Dedication, Christening, Infant Baptism...
Children are worth celebrating! There can come a time when parents want to do something special to acknowledge the spiritual life of the child, the connection with God and the church. There are different approaches to this important event in the life of a family. Some churches have “christenings” or “baptism of infants”. In most cases, this is the church’s way of making sure that the child is “safe” in case he or she should die before reaching the “age of accountability”. It comes close to implying that baptism = salvation.
In the Church of God we practice what is called “child dedication”. When parents have their children dedicated they indicate their desire to have their children grow up and live as children of God, participants in the life of the church, and to be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Through birth a child is given to parents; through dedication a child is given to God. In dedication the parents acknowledge that their parenthood is a participation in God's parenthood, and that all fatherhood and motherhood comes from God. It frees the parents from a sense of owning their children. Children belong to God and are given to the parents to love and care for in God's name. It is the parents' vocation to welcome their children as honoured guests in their home and help facilitate the physical, emotional, and spiritual freedom that enables them to become mature Christians. Dedication reminds parents of this calling.
Dedication is a commitment by the parents and the church to raise the child “...in the reverence and teachings of the Lord...” (Ephesians 6:4) and also of committing the child to God’s care and to His will.
What does Child Dedication Involve?
First and foremost, it is a dedication of and for the parents. By dedicating their child, parents are indicating to the world that they are committed to teaching their child about Jesus Christ by modelling the life of a disciple in word and deed, in hope that, the child will choose in later years to be a Christian. The parents are agreeing to follow the teachings of the Bible and to demonstrate what it means to be Christian.
Secondly, it is a dedication of the child to the Lord Jesus Christ. The parents are indicating that they want their child to be raised in such a way that he or she will be given every opportunity to choose to follow Jesus Christ. The act of dedication does not, however, make the child a Christian. That is a choice the child will make when he or she is old enough to understand the claims of Jesus Christ on his or her life.
Thirdly, it is a dedication by the church family to support the parents as they raise the child in a Christian home. The members of the church family join the parents in praying for the child, teaching the child Christian doctrines, and loving the child in such a way that he or she comes to understand God’s love in the person of Jesus Christ.
We are planning to facilitate this in the near future, so if you're interested, please let me know and we can work through any questions you have.
Your Pastor,
Nate