What about baptism?
Baptism at CRC
We do not believe in baptismal regeneration. Meaning, that the physical waters of baptism do not wash away anyone's sin and the outward ceremony is not a prerequisite for someone to become a Christian or to keep or maintain a right standing with God. Baptism is not at the core of our theology, as the core of our theology is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This article is not intended to be a thorough theological explanation or biblical exposition of the practice of Christian baptism, nor is it intended to be a defense or argument for or against Paedobaptism or Credobaptism. There are many, many resources that are available for research on the understanding of baptism throughout Christian history. Please see the links on the Resources page for some recommendations as well as the linked confessions and catechisms.
Definitions
Since the Reformation, there have been two major, differing views of baptism within Protestant Christianity – Covenantal Paedobaptism, and Credobaptism.
Covenantal Paedobaptism is the practice of baptizing an infant or small child of a believer as a sign of their entrance to the visible church community and of God's promise of purification by the blood and Spirit of Christ if they will receive Him by faith. Children are not baptized on the basis of a personal profession of faith like adults but rather they are baptized on the basis of their parent’s faith (Genesis 12.3 and Acts 16.31) and because they are going to be discipled, entrusted with the gospel as heirs of the promise, and trained to walk in the ways of the Lord (Matt. 28:19, Acts 16:31, Deut. 11:19, Joel 1:3, Eph. 6:4, Prov. 22:6). Covenantal Paedobaptists do not believe the water of baptism saves the child, but that the sacrament of baptism is an “instrument,” a “visible word” in and through which God speaks His promises to the child. In other words, the God-given faith of the child is the instrument that receives Christ, and that faith is realized and actualized not at baptism, but by hearing the gospel message (Rom 10.17) and responding to it with the God-given gifts of repentance and belief.
Covenantal Paedobaptism is also seen by many as the New Covenant counterpart to the sign of circumcision (Col. 2:11-12) which marked off the community of the people of God along with their children.
Covenantal Paedobaptists, like all orthodox Christians, believe that no one is truly saved until God opens their eyes to their own depravity and he brings them to a point of repentance and they believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. This sets Covenantal Paedobaptism apart from, say, Catholic christening or other types of infant baptisms found in other traditions that teach baptism is actual salvation for the child.
Additionally, Covenantal Paedobaptists gladly baptize new adult Christians who have never before been baptized as children.
Credobaptism, or believer’s baptism, has been the dominant baptistic form and belief in broader evangelical churches over the last 50 years. It is probably fair to speculate that a majority of future new members of CRC will come from some type of Credobaptist background.
Credobaptism is the practice of baptizing only those with a credible profession of faith in Christ, so it is obviously reserved only for adults or older children who are at an age of self-awareness. In other words, baptism comes after a person hears the gospel message and responds to it with the God-given gifts of repentance and faith. In this case, baptism is one of the first acts of obedience for a new Christian and is an outward sign and seal of the salvation God has given to him. The water of baptism does not save the person, but the sacrament of baptism is a sign in and through which God speaks the promise of forgiveness and salvation that the person has already received.
CRC also practices, welcomes and celebrates the baptism of adults and older children after they have become Christians.
Divisions
Baptism has been a controversial, divisive subject in the church, especially since the Reformation in the 15th and 16th centuries. Churches have been split over the issue. People have been killed over the issue. It continues to be a divisive issue today. We, however, do not want it to be a divisive issue at CRC.
Unity and Gospel Centrality
What we believe about baptism is important. Because it is important, we do not and will not accept or practice some forms and beliefs of baptism. As a church we have both Covenantal Paedobaptistism and Credobaptism represented. Additionally, we baptize with water by pouring or immersing, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
But, we believe the difference between Credobaptism and Covenantal Paedobaptism is not of utmost importance. It is not what unites us and we do not want it to divide us. There are things to be dogmatic about, but we do not believe the difference between these two forms of baptism is one of them.
At the same time, there is no getting around the fact that these are two different views of baptism, but it is also true that both views have biblical, historical, and traditional legitimacy, and that there are and have been millions of committed Christians who love the gospel who subscribe to each view.
