John's Baptism

On Sunday, January 13, John was baptized at Cambridge Presbyterian Church. This was a very special day for us as John became a member of our church and joined in the covenant community of believers worldwide. My parents were there to witness the event as well as several of our good friends.

Some of you might be wondering two things:
1) Why are you baptizing your baby? Didn’t both of you get baptized as adults?
2) Do you believe that infant baptism means that the infant is saved by the act of baptism?

In response to the first question, yes we were both baptized as adults (and Kate as an infant as well…. long story) and we used to believe in adult baptism as the “public expression of faith.” However, as we study more of the tenants of the reformed faith, we have come to believe it to be the best expression of the Christian faith. One of the tenants is infant baptism, where the infant is admitted into the community of believing families. We believe that baptism today (in the new covenant) is much like circumcision was under the old covenant. It is a sign and seal of the blessing of God on the infant. In the Bible Christ says that we did not choose Him, but He choose us. Infant baptism is a way to picture God choosing the infant to be a part of the Christian community before the child is ever able to move toward Him with his own understanding. It is a picture of God’s grace.

As for the second question, no we do not believe that baptism saves the child. Just as circumcision didn’t mean that the child was blameless and an inheritor of eternal life (just look at the Pharisees who were circumcised but missed submitting to the Son of God when He was right there before them), so we believe that baptism is a sign of God’s grace toward the child. However, the child must himself submit to God and seek His grace and saving work on the cross as payment for his own sins. There is nothing special in the water that baptizes the child, it is, as I mentioned above, a sign of entrance into the community. We seek to raise John to know that he is a sinner, and is in need of the cross of Christ every day of his life. We hope that John will never remember a day when he didn’t know that Christ was his Lord.

By writing this I am not trying to persuade our many “adult baptism believing friends” of our point. I just hope that it helps you to understand where we are coming from.

Reverend Chad Van Dixhoorn (another Dutchman!) did the honors. We have loved learning and watching his family.

John 15:16- You did not choose Me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last...

Cheers!