What is the minimum age for baptism?

[trinityisunity]

My nearly nine year old daughter has been wanting to be baptised for the last six months. She went up and spoke to our pastor after church today and told him what she wants to do. He is going to come around and speak to her and us (my wife and me). As long as her reasons are not doing to it to try and please anyone but because Jesus was baptised and He wants us all to be (Matt 28:19) I think that it is ok. She has given her heart and life to Jesus and loves Him with all her heart.

What do you guys think???

[nzguy]

well, in the bible alot of people were baptised pretty much straight after salvation.. that is why you see verses with salvation and baptism in the same sentence. So, as long as they have genuinely received Christ, they can be baptised.

It is important to know that it is about symbolising the salvation that has happened to teh person earlier.. dieing to the old ways.. ushering in the new person, regenrated by the Holy Spirit.. symbolising that.

If you do it cos everyone else is doing it.. that ain't going to cut it as a genuine baptism.. if you do to please people.. that won't cut because it didn't come from that person-- not about Jesus.

The other thing is.. does this baptism make the person a member of your church? If it does.. then that person needs to be belieiving the same things as the rest of the congregation.

[PaladinGirl]

The right age for baptism is the age when the child can receive Jesus as his/her savior and actually know what he/she is doing.

[arunma]

Personally I think that our modern understanding of baptism isn't quite in accordance with what the Bible teaches. As Nzguy mentioned, in the Bible people were baptized immediately after professing faith in Jesus. They didn't attend a class on baptism, they didn't wait three months until the next round of church baptisms, and they didn't go through any other procedures. At my old church there used to be an elder who thought likewise. In fact he baptized one of his children at age three after he professed faith in Jesus (obviously the sort of faith commensurate to a three year old). I'm starting to think that this may in fact be the more Biblical way to treat baptism.

So of course I think that nine is a perfectly appropriate age for baptism.

[ImmersionX]

My church baptizes as needed...it's cool. Also for the OP....I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL. I don't see any reason for even a 9 yr old to lie or decieve to make you happy. It's a good idea for your pastor to just have a little visit, just to make sure...but we just had a little boy about that age get baptized the other week. He even professed his faith directly to the entire church...not thru the pastor. All I gotta say is AMEN!

[PrincetonGuy]

My nearly nine year old daughter has been wanting to be baptised for the last six months. She went up and spoke to our pastor after church today and told him what she wants to do. He is going to come around and speak to her and us (my wife and me). As long as her reasons are not doing to it to try and please anyone but because Jesus was baptised and He wants us all to be (Matt 28:19) I think that it is ok. She has given her heart and life to Jesus and loves Him with all her heart.

What do you guys think???

What a joy and a blessing it is to read these things of your little girl! My counsel would be to have your pastor baptize her at the first reasonable opportunity.

[th1bill]

The right age for baptism is the age when the child can receive Jesus as his/her savior and actually know what he/she is doing.
... Ditto! When a person reqchs the age of responsibility and knows in their heart that they need Jesus to get into Heaven, we must not forbid them. And everyone of us reaches that age at different points in our lives. I'm certain that the pastor will query her for her reasons and will do what is right.

[Blue Olive]

I don't know the baptism references. However, I was always under the impression that Jesus was baptized at about 29-30. But if your daughter wants to do it 20 years early, I don't see any harm.

[cremi]

I have a nine yr old who recently started talking about this also. My dh and I are talking with him and are planning to let him as soon as is possible.

I also agree with a previous poster that we don't treat baptism with the same importance that the NT church did. While I don't agree necessarily with delaying baptism so far after a decision has been made, I know delaying baptism is practiced in many churches today---mine inlcuded.

I think children often have the purest heart of all, and if is this is somthing she is hearing from God, she needs to be baptized.

[TwistTim]

Has your Daughter Understood her sins and repented of them and is trusting in Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior for salvation?

Does she understand that Baptism is not a method of or means to salvation but merely symbloic of washing ourselves of(Dieing to) our old (Adamic) Natures and coming up to Newness of Life in Christ?
(Again, it's an outward symbol of the inner change)


If she passes that test, then she is ready to be Baptized.... if she fails, then no, she shouldn't be.... nothing is worse than allowing a false convert to be Baptized being themselves to be saved and then being on the road to hell...

[WayneinMaine]

I think earlier baptism age reflects, to be frank, a decreasing commitment by Christians to the gravity of a decision to repent and follow Jesus. I did not say "accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior", which is not something scripture talks about, I'm talking about repentance and discipleship (making disciples is what Jesus' Great Commission is all about).

