The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum "We sometimes allow children to die unbaptized. ."

A baby who dies in infancy before being baptized doesn't change God's plan for their eternal destination. We don't want to get caught up in rituals like the Catholics do that give the last rights to a dying person as if the sprinkling with water were the thing that purifies the individual. I have never heard of a Reformed Christian that chose to have their dying or dead baby baptized as if it was some kind of magic ingredient that saved them.

There are two positions on baptism in the church:

1. Baptizing children of believers who are included in the visible church by way of the covenant of grace.

2. Baptizing adults who have been converted and confess their faith in Jesus Christ.

I haven't looked at how each confession differs but I think this weeks article on the Westminster Shorter Confession thread along with the comments from Thomas Vincent provide a good statement on the Reformed Covenantal position on baptism.

Why would any Christian parent who is in a right relationship with the Lord and His Church want to exclude their child from this external mark of inclusion in the covenant community of believers?


Wes