The big questions for us are these: are the differences between Credobaptism and Covenantal Paedobaptism worth fighting over? Is it worth splitting over? Is it worth sending away an individual or family who desires to be a part of CRC who may believe one way or the other? We believe the answer to these three questions is an unwavering “no.”
What unites us is the gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified, not the way we baptize. We welcome people from different backgrounds to worship with us, and membership is open to all who profess Jesus to be their only hope for salvation.
To that end, Christ Redeemer Church will accept and practice both Credobaptism and Covenantal Paedobaptism as differing-yet-valid and acceptable forms of Christian baptism. This does not mean that you cannot have a view on baptism. This does not mean your pastors do not have a view on baptism.
What it does mean is that we must hold those views humbly and charitably and be willing to submit our conviction and conscience concerning the doctrine and practice of baptism to the greater cause of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the unity of Christ’s church. What it does mean is that Credobaptists at CRC are called to fully accept Covenantal Paedobaptists as members of the Body of Christ as well as members of this church, and Covenantal Paedobaptists at CRC are called to fully accept Credobaptists as members of the Body of Christ as well as members of this church.
What will this look like?
If you believe in Covenantal Paedobaptism, we will gladly baptize your baby before the congregation in accordance with our baptism policies.
If you believe in Credobaptism, we will gladly dedicate your baby before the congregation in accordance with our baby dedication policies.
If you believe in Credobaptism, we will gladly baptize your child before the congregation once he/she can consciously articulate his/her faith in Christ, according to our baptism policies.
We will gladly baptize new adult believers who have never been baptized, according to our baptism policies.
We all will accept and love those of differing yet orthodox views on baptism.
FAQs
What if someone baptized as an infant in our church (or in another Christian context) later grows up to change their baptismal view from that of their family and wants to be baptized as a believer?
We generally feel uneasy with re-baptisms, but here are some basic parameters:
-As with all baptismal candidates, an interview process would sort this out on a case-by-case basis. There is no one-size-fits-all template for re-baptisms.
-If the candidate for believer’s baptism is a minor and his Christian parents are opposed to his re-baptism, we would not baptize them.
-If the candidate for believer’s baptism is a minor and her parents support their change of position while maintaining Paedobaptism themselves, we would consider baptizing them.
-If the candidate for believer’s baptism was baptized as an infant in a non-covenantal context and desires to be re-baptized, we would carefully consider baptizing them.
-If the candidate for believer’s baptism had already received believer’s baptism, we probably would not baptize them.
In every case, we would confirm as best as we are able that the candidate for believer’s baptism understands credobaptism. And in every case, we would confirm as best as we are able that candidates for infant baptism have parents who understand Covenantal Paedobaptism.
No one will walk in and just say “Please baptize my baby” and have us simply say “Okay.”
Will CRC baptize both infants and adults?
Yes.
What will we tell our children? We have raised them to believe in Credobaptism or Covenant Paedobaptism. Won’t this confuse them?
It might, but this is a fantastic opportunity to teach your children about the utmost importance of the gospel and the foundational beliefs of Christian orthodoxy as well as the humility that unity in the church demands.
You can explain it like this:
Our family believes that baptism is for those who are able to say they have received Jesus for salvation. But some other families in our church believe baptism is for babies in Christian families too. We disagree with them about baptism, but we agree with them that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again, and because we agree on the most important things we are happy to be a part of the same church. What we agree on is better and bigger than what we disagree on.
Or like this:
Our family believes that baptism is for Christians and their children. But some families in our church believe that baptism is only for those who are able to say they have received Jesus for salvation. We disagree with them about baptism, but we agree with them that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose again, and because we agree on the most important things, we are happy to be a part of the same church. What we agree on is better and bigger than what we disagree on.
Let us remember the words of our Lord Jesus in the High Priestly prayer recorded in the gospel of John where Jesus prays to The Father saying...
"10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." - John 17:10-11