If "believing" means making a decision to follow Jesus faithfully even in the face of derision, persecution and perhaps death, then surely it is a decision for a mature person. I always ask "Would you as a parent let your child decide who they will marry at this age?" Surely making a commitment to follow Jesus is as great a decision as choosing a spouse, and I believe God knows that and accounts a person innocent and blameless until they are capable of making the decision to accept or reject the good news of Jesus Christ and the call to repent and follow Him. My personal observation is that most young people who "make a decision for Christ" at an immature age will either never mature in their commitment to Christ or they will come to a crisis in their faith when the reach maturity and have to struggle to attain what they once believe they had -a living, vibant and real faith in Christ.

Baptism should wait until a person is mature enough to "believe".

[HappyChicken]

I think its awesome when a child professes their love for Jesus!!! I hope my daughter grows to love Jesus too. This was the best thread I read all day :)

[dead2self]

My son is 6 and professes faith. He'll not be getting baptised or partaking in communion until he can not only profess faith, but also articulate his faith, it's meaning and can show me he understands what the ordinances mean.

[th1bill]

I think earlier baptism age reflects, to be frank, a decreasing commitment by Christians to the gravity of a decision to repent and follow Jesus. I did not say "accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior", which is not something scripture talks about, I'm talking about repentance and discipleship (making disciples is what Jesus' Great Commission is all about).

If "believing" means making a decision to follow Jesus faithfully even in the face of derision, persecution and perhaps death, then surely it is a decision for a mature person. I always ask "Would you as a parent let your child decide who they will marry at this age?" Surely making a commitment to follow Jesus is as great a decision as choosing a spouse, and I believe God knows that and accounts a person innocent and blameless until they are capable of making the decision to accept or reject the good news of Jesus Christ and the call to repent and follow Him. My personal observation is that most young people who "make a decision for Christ" at an immature age will either never mature in their commitment to Christ or they will come to a crisis in their faith when the reach maturity and have to struggle to attain what they once believe they had -a living, vibant and real faith in Christ.

Baptism should wait until a person is mature enough to "believe".
Okay, at what age does this happen and please be faithful to show us the scriptual basis for your decision.

[WayneinMaine]

Okay, at what age does this happen and please be faithful to show us the scriptual basis for your decision.
The scripture does not say what age this is. What basis in scripture is there for any particular age of baptism, except for infant baptism (which I disagree with)?

More fundamentally, what is the criteria by which the church must decide a persons eligibility for baptism?

[dead2self]

I agree that scripture only seems to rule out infant baptism, but remains silent on age otherwise. It seems to simply be a matter of faith, so I think that the proper age would vary for everyone, depending on maturity and ability to understand. If I had a four year old who could articulate their faith and understood what they were saying, and I have heard of one such little one, then I'd be all for baptising them. But for me at least, I would not have been ready, assuming I was a Chrisitian in childhood, until much later in life.

[cremi]

My nearly nine year old daughter has been wanting to be baptised for the last six months. She went up and spoke to our pastor after church today and told him what she wants to do. He is going to come around and speak to her and us (my wife and me). As long as her reasons are not doing to it to try and please anyone but because Jesus was baptised and He wants us all to be (Matt 28:19) I think that it is ok. She has given her heart and life to Jesus and loves Him with all her heart.

What do you guys think???I just realized I may not have answered the question here...so I'll try again.

I don't think there is really a minimum, but some children do come to know the Lord at very early ages. Each child is different. Some have complete understanding at age 8, some can't even begin to scratch the surface until well into their teen years.

I was one of the really early ones. I accepted the Lord at age 4--almost 5. Though I believe I was really saved then, I also know there was much I didn't understand. Now, I don't think a child has to understand everthing before they make that decision...most adults don't undrstand everything they are doing...but I have not encouraged my own children to "accept the Lord" at such young ages.

My oldest was 10 when she made her decision and was baptized immediately afterwards. Her dad and I studied with her for many months before she "officially" made that decision, as we both felt it was important for her to have a basic understanding of what she was doing. She is now 15 and is growing ever stronger in the Lord each day.

My 13 yr old is on the verge of making that decision. He is currently studying and wants to make that "official" or "public" decision known very shortly.

My 9 yr old, just on his own is really desiring to follow the Lord. We had a short bible study with him last night and he really is understanding what it's all about. I'm actually a bit surprised because he is usually so quiet. It's the quiet ones that fool you sometimes---they reallly are absorbing much more than you realize.

My 7yr old is just beginning to ask questions and he is asking some big questions...like how are Jesus, God and the Holy Spirit one? Adults have a hard time with that one....

My point being that each of my children has been different in their approach. While I don't necessarily advocate children as young as myself being pushed toward that decision, I also would not hold back any child who is earnestly seeking the Lord. If a child is seeking, please study with them and encourage them to go where the Lord is calling them. He does call the young ones!

