Jeff

I think that part of the problem is that although we see from scripture
children of believer's are privileged, i.e. they have godly parents, are
being instructed in the word and also come under the sound of the gospel,we
are not content with this and have manufactured a rite which we hope will be
seen to show that we regard them as special. I worshipped for three years in
the "Wee Free Kirk" in Scotland (Free Church of Scotland) and of course it
is playing into the hands of paedo-baptists who often refer to the practice,
stating that the only difference is the lack of water! I agree also that it
can become a serious issue if you seek to raise your misgivings about such a
"harmless procedure". Of course folk who like to publicly give thanks for
their children base it upon Hannah's experience of thanking God for Samuel(I
am not persuaded that there has to be a church thanks giving). Part of the
problem is the loose use of words, there is in my mind a world of difference
between giving thanks for a birth, and "dedicating" (whatever it is supposed
to mean). Is it possible to give a child to God living under NCT?

Blessings

Neil

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Scanlan [mailto:jscanlan@...] 
Sent: 05 April 2004 20:35
To: soundofgrace@...
Subject: RE: [soundofgrace] On Presentations of Infants and Baptisms

Neil and Harry,

Hmmmm. That is how I am coming to think about it too.

But if there is some perhaps psychological need here should we not
address that? I mean we have it would appear the need to have
celebrations and so we use Easter and Christmas both to celebrate and
remember some very important events.

God bless,
Jeff


>-----Original Message-----
>From: Neil Whitcombe [mailto:Neil.Whitcombe@...]
>Sent: Tuesday, 6 April 2004 3:56 AM
>To: soundofgrace@...
>Subject: RE: [soundofgrace] On Presentations of Infants and Baptisms
>
>Hi Jeff
>
>It seems that this sell out of paedo-baptistic practice is strong here
in
>the UK too. I recently declined to attend a meeting at the fellowship I
>attend over this issue.
>
>Neil
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Jeff Scanlan [mailto:jscanlan@...]
>Sent: 04 April 2004 22:01
>To: soundofgrace@...
>Subject: [soundofgrace] On Presentations of Infants and Baptisms
>
>It has been a little quiet lately so I am going to pose a question here
>in relation to the above.
>
>In my country after the second world war it became the practice in
>Baptist Churches to dedicate infants. As I recall it, it was initially
>low-key. Baptisms were similarly always low-key.
>
>However it seems to be that lately such events are becoming occasions
>for family celebrations and are even appearing as performance.
>
>Presentations of infants are now really not much more than christenings
>without water. My own sister and brother-in-law refused to have their
>children presented in church because my brother-in-law believed that
his
>non-Christian family would just see it as a christening.
>
>And yesterday at our church there was such an event with family,
>non-Christian and Christian, gathered specially for that event. I have
>even heard that there are private dedications, which to me is the
>antithesis of what a presentation should be because surely it is meant
>to me something of a covenant between the church congregation and the
>parents.
>
>As for baptisms it seems that for them too the family has all to
>congregate in the church and it seems that we have to applaud the
>spectacle after the event. At my last church there was once even a
>celebratory baptismal cake!
>
>Any thoughts on this will be gratefully received.
>
>God bless,
>Jeff
>
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