Scott and I had the rare privilege of baptizing three young men last week. As I looked at them, I thought that if we asked those young men, those three could literally change the world. I feel similar thoughts with an infant baptism. We have no idea of the abilities and the future that God has placed within this little package.
The first question we ask of the parents of the babies to be baptized is this, “Do you renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness, and reject the evil powers of this world?” I wouldn’t blame a young mother at that point if she kicked over the communion font and flounced out of the room.
Some of those moms have already changed that child’s entire wardrobe seven times that morning. She’s kept the baby reasonably happy throughout a long worship service. Now the child up in front indicating to his mother, by his bobbing head, that he is ready to be fed, he is unhappy and he isn’t going to wait much longer! Somehow, asking that mother if she would also “renounce the spiritual forces of wickedness and reject the evil powers of this world,” is expecting a bit too much at the moment!
We’re in the business of helping these young moms and dads. I wonder if, as we have the privilege of watching these young folk corral their children, they’re not really ministering to us.
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