Comments on: Evangelizing Your Children (Part 1) http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/ A Ministry of Shepherds' Fellowship Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:54:00 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: BC http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-125611 BC Sun, 20 Apr 2008 07:26:55 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/#comment-125611 I do not understand baptism being seen as clear and final. It is an outward testimony of an inward change. It is not age driven, I believe that while we cannot look into a child’s heart with God like eyes, we can come to a reasonable confidence that the child does or does not understand fully salvation and what it takes to be ready to profess it. Some may be that at 9 or ten even younger perhaps although I do not know about that. Others may not be cognizant enough until 13 or so. If a child looks at the experience of baptism as proof that they were saved it should be in spite of rigorous explanation to the contrary in the discussions with their pastor or parent leading up to the event. Applying sound Biblical teaching to our ministry efforts with our children, and an awefull lot of prayer should help us with our apprehensions about our childrens salvation. I do not understand baptism being seen as clear and final. It is an outward testimony of an inward change. It is not age driven, I believe that while we cannot look into a child’s heart with God like eyes, we can come to a reasonable confidence that the child does or does not understand fully salvation and what it takes to be ready to profess it. Some may be that at 9 or ten even younger perhaps although I do not know about that. Others may not be cognizant enough until 13 or so. If a child looks at the experience of baptism as proof that they were saved it should be in spite of rigorous explanation to the contrary in the discussions with their pastor or parent leading up to the event. Applying sound Biblical teaching to our ministry efforts with our children, and an awefull lot of prayer should help us with our apprehensions about our childrens salvation.

]]> By: patrick rauh http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-124886 patrick rauh Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:39:41 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/#comment-124886 if i were to begin a new church i would be very tempted to prohibit baptism until the age of 18. I would do this because the "pitfalls" you have listed are so overwhelming...both for the parents and kids. Baptism itself is, of course, meaingless to salvation. It is only a demonstaration of obedience. Most children upon reaching the age of 18 would be imune to the "cool" factor; mostly over the peer pressure factor (in regards to baptism anyway.) I see nothing to lose and everything to gain by this approach. The problem with children being baptized and the false assurance that goes along with it is such a pervasive issue that i would say it would be worth the bother. I am involved in the prison ministry at my church and it seems every "christian" prisoner i meet with was "saved" at the age of 6 or 8...then committed their 1st armed robbery at 16 etc etc. Many of them are truly saved now, but with the false, unbiblical notion that they have re dedicated their lives to Christ while incarcerated. I take them through a series of verses showing them it means, biblically, to be born again...to be "saved." They ALWAYS end up agreeing that they have only recently been "saved." Therin lies the root of the problem: How many parents or Christians period, know what it means to be biblically "saved?" How many have only the assurance of a confession...as opposed to the testimony of the Spirit with ours that we belong to Him (romas 8:16; eph 1:14.) if i were to begin a new church i would be very tempted to prohibit baptism until the age of 18. I would do this because the “pitfalls” you have listed are so overwhelming…both for the parents and kids. Baptism itself is, of course, meaingless to salvation. It is only a demonstaration of obedience. Most children upon reaching the age of 18 would be imune to the “cool” factor; mostly over the peer pressure factor (in regards to baptism anyway.) I see nothing to lose and everything to gain by this approach. The problem with children being baptized and the false assurance that goes along with it is such a pervasive issue that i would say it would be worth the bother. I am involved in the prison ministry at my church and it seems every “christian” prisoner i meet with was “saved” at the age of 6 or 8…then committed their 1st armed robbery at 16 etc etc. Many of them are truly saved now, but with the false, unbiblical notion that they have re dedicated their lives to Christ while incarcerated. I take them through a series of verses showing them it means, biblically, to be born again…to be “saved.” They ALWAYS end up agreeing that they have only recently been “saved.” Therin lies the root of the problem: How many parents or Christians period, know what it means to be biblically “saved?” How many have only the assurance of a confession…as opposed to the testimony of the Spirit with ours that we belong to Him (romas 8:16; eph 1:14.)

]]> By: GUNNY HARTMAN http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-124649 GUNNY HARTMAN Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:30:35 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/#comment-124649 Being converted in college, I often worry about my children and the other kids at church. We don't want premature (false) professions, but really do want to give them someone in whom to believe, not merely give them stuff to do and not do. I've found kids can handle more than we customarily think, but as a pastor I have to be cautious in baptizing children. It's not uncommon to encounter a child "coached" by mom and/or dad with regard to the right things to say to get passed muster. However, I don't want to baptize based on the parent's faith, then I've just become a paedobaptizer. Being converted in college, I often worry about my children and the other kids at church. We don’t want premature (false) professions, but really do want to give them someone in whom to believe, not merely give them stuff to do and not do.

I’ve found kids can handle more than we customarily think, but as a pastor I have to be cautious in baptizing children. It’s not uncommon to encounter a child “coached” by mom and/or dad with regard to the right things to say to get passed muster. However, I don’t want to baptize based on the parent’s faith, then I’ve just become a paedobaptizer.

]]> By: Hadassah http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-124639 Hadassah Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:43:41 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/#comment-124639 I'm sorry. I don't understand number 5 at all. Evidence of regeneration that is independent of parental control? At 12? Is there some Biblical guidance you can point to on that? Because that seems like arbitrary opinion to me. I'm not trying to sound overly harsh, but I really don't understand number 5. I’m sorry. I don’t understand number 5 at all. Evidence of regeneration that is independent of parental control? At 12? Is there some Biblical guidance you can point to on that? Because that seems like arbitrary opinion to me. I’m not trying to sound overly harsh, but I really don’t understand number 5.

]]> By: Carla Rolfe http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-124629 Carla Rolfe Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:34:24 +0000 http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/04/15/evangelizing-your-children-part-1/#comment-124629 Always a timely post - and a much appreciated one. Always a timely post – and a much appreciated one.

]]>