I’ve really answered this on Doug’s blog:

“We have three children, two of whom are baptized. Pastor Wilson’s books have been a great help to me in being a Christian dad, and I am 100% behind this emphasis on “Covenant parenting”. It seems God just can’t wait to bless even our meagre efforts with results far beyond our expectations. Reading the Proverbs with 9-year-old Nat recently has been amazing for him and for me. But tying baptism to parenting causes too many doctrinal problems for me. It messes up the process of maturity and its “vindication.”

Our kids didn’t feel left out when they couldn’t have communion. It was inspiring to them, because it was explained to them. The commentary communion gets in our church (mostly informed by JBJ, PJL and DW!) has etched its meaning into their souls. It is soldiers reporting for duty and heading off again on another tour. They look at it, see their futures, and rise to the occasion. They don’t see a rite. They see judgment and grace. So, I don’t believe moving to credobaptism means leaving all the good practical Covenant-application behind. In this area I do have some experience.”

Under the New Covenant we are all prophetic witnesses, typified by Israel after the exile, yeast working within the dough to transform it.

Or course, God loves fractals, or Hierarchy. Within this priesthood we have those who model Christ to us, pastors and elders, etc. Everything is Triune, with mediation at the centre.

QUESTIONS

A child in a Christian home is no different to a child that might come to Sunday School whose parents are not Christians. Why would you baptize them before they are regenerate. Presbyterian churches require adult candidates to be regenerate before baptism. But in its attempt to rectify this double standard, the FV has moved in the wrong direction. Remove infant baptism and the problem blows away like chaff on the summer threshing floor. BUT TRAIN THOSE KIDS! : )

That’s a beaut photo of Uri.

It’s funny how baptists feel the need for a baby dedication, and paedbaptists feel the need for confirmation. Jim says confirmation is wrong, but Doug recently suggested some kind of “affirmation of vows” for young adults. Both times are milestones, but for me, a baby dedication doesn’t require any doctrinal acrobatics or redefinitions. Just do what Uri is doing minus the water, and call it a parental vow. No big drama. Circumcision wasn’t a parental vow anyway, unless the girls weren’t parented.

It seems that you would want her to believe in Jesus, even if that faith was small, perhaps the size of a mustard see. but then what happens when she expresses that immature faith, perhaps asking to eat with Jesus and to be a member of the church which comes through baptism? What you would you tell her? Would she need to pass some theological exams first? And if so, why do adult Christians not have to take the same exams before they can receive baptism and the Lord’s supper?
By “exam” I mean, sitting before the elders, having them question her about her “conversion experience”, or about what it means to be a Christian, or the details about the death and resurrection of Christ.

Really, I guess what I am asking Mike is, What are the criteria for a child to be able to receive baptism and come to the Lord’s table?

You don’t want to say that.

Maybe you can only eat if you are a martyr?

No, that won’t work.

concerning the sociology, i have a little post i wrote some time ago.

http://reformedcrosswords.wordpress.com/2008/06/27/some-questions-concerning-infant-baptism/

Thanks for your comments!

You’re missing my point – made in the post “Rise of the Uberbaptist.”

It all boils down to forming and filling, a theme which runs right through the Bible. If baptists are losing their children, it’s because they failed to bring them up in the nurture of the Lord. The solution is not redefining the New Covenant and baptizing them before they are ready. It is to nurture them until they believe and can be baptized. With all due respect, it’s really not that difficult a concept. Baptism does not equal nourishment and protection. Baptism is for full grown trees who offer nourishment and protection.

I agree that sociology is theology, hence my recent comments to Doug Wilson and yourself about PB creating an unbiblical social wall. The access the infants are given is due to blood(line) not Spirit.