Global Anglican Theological Institute

In this lesson, we will learn something of why Anglicans baptize infants and little children. Before beginning this lesson, as is our custom, let us greet one another, encourage one another, and pray with and for one another as needs arise. Before beginning our lesson, let us ask the great God to pour out his Spirit upon us that we might teach and receive this lesson in all humility.

Heavenly Father, thank you that you have poured out your Spirit upon us and given us the privilege of being baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Enable us, we pray, to receive these great benefits and live and teach this saving message to the little ones in our families, our churches, and our communities. In the mighty name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Within the great Christian community, there are differences of opinion as to whether or not infants and little children should be baptized. As you can see from our study of Acts 2, those who were baptized were asked to believe and repent. Infants and little children are not old enough to believe and repent, and therefore, some have said the church should not baptize little ones until they are old enough to understand, believe, and profess the message of salvation.

These lessons are written from an Anglican point of view, and Anglicans believe that it is good to baptize infants provided their parents and guardians are committed to rearing the child in the Christian faith. Anglicans have good and strong biblical reasons for believing this which we will present in this lesson. Although Anglicans baptize infants and little children, we do not want to judge our Christian brothers and sisters who do not baptize their little ones. Rather, we wish to follow the advice of one of the great Christian saints, Saint Augustine. Augustine had this to say about our fellowship in Christ, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials diversity, in all things charity.” The word “essentials” refers to the critical, vital, and necessary parts of the Christian faith, such things as the Lordship of Jesus Christ, his resurrection and ascension, the authority of Scripture, the sovereignty of God, and other fundamental beliefs. Christians must believe these things in order to be Christians. These are essentials, and in essentials, we need to agree and be in unity. For Anglicans, being baptized is essential since Scripture so clearly commands it. Nevertheless, Anglicans believe that when a person is baptized, whether as an adult or as a child, is not essential, provided that, if a child is baptized, the parents or guardians are firmly committed to raising the child as a Christian. Therefore we accept diversity of belief as to when a person should be baptized, and for those who think differently, we hold to charity, that is, we believe we are called to love each other in spite of our differences on this subject. Now, let us investigate why Anglicans baptize infants and little children. We begin by reading Genesis 17:1-14.

Genesis 17:1-14 is a covenant between Abraham and his offspring. In this covenant God promised to make Abraham’s offspring into a great nation and to give them a land. The sign of this covenant was circumcision which took place when male infants were eight days old. All males of the household were to be circumcised. This covenant was to be an everlasting covenant (verse 13).

The book of Deuteronomy is a “book of the covenant” in which Moses urges the people to continue in covenant relationship with God. In the first three chapters of Deuteronomy, Moses reviews the history of the escape from Egypt, and then, beginning with Chapter 4, he tells them to listen to “the statutes and the rules that I am teaching you (verse 1), and further, to teach them to “your children and your children’s children” (verse 10). The following chapters give these rules and statutes, and then, in the final chapter, Moses urges the people to renew their covenant with God. As you can see from reading Deuteronomy 29:10-15, this covenant was to be with all the people, “heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water, … ” (verses 10-11). This would mean that all persons in a household, including children, as we just read in Genesis 17, would enter into the covenant. According to verse 1, the covenant in Deuteronomy was a renewal of the covenant given at Horeb (Horeb is another name for the mountain of Sinai), and doubtless this covenant was sealed by a sacrifice as was the case at Sinai (Exodus 24). At the same time, for all Hebrews, circumcision on the eighth day was also a sign of the covenant, and that is true even today for the Jewish people. In summary, when God makes a covenant with a people, he includes all the people, including the children.

