there. In struggling to communicate the Gospel to my 8th grade teachers, I needed more training. The evangelism teacher raised the issue if I should be there. The pastor was assertive about the class’s seriousness and allowed me to attend. This opened up evangelism training for students. 

My church did many things right and they changed. I’m immensely grateful for the people who poured their life into me to serve Jesus no matter where he calls me to. But not being able to do things the Bible says because of arbitrary policies caused faith struggles. One could argue I’m the exception. I would argue why not make disciples of our children in such a way that exceptions become the rule? It’s possible.

In summery

When and how to baptize our children is an important and difficult subject. At the same time we must be aware that we can violate Scriptural boundaries. Setting policy to not baptize until 18 and older grossly violates Scripture to a level that is apostasy. Simple obedience to Scripture is a better model. If one is clear on the Gospel, one can be baptized. Rather than prevent baptism because of the possibility of false conversion, we should maximize our efforts in discipleship so as to not cause a graver sin, causing a child to stumble. Taking each child case by case may be messy and challenging, but isn’t that what discipleship is? This important discussion is not sin. The solution being pushed lately of baptizing 18 and older gravely is.