by Robert L. Franck
One of the most difficult theological issues throughout the history of the Church concerns the salvation of children. Can young children be saved? Are they able to understand the gospel and have true faith? Is there an “age of accountability”? Are children counted among the elect if their parents are believers? And what is a parent’s responsibility? Not surprisingly, theological systems both frame and answer these questions differently.
You may consider them as intellectual queries to ponder, logical difficulties to resolve—until you actually have a child of your own, or until you must comfort one who has lost a child to death, rebellion, apostasy or heresy. Then the eternal implications will quickly flood your whole being, sweeping up your emotions and battering them against all that you hold to be true about God and His workings. Don’t wait until the dam breaks. Work through this issue now.
Let’s go. Many readers of this journal may make one or the other of two errors.
The first error is theological and is embedded within Covenant Theology’s infant baptism. While some adherents of Covenant Theology are careful to distinguish between election, infant baptism and faith, they still believe that the promises of God and the Holy Spirit’s working are graciously extended to children because of the belief of their parents. In other words, although baptism does not save the child, God will effectively bring the child to faith.
This theology provides great comfort to Christian parents. It would bring great comfort to me, too, except that I don’t believe it.
The second error is a practical one and belongs to adherents of the Baptist tradition, that is, believer’s baptism. In this case, the theology is correct, but the parents become anxious for assurance that the child is saved. This anxiety is only relieved by the baptism of their children, often at very young age. Parents will assure the church elders that the child exhibits faith, and the child will repeat what they are coached to say.
This practice of believer’s baptism of children also comforts Christian parents, becoming the equivalent of Covenant theology’s “sign and seal.” But I find no comfort here either.
What does the Bible teach us about assurance of salvation? To speak broadly, assurance comes from believing the gospel and living it out. Faith and practice. Not one or the other, but both. Not looking back to a point in the past, but examining yourself—and your child—right now! It is a false comfort to assure yourself or to assure your child that he is a Christian because he was baptized, one way or the other.
So, in light of this, what is a father to do? First, believe. Trust God and His sovereignty. Do not be anxious. Submit to Him in faith. Here is true comfort, not wishful thinking. Second, work. Tell your child the gospel again and again and again. As he grows, his level of understanding the things of God needs to grow, too. Urge him to believe these things all along the way. And pray until you sweat.
Admittedly, this is harder work than just baptizing him. But it is your calling as a father.
[Note: This article is not intended to discourage believer’s baptism. Neither does it address when baptism is appropriate for children. Perhaps I will address this in a future article. But probably not.]