The girls baptism

Our daughters were baptized on Sunday.  In the reformed tradition, we believe that God's promises are for us and our children, and that baptism is a sign that he will be at work in their lives calling them into covenant relationship with him, even before they realize it.  Well enough of the theological, lets get to the personal.

As a pastor, I had the privilege of baptizing my new daughters.  Frankly, I was fairly nervous about doing it.  Our youngest is fairly shy and withdrawn and having water placed on your head in front of an entire church could be a fairly scary thing.  But her response was exhilarating.  There was no fear, but a calm peace, even a sense of excitement, and after I handed her back to Jen, she kept smiling and saying, "Momma, wa," and making the sign of the cross on her head.  She was ecstatic to be included into the family of God.  Oh that more people would exhibit the kind of euphoria at being part of God's church forever.  It truly is something to be very emotive about.

Baptism and Adoption Liturgy

Mark Ruiter modified this liturgy from the CRC Grey Psalter Hymnal to relate baptism and adoption together.  We used this liturgy on April 18, 2010 to baptize Amariah Ruiter and GraceLynn and FaithAnne Roberts.  Feel free to use it or modify it.

Hear the words of Jesus:

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:18-20)

And the words of the apostle Paul in Galatians

²⁶You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, ²⁷for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. ²⁸There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.  (Galatians 3:26-29)

Through adoption these children have a new identity.  They are no longer orphans; they full members of the Ruiter and Roberts families.  They have all of the rights, responsibilities and benefits of the rest of their children.

Pastoral Letter on Infant Baptism

Dennis Johnson, a prof at Westminster Seminary California, shares a letter he wrote to one of his daughter explaining how he changed from holding a believer's baptism view to the reformed view that includes the baptism of infants.  It is a wonderful pastoral letter.  You can read it here.