According to Genesis 17:13, the covenant God made with his people was everlasting. When Jesus came, this everlasting covenant was not discontinued, but it did change its form. The new covenant depended upon faith in Christ, and its sign was baptism. Further, the earliest Christians were Jewish, and they would have expected to baptize their children as they had circumcised their male children. The New Testament does not forbid them from doing so, leaving them free to follow the new form of their ancient traditions. Further, in several places, the New Testament indicates that entire households, just as in the earlier covenant, were brought into the covenant. For example, the covenant promises of Acts 2, studied in our lessons on baptism in water and the Holy Spirit, were “for you and for your children and for all who are far off, …” (Acts 2:39). Again, when the woman, Lydia, was baptized, her entire household was baptized with her (Acts 16:13-15), and the same is true of the jailor in Acts 16:29-34. In I Corinthians Paul says that he baptized the household of Stephanus. When Paul wrote to the Ephesians, he addressed them as the “saints who are in Ephesus” (Ephesians 1:1). In Ephesians 6:1-4, he gave instructions to children, fathers, masters, and slaves, all members of the household, teaching them how to treat each other. These fathers, masters, slaves, and children are all “saints,” that is, members of the covenant community, and when Paul thinks of households, he thinks of all their members as belonging to the new covenant in Christ. The same can be found in Paul’s letter to the saints in Colossai (Colossians 1:2, 3:20). Throughout Scripture, children with their families receive the blessings of God, and this includes their belonging to the covenant.

As narrated in Mark 10:13-16, Jesus blessed the little children who came to him. When a household belongs to Jesus, the children belong to Jesus and they enjoy the blessings of the covenant. That is why Paul, in 1 Corinthians 7:14, will say that a believing husband or wife will make their children holy. For these reasons, among others, Anglicans baptize children, but only when their parents or guardians are willing to enter into a covenant with God and fulfill the covenant promises. If parents or guardians do not intend to keep their covenant promises, if they will not raise their children according to the covenant, then neither they nor their children should be baptized. When unbaptized children grow up, they may hear the message of salvation. Then they can believe and be baptized. Or, if they were baptized when very young, and if they or their parents failed to keep covenant with God so that the child fell away from faith, then they can renew their faith, repent, and believe the gospel. There is no need to be baptized a second time.

Much more could be said on this vital subject, but this will indicate a few of the reasons Anglicans baptize their little ones. As was stated in the beginning of this lesson, Christians have differing ideas on this matter, and as Anglicans, we wish to receive those who differ from us as brothers and sisters of Christ. The vital matter, the important issue, is that we keep covenant with God, fulfilling our baptismal obligations and receiving with joy his mighty promises.

If time permits, there will be another lesson on raising children in the Christian faith. The most important thing is for parents to practice the Christian faith. When small, children will naturally believe what their parents believe and be inclined to live as they have lived. The most important matter is love; let the children see Christian love in action. It is especially important that parents love each other and their children. We love them by providing food, shelter, affection, and guidance. Spend time with them daily, holding them on your laps and praying for them with the laying-on-of-hands, especially when they are little. If parents have wronged their children, let them ask their forgiveness. If the children have wronged their parents, teach them to ask forgiveness and forgive them. When they are growing up and still in your care, discipline them with tender-heartedness. God loves them so intensely and the solemn words of Jesus hold true: “whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).

1. Were any of you baptized as infants or very young? Did your parents or guardians bring you up in the Christian faith? What are your thoughts on baptizing infants and children?
2. Do you love your children? Do you pray with and for them, provide for them, show tender love for them at all times, and discipline them with firmness and tenderness when they go astray?
3. Have you sinned against your children? Have you asked their forgiveness and made restitution? Have you forgiven them for the wrongs they have done? Have you sinned against your parents or guardians, and if so, have you asked their forgiveness? Are you reconciled with your children or parents, and if not, is there any way to be reconciled at this time?

In your group, open your hearts to each other. Share how God has helped you love your children. Encourage one another to raise your children well. If you have failed your children in any way, help each other find the way toward forgiveness and reconciliation with your children. Let the love of God rule in your hearts, for each other, between husbands and wives, among family members, relatives, and friends, and above all, for your children. And now, here is a wonderful blessing for you to say over your children, holding them on your lap, or kneeling beside them before they go to sleep. Let us also be blessed with this blessing for our heavenly father loves us so much.

The Rev. Robert J. Sanders, Ph.D.
dr.sanders@globalanglican.org