I’m preparing the service for this Sunday where we are performing three baby dedications/baptisms. I’ve been reading through the Free Methodist language and liturgy surrounding it. There is one section in our Manual that struck me as odd. So this is just a random thought/reaction I had to this. These are questions that we could ask a child under twelve, but not an infant.
1. Do you believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, and do you desire to be baptized in His name?
Answer: I do.
2. Do you intend by this act to testify to all the world that you are a Christian and will be a loyal follower of Christ?
Answer: I do.
3. Do you believe in the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments?
Answer: I do.
4. Trusting God to help you, will you resist temptation always and keep from doing those things which you know to be sinful or displeasing to God?
Answer: I will.
5. Will you attend the church services and do those things you know a Christian should do?
Answer: I will.
I don’t know, but it seems to me that these questions are awfully lopsided to a kind of Christianity that focuses on not doing bad things, believing the Bible and of course going to church. Will you attend church services? What? Do you believe in the Bible? What does that questions even mean to a kid? Maybe these are just simplified things because they are children? I just can’t get over that this seems like we want our kids to just make sure they say they believe in Jesus and go to church and not do bad things. #2 helps bring some balance I think and focus a bit more on a relationship to a faith, but everything else doesn’t seem like the kinds of questions that I would want to ask a kid that will encourage freedom in Christ and their journey into their faith.