The two positions we’re evaluating here are the “baptistic” view and the “covenantal” view. What are they?

Baptistic: This perspective says baptism is only appropriate in the case of someone who has made a personal decision to follow Christ; conversion comes first, baptism confirms that conversion. Biblical support for this comes from the fact that there is no overt example in scripture of someone being baptized without previously making a confession of faith. On the day of Pentecost, the crowds ask Peter what they must do to be saved, and he answers “repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Regarding young children: Because Baptistic Christian parents still long to signify their intentions to raise their children in a way that is faithful to scripture and passes along the faith, the concept of dedication is very popular in this camp. That way, parents/families can share a sacred moment at the beginning of their child’s life, but save the rite of baptism for a time when the child is old enough to make a confession of faith and demonstrate evidence that this confession is authentic. For many baptistic families, there is a high value placed on the special memory baptism can be for the baptized individual, something he/she will remember for the rest of his/her life.

Coventantal: This perspective says the children of at least one believer should be baptized and treated as members of the covenant community. Baptism for this group is a sign of covenant inclusion, which has always been extended not only to believers, but also their children. Baptism is not a sign of belief on the part of the individual, but a mark of God’s covenant promise on a people. The New Testament goes to great lengths to say baptism is the New Covenant equivalent of circumcision for the Jews: both are a sign of God’s choice, his promise to his people, and both point to the faithfulness of Jesus, not the faith of the individual. Therefore, God works through human mediators to place this sign both on individuals who commit their lives to him and their children. Advocates for this view look to the next sentence in Acts 2, after Peter explains baptism to the crowds. “Repent, and each one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For this promise is for you and your children….” In this tradition, baptism of the young child satisfies the common longing of parents to mark the occasion of a new baby with a commitment to raise this child in the way of the Lord. At LCC, anyone who was baptized as an infant has the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment through a public footwashing service.