[HappyChicken]

I think alot of adults make the decision too, without fully knowing what they are doing.

[WayneinMaine]

I cannot see a person being baptized before the "age of accountability", no matter what profession of faith a person makes. Even churches that practice infant baptism incorporate a rite for "confirming" a persons faith when they reach that nebulous age at which we recognize that they are able to independently make decisions effecting their lives and are therefore free moral agents. Judaism traditionally held this to be twelve years of age, though the scriptures are entirely silent on a specific age. Essentially it is at puberty, when a child transitions to adulthood. In my circles the emphasis is often now placed on "believer's baptism", where once it was placed on "adult baptism". I know conservative churches where baptism rarely occurs before 16, and it is frequently later. Those churches are much more demanding on their members, who make a commitment to the local body at baptism. Their members make a firm commitment to Jesus and don't go through that period of doubt so common with teens and college aged young people.

[PrincetonGuy]

Colossians 2:9. For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form,
10. and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;
11. and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;
12. having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
13. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
14. having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

It is true that this passage of Scripture is interpreted by many Roman Catholics and Protestants, including some Baptists, to teach that water baptism replaces circumcision, but that could only pertain to Gentiles who had been proselytized into becoming Jews. It is a very big stretch to suggest that those proselytized included infants. What we really have is proselytized Gentiles, upon their confession of the truth of the Jewish faith, being circumcised. This compares well with proselytized unbelievers, upon their confession of the truth of the Christian faith, being baptised. And, of course, in this passage Paul is NOT addressing the issue of circumcising Jewish infants; he is addressing the issue of Gentiles who had been proselytized into becoming Christians; and in Paul’s day Christianity was understood to be a sect of Judaism.

Should infants be baptized? That question is not answered or addressed in Colossians 2:9-14. Therefore Genesis 17:12 is irrelevant to the issue. Yes, Mark 10:14-15 suggests that children who come to Jesus can receive spiritual benefits, but I cannot conceive of an 8-day-old infant coming to Jesus. The child must be old enough to come to Jesus!

[VT_Boy]

It really depends on if a child understands what and why they are being baptized for. I was baptized at 9 years old. My parents made sure I understood what I was doing. I've seen other kids though, who later on wasn't sure if they understood when they was younger to be baptized as a teen or adult.

[WayneinMaine]

It really depends on if a child understands what and why they are being baptized for. I was baptized at 9 years old. My parents made sure I understood what I was doing. I've seen other kids though, who later on wasn't sure if they understood when they was younger to be baptized as a teen or adult.
What did you understand you were being baptized for? What did you understand the message and mission of Jesus to ahve been? What did you do in response?

[tamtam92]

In the Bible we don't have clear examples of children being baptized. At any rate, i think baptism is an important decision, a public dedication to God and a public statement of your faith in Christ for the salvation of sins. It should not be taken lightly. A children being easily influenced, he might take decisions quickly, without a full understanding of their consequences. Moreover, i think it would be perfectly possible for a child to live his faith without being baptized. I'd say a good age would be past 15, or sooner if the child shows christian maturity. At that moment he will have a better knowledge of the world to understand what he is rejecting while dedicating himself to Christ.

What's the point of having 3 years olds baptized if they're not anymore christians after 20? Since baptism doesn't give salvation, there's no hurry. The Bible teaches us about the baptism of adults.

[cremi]

It seems that some here are actually placing more importance on baptism than on salvation. I find that interesting. It's okay for a three year old to proclaim enough to have a saving faith in Jesus, but let's hold off on baptism until 15? That makes no sense. Salvation is the bigger issue here--not baptism.

Frankly, I have a hard time separating the two. Every conversion in the New Testament is followed immediately by baptism. The only exception I can think of is the thief on the cross. As the New Testament church took hold and spread like wildfire thoughout, the conversions written about were all followed by immediate baptism.

As far as examples of children being baptized, I would agree that we don't clearly see that. However, scripture does talk of whole households being saved...could that not include some children, perhaps?

Acts 16:14,15
14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.
15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.

Acts 16:27-33
27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!"
29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household.

I'm not sure how much understanding of the consequences one needs. Either you get to go to heaven, or you don't. Can a child understand that? Most certainly. Do they all understand that? Many do not.

As far as understanding what is required to live the life of a Christian, I'm not sure many adults fully comprehend what God expects of us. Why would we expect children to grasp that entirely before they make the decision to follow Christ? Yet, why would we hold them back if they are eager to follow the Lord and have a heart for him, even at a young and tender age?

Remember that the Lord called Samuel at an early age. He also put Josiah on the throne at age 8 and though he was God's son, Jesus was teaching in the temple at age 12. Even David, the shepherd boy, was callled by God to defeat the giant, Goliath.

God does call children. No doubt.