Dedication
This Sunday we do our annual "Parent
Dedication." It used to be called "Baby Dedication" but that was a misnomer
since not all the children were babies and they were not old enough to
understand anything about dedication. That the New Testament church did not
teach or practice such a occasion is not troubling since it does not forbid it
either. However, we must be clear that in light of the silence of the Scripture
on the matter, it is purely an optional public commitment. What is not optional
is the responsibility of the parents to raise their children in the discipline
and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4).
Actually, most churches that practice baby
dedication do so as a substitute for infant baptism. They hold to the biblical
teaching of believer's baptism but wish to minister to parents of infants who
come expecting a religious ceremony for their child. The desire to serve such
parents is noble but the truth of the Word cannot be compromised. Care must be
exercised in upholding the truth in the midst of such events, lest someone
conclude that the ceremony itself produces some spiritual benefit for the
child.
Most churches that practice
infant baptism do so under the belief that in baptism has replaced circumcision
in the church age. While similarities exist between baptism and circumcision,
there is no such connection between the two in the Scripture. In fact,
circumcision as a sign of the covenant to Abraham (Genesis 17:10; Acts 7:8) can
be better compared to the Lord's Supper as the sign of the New Covenant (1
Corinthians 11:25).
Posted: Thu - May 8, 2008 at 04:28 PM