QUESTION:

Can you please provide a clear, concise explanation of why we believe in Credo Baptism and not paedo in such a way that it would make sense to a paedo Baptist?

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Summary

Pastor Jim Butler and Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick discuss explaining Credo baptism to a teenager raised as a Paedobaptist. Butler suggests starting with the Great Commission and Acts, emphasizing that baptism follows conversion and discipleship. He argues that the Bible does not mandate infant baptism and that baptism signifies a personal faith and commitment not present in infants. Kirkpatrick adds that baptism is a public declaration of faith, and infants cannot fulfill the requirements of baptism. They also discuss the historical context of household baptisms and the importance of understanding scriptural intent over historical traditions.

Outline

1. Explaining Credo Baptism to a Paedobaptist Teenager
2. Biblical Basis for Credo Baptism
   • Emphasis on the Great Commission and examples in Acts
   • Lack of explicit biblical support for infant baptism
3. Theological Arguments Against Paedobaptism
   • Baptism as an outward sign of an inward work
   • Infants’ inability to perform the acts signified in baptism
4. Scriptural Context and Historical Perspective
   • Baptism as a willful, obedient act
   • Interpreting household baptisms in their historical context
5. Personal Reflections and Practical Considerations
   • Wim Kerkhoff’s journey from Paedobaptism to Credo baptism
   • Importance of returning to scriptural intent and context

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Transcript

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

baptism, baptized, texts, disciples, babies, outward sign, recognize, sign, church, arguments, live, greco roman, younger, scripture, baptist, credo, clear, ages, pretty, jesus

SPEAKERS

Wim Kerkhoff, Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick, Pastor Jim Butler

Wim Kerkhoff  00:08

Next question, and we’ve touched on this in previous questions on this Ask FGBC series, this is kind of targeted to all ages. “So how can I clearly explain credo baptism to a teenager who grew up paedobaptist? So can you please provide a clear, concise explanation of why we believe in Credo baptism and not paedo in such a way that it would make sense to a paedo? So this discussion comes up a lot, and this person, yeah, struggling through, just stumbling through how to explain that, and asked to gear that to all ages.”

Pastor Jim Butler  00:51

I would say the simplest, you know, response is, what does the Bible say? And, you know, and paedo baptist theologians have recognized this. They have said there’s no text in the New Testament that demands sprinkling babies. It’s an argument based on implication, good and necessary consequences, as far as they’re concerned and covenant. So, if you’re dealing with somebody that is younger, I’m not going to assume they’re not as bright, but if they’re younger and concepts are a bit more difficult, you probably don’t start with covenant. You probably don’t start with with good and necessary consequences. You start with, “What does scripture say?” And you know, one of the clearest passages in terms of how we carry out baptism would be the Great Commission. So Jesus says, Go make disciples, baptize those disciples, and then teach those disciples to observe all that I’ve commanded you. And then we go to the book of Acts. And that’s precisely what we see those disciples doing. They go to various places, they preach the gospel, they make disciples. They baptized those disciples, and then those disciples are joining churches or part of churches. So those two legs of the Great Commission are being carried out. They’re getting converted. They’re being then baptized, and then they’re being taught as believers, what they should, you know, do in terms of obedience to their Lord. So I would say that’s probably the most basic and simple answer. If you know, they hadn’t invented all these other arguments, that probably would have, would have carried the day, but they have, you know, had all the, I shouldn’t say, invented. That sounds pretty, pretty cruel, but, but there are these other arguments. So, if the young person is a bit more theologically inclined, you can show how you know they connect it to Abraham and his circumcising babies, and therefore they think that baptism of babies is legit. But there’s a few problems with that particular view, and so I think just having a good understanding of the theology that’s used to support paedo baptism. It doesn’t take a whole lot to sort of dismantle it. And again, I’m speaking as a convinced Baptist, and for any paedo Baptist that watch this, I’m sorry, but so yeah, what does the Bible say? If they do think beyond those texts, and they ask about covenant answer the question. I mean, just as you would an adult who is in tune with all of this theological, you know, all of the theological background,

Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick  03:31

I think perhaps another way to go as well is to ask, “What is baptism”? Which, if you were to ask a paedo, as far as what I’m about to say, they would agree with me as it pertains to baptizing adults, I think they would agree with a lot of what is said in Chapter 29 of our confession on what the baptism is, or what it is. It’s a sign, well, unto the party baptized. It’s a sign of fellowship with Jesus in His death and resurrection. So it’s a sign that one is united to Christ in His death and resurrection. It’s a sign of being engrafted into him. It’s a sign that our sins have been forgiven and there’s remission. And it’s also of us giving unto God through Jesus to live and walk in newness of life. A baby can’t do any of those things, and not only that, is baptism — I know sometimes we can get things wrong, as far as who we baptize. We’re not omniscient, but baptism really is an outward sign of an inward work, and so there’s really no way to recognize that in an infant. And that’s why the order in Scripture is pretty clear. As Pastor Butler said, it’s it’s faith, and then baptism, it’s baptism, then a member of the church and and even in Hebrews 10, you know, we draw near to God. How do we draw near? We certainly draw with our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, which probably highlights regeneration. But then some commentators highlight our bodies washed with pure water. Could refer to baptism there. So there is, you know, it’s an outward sign of an inward work. And so, that is something that is definitely not the case when it comes to an infant, but certainly is the case for those who profess and believe.

Wim Kerkhoff  05:09

Yeah, those, those key texts, like the Acts 2:37, and Mark 16:16. Its like, repent and be baptized. It’s a willful, obedient act, not being forced or anything like that.

Pastor Mike Kirkpatrick  05:20

For sure, and can I add as well? As far as the household texts are concerned, I mean, those are pretty scant, if you ask me, and pretty unclear. As far as what’s going on. I mean, Lydia isn’t married, certainly some of the other texts indicate that you know they were they believed as well, but also to recognize that in that time there, the way in which they lived is different, perhaps than North America primarily, and that everybody lived together under one roof. So, you know, you had the grandparents, and then the kids, and then their kids, and everyone lived together, and the servants, everyone was there. So, you know, it perhaps just helps to describe the whole family, rather than recognizing every individual in that way. So that’s important to remember, especially for North America, where we we leave our families and live on our own, generally speaking. But even around the world, most people still all live together in sort of that Greco Roman way. So that needs to be taken into account as well.

Wim Kerkhoff  06:18

Yeah, and obviously, having gone through that process myself, coming from that position to being believers immersion only, it’s just going back to the Scripture and being really honest with it, what’s the context, what was intended here? And there’s a lot of layers and interpretations that get stacked on it that you got to shove to the side to get back to it, of the history of the church. And yeah, that was the early days of the church, and now we’re established, so it’s just different now, and just a lot of rationalization gets added as you got to get past even on the Great Commission is like the getting the order wrong. That’s people are preaching that and teaching that, right?

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