Baby Dedications

[CeeBee]

I heard of this from my Baptist mother. What is it all about? Just wondering. SHe didn't really elaborate on what it was or anything, jsut a Baptist cousin just dedicated their baby she told me. I asked her what it was and she said it was a Baptist thing basically she didn't give a very good explanation lol some help please.

[SumTinWong]

Never heard of it, sorry.

[ZiSunka]

Like Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord, baptist and other protestant denoms often have baby dedications if the parents ask for it. It is a simple ceremony during sunday service in which a baby is taken forward to the podium and its parents introduce it to the congregation, then say prayers dedicating the baby to the Lord. Usually it includes laying on of hands by the elders or sometimes the whole congregation. Prayers are said for the baby's health and wellbeing and for it's prospering and nurturing in the Lord.

So, in short, it's a short prayer meeting over a baby.

[CeeBee]

No problemo Uncle Bud thanks anyway.

Thanks lambslove that is just what i was looking for.

[aReformedPatriot]

I like baby dedications. Let us not forget the other half of it which is directed torwards the parents. That half the parents are exhorted to be Godly in the raising of their child and are also prayed for.

[Crazy Liz]

Baby dedications generally are practiced by protestants who don't baptize infants. So it is also a formal and public statement by the parents of their intention to raise the child in the faith. Many baby dedication ceremonies are quite similar to infant baptisms, but with no water.

[ZiSunka]

Good point TLE! I meant to put that in my post but forgot! :)

[jcright]

I'll take it one step further. From what I've seen (and I've only witnessed a couple), it's not just dedicating the baby to the Lord and parents agreeing to bring up their child in the Word of the Lord. It is also about the congregation agreeing to do their part to "bring up" the child in the Lord.

[daveleau]

It's not Baptist, per se. It is a Protestant occurrence. I have been to Pentecostal, Episcopalian and non-denominational churches that all did this.

Basically, the parents take the child up in front of the church and the pastor prays with the family over the baby. The family makes a commitment to raise the child with Christ in mind and as the center of their life. They dedicate its life to God.

This is not really a salvific process, because another person can not make a salvific decision for you. You are the only one that can accept or deny Christ's salvation. This is more of an introduction of the child to the church, and a parent's dedication to raise the child in the will of God.

Usually the pastors will anoint the baby's head with oil. They do not baptize the baby, because, again, no one else can make a salvific decision for you. It must be made yourself.

God bless,
Dave

[Gwenyfur]

In our services, baby dedications are where the parents bring the baby to the "altar" podium, stage whatever you wish to call it...

The story of Hannah and Samuel is read, and then the parents take vows together to raise the baby in a Christian home, feeding it with not only physical food and water, but also with the spiritual food and water of Jesus and God's Word.

Then prayers are said, and the Pastor will again pray over each baby and it's parents for God to strengthen and grow them all in their spiritual walk and marriage, as well as the baby to be healthy and full of wisdom.

It's quite lovely... I wish they'd done that when my girls were babies.

[SonOfThunder]

At the church I go to before Christmas a family brought their baby and I sat and watched what happened as it is new to me too.

The baby is presented to God with a promise from the parents to be raised in a Godly family.

I guess it is a public declaration from mum and dad to do so.

It does nothing for the baby, it has no saving properties, it's just a service and only God will know the heart of the parents in doing this public declaration.

James