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

speratus said:
Boanerges,

I am still waiting for WELS Q&A to answer my question on whether or not we Lutherans baptize solely upon command of God as Luther clearly taught in the Large Catechism. I will post their reply if and when I receive it.

Q: In the Large Catechism, Luther writes, "We bring the child in the conviction and hope that it believes, and we pray that God may grant it faith; but we do not baptize it upon that, but solely upon the command of God." Is Luther right when he says that we should baptize our children, not based upon the efficacy of baptism, but solely upon the command of God?


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A: To understand Luther's words in larger context begin at paragraph 52,53 in the Large Catechism: "Further, we say, we do not put the main emphasis on whether the person baptized believes or not, for in the latter case baptism does not become invalid. Everything depends upon the Word and commandment of God.... (Baptism) is not bound to our faith but to the Word."
From there to the sentences you quote, Luther emphasizes in various ways that Baptism is not our work but God's, not dependent on us and our faith but on God's command and promise.

We do not know whether those who hear our preaching will believe or not. We preach because our Lord commanded it and promised his blessing. We do not know whether every communicant is truly penitent and trusting, but we do not doubt that the Lord's Supper is the Savior's Body and Blood and that it is a means of grace.

Likewise, we do not know what the result of a particular baptism (infant or adult) is or will be. We can't know. Nevertheless, we baptize, not on the basis of our intent and hope but on the basis of God's command. (In many other places Luther also adds the promises of God to the command of God in connection with Baptism).

Luther, incidentally, is not suggesting that some baptisms lack efficacy. The gospel in Word and Sacrament is always efficacious, but it can be resisted and rejected.