In other news
My eldest continues to fascinate me. Two days ago she edited a note for spelling errors that her own teacher sent home. Her report card says she is reading at a PM Benchmark 30, which, according to what I found on the internet, is a grade 5 level. She's in grade 1. Well, grade 2, soon.
On the not-so-great side, she also has a bladder infection, causing us to spend a fair amount of time in a walk-in clinic yesterday.
Yesterday she heard me talking about baptism and asked me about it. After my simple explanation she told me she wanted to be baptised. At age 6. I was 17 when I got baptized. I know lots of churches are willing to baptize kids, at WCV I've seen kids even younger than her in the tank. But I've always wondered - do they get it? Will they regret taking that step when the meaning was not as full as it might have been? But yet - who does the kingdom belong to?
Appreciate your thoughts on this. Darn anabaptists - things were so much clearer when we all just splashed 'em in the 1st year.
On the not-so-great side, she also has a bladder infection, causing us to spend a fair amount of time in a walk-in clinic yesterday.
Yesterday she heard me talking about baptism and asked me about it. After my simple explanation she told me she wanted to be baptised. At age 6. I was 17 when I got baptized. I know lots of churches are willing to baptize kids, at WCV I've seen kids even younger than her in the tank. But I've always wondered - do they get it? Will they regret taking that step when the meaning was not as full as it might have been? But yet - who does the kingdom belong to?
Appreciate your thoughts on this. Darn anabaptists - things were so much clearer when we all just splashed 'em in the 1st year.
posted by Jude | 9:55 PM
3 Comments:
It's complicated to explain this to a child. With the perspective and hindsight of life experience, one can appreciate why baptism carries a deep significance when one has the maturity to grasp commitment to a life of discipleship. I'd be concerned that a child interested in baptism is primarily motivated by the fear that they are not saved by Grace through an age of innocence. I'd want to make sure my child knows that God loves them and accepts them and that baptism (at least "ana-baptism") carries a significant responsibility to community that only needs to be assumed with adulthood.
Taryn and I continued talking about baptism today and she seemed quite dissatisfied with how it was going. I said, "Okay, Taryn, you tell me then, why do you want to get baptized." And she said, "I don't want to get baptized. I'm wondering if I SHOULD get baptized."
That definitely adds a new dimension to the conversation. I prayed and thought a bit longer, then went back to her and said I think she should get baptized, but when she's older and understands it a bit more. I also said that when the time is right, she'll know it and those of us around her will know it and she won't have to ask if she should because she'll already know the answer.
We're using the PM+ books for Matt. They're the only things he seems to respond to. I have a catalogue if you want to check out any other stuff from that publisher.
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