Category: Articles, Baptism, Capitol Hill Baptist Church
Detail:
The following statement was adopted by the elders of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in 2004 and revised in 2024.
We, the elders of the Capitol Hill Baptist Church, after prayerful searching of the Scriptures and discussion, conclude that, while Scripture is quite clear that believers only are to be baptized (Matt. 28:19-20; Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12-13, 36-38; 9:17-18; 10:44-48; 16:14-15, 30-34; 18:8; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27; Col. 2:11-12; 1 Pet. 3:21), the age at which a believer is to be baptized is not directly addressed in Scripture. We do not understand the simple imperative command to be baptized to settle the issue, nor do we understand the imperative to be baptized to forbid raising questions about the appropriateness of a baptismal candidate's maturity (John 9:21; 1 Cor. 13:11; 14:20). We do understand that the consideration of an appropriate age for a believer to be baptized is a matter not of simple obedience on an issue clearly settled by Scripture, but rather is a matter of Christian wisdom and prudence on an issue not directly addressed by Scripture. Though the baptisms in the New Testament seem largely to have occurred soon after the initial conversion, all of the individuals we can read of are both adults and first-generation Christians (Acts 2:38, 41; 8:12-13, 36-38; 9:17-18; 10:44-48; 16:14-15, 30-34). Both of these factors would tend to lend credibility to a conversion. The credibility of the conversion is the prime consideration, with the effect upon the individual candidate and the church community being legitimate secondary concerns.
We believe that the normal age of baptism should be when the credibility of one's conversion becomes naturally evident to the church community. This would normally be when children have matured, are beginning to live more self−consciously as individuals, and making their own choices (Eph. 4:14). That would likely include a decreasing dependence on their parents (Luke 2:42, 46-51), and a demonstration of mature wisdom (1 Cor. 13:11; 14:20) which marks one who has felt the tug of the world, the flesh and the devil (1 John 2:15-17), but has decided, despite these allurements, to count the cost and follow Christ (Luke 14:27-30). The biblical standards for evaluating the credibility of a candidate’s profession are repentance (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; 3:17-21) and faith (Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; John 1:12-13; Heb. 11:6). These include godly grief over sin (2 Cor. 7:9-10), a willingness to count the cost and follow Christ (Mark. 10:17-22; Lk. 9:57-62; 14:25-33; Acts 14:21-22; 1 Tim. 3:2), a turning from sin to God (1 Thess. 1:9-10), a growing obedience to God (Acts 26:20; Gal. 5:22-23; James 2:14-26; 1 John 2:3), a clear understanding of and complete trust in the gospel (Mark 1:15; Rom. 10:9; 1 Cor. 15:1-5), and a willingness to take God at his Word (Rom. 4:3; 1 Cor. 15:17; Heb. 11:1, 3; 1 Peter 1:8-9). These factors among others are what the elders will use to consider whether or not to recommend a candidate to the congregation for baptism. While it is difficult to set a certain number of years which are required for baptism, it is appropriate to consider the candidate’s maturity (1 Tim. 3:6). The maturity we believe it is wise to expect is the kind that allows a son or daughter to engage directly with the church as a whole (Matt. 18:15-17; John 9:21) without relying solely on their parents' authority (Eph. 6:1-4; Col. 3:20-21; Titus 1:6), including addressing the serious matters that church members sometimes face (1 Cor. 5:5, 13; 2 Thess. 3:13-15). As they assume independence in decision making and adult responsibilities—generally in late high school with driving, employment, non−Christian friends, voting, legality of marriage, etc. (Gen. 2:24; Prov. 23:22; Gal. 4:1-2)—then part of this maturing, we would think, would be to declare publicly their allegiance to Christ by baptism (Rom. 6:3-4).
With the consent and encouragement of Christian parents who are members, we will carefully consider requests for baptism before a child has left the home but would urge the parents to caution at this point. Of course, children can be converted (Matt. 18:3; 19:14). We pray that none of our children ever know any lengthy period of conscious rebellion against God. The question raised by baptism is the ability of others to be reasonably confident of that conversion (Acts 10:47) and we acknowledge the frustration children may feel whose faith is genuine but may have to wait until the genuineness of that faith becomes evident to the elders and congregation. The malleable nature of children (