Heidelberg Catechism

As you probably know, I’m baptistic, so I don’t believe infants should be baptized, and I strongly disagree with the answer to this question in the Heidelberg catechism.

Question 74. Should infants, too, be baptized?

Answer: Yes. Infants as well as adults are in God’s covenant and are his people. (a) They, no less than adults are promised the forgiveness of sin trough Christ’s blood and the Holy Spirit who produces faith. (b) Therefore, by baptism, the sign of the covenant, they must be received into the Christian church and distinguished from the children of unbelievers. (c) This was done in the Old Testament by circumcision, (d) which was replaced by baptism in the New Testament (e)

(Scriptural proofs after the fold.)

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Sunday's Hymn: Beneath the Cross of Jesus

Beneath the cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock
Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
And the burden of the day.

Upon the cross of Jesus
Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One
Who suffered there for me:
And from my stricken heart with tears
Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of redeeming love
And my own worthlessness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow
For my abiding-place:
I ask no other sunshine than
The sunshine of his face;
Content to let the world go by,
To know no gain nor loss;
My sinful self my only shame,
My glory, all the cross.

—Elizabeth C. Clephane 

The traditional tune sung by the Sharon Mennonite Bible Institute Singers

You can also listen to the Indelible Grace tune sung by Sandra McCracken and Derek Webb here.

Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:

• Count Your Blessings at The Happy Wonderer
• Vanity of the World at The Upward Call
• The Comfort of the Cross at Theology for Girls
• Open Minds, Soft Hearts, Ready Hands from Trevin Wax
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: Not doggerel at Pyromaniacs
• He shall save his children from their sins at Tried With Fire

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.

Linked Together: Our Children

Three posts recommended for your weekend reading.

Teaching Them
Seven reasons to teach your children church history:

1. Because they must know that Christianity is a historical faith. 
2. Because we want them to avoid chronological snobbery. 
3. Because they must know that the Bible is worth dying for.
4. Because they must know that theology is important.
5. Because they must see that we are part of Christ’s church through the ages. 
6. Because we want them to know that even great men are deeply flawed.
7. Because it encourages them to obey the ninth commandment.

Read the whole post by Jeff Robinson for explanations of each of these points, plus a list with three suggested resources. (I originally saved this link so I could put two of these resources on my wish list for my church library.)

Preparing Them
for their future. Sometimes less is more:

Every parent hopes to unleash their child’s boundless potential. They buy heaps of toys and books whilst signing their child up for classes to maximize learning, enrichment and experiences. Yet before long, parents are providing so much stimulation that it interferes with their child’s development, thwarts their child’s concentration, blocks their creativity, drains their resilience and even rattles their sense of security.

Read The surprising power of doing less for our children to achieve more.

Praying for Them
after they grow up and leave home (Kim Shay).