Question:
What does the Bible say about infant baptism?
Answer:
Nothing.
Yet, for a more full answer let’s think about the practice of infant baptism for a few moments.
First, consider some of the reasoning behind it. The Roman Catholic Church has long taught the doctrine of “Original Sin.” As their own catechism states, “...he [Adam] has transmitted to us a sin with which we are all born afflicted, a sin which is the “death of the soul” (p. 113). Now, if we are truly “born afflicted” and our soul is dead from birth, where will a child who dies in infancy go after this life? According to this doctrine, will they go to heaven or hell?
Anybody who believes in “original sin” (or its close Calvinist cousin “total inherited depravity”) can see the dilemma. If we inherit sin from birth, we are lost from birth. Thus, to avoid such a hopeless dilemma the Catholic Church began practicing infant baptism (which was never historically documented in the church until centuries after Christ and His apostles). Years later, many denominations have also accepted the practice. Supposedly, this baptism would wash away the sins acquired at birth and provide comfort to the parents in the case of a tragedy.
Here’s the problem. The Bible does not teach your children are “born sinners.” In fact, Jesus says in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” First of all, notice Jesus is not having them come to Him for the purpose of baptism. Second, please realize that Jesus says children are “of the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, they are fine as they are. They are not children of the devil, they are not sinful, tainted creatures born “totally depraved.” They are the very model Jesus uses as examples of humility and trust in Matthew 18:3-4. Thus, we are not “born sinners” and we do not “inherit sin” (see Ezekiel 18:20). Sin is a choice, not a gene you inherit. Now, if babies are not born sinful, there is no sin to wash away in the waters of baptism.
Instead, baptism is for the believer. Can infants make the good confession of their belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God? Do they have sins they are to turn away from in repentance? No. If not, there is no purpose in baptism. Baptism is for the penitent believer (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). It is “for the remission of sins” and to “wash away sins” (Acts 2:38; 22:16). The Bible states no other purpose or subject for baptism. To go beyond this, is to teach the doctrine of men, not Christ.
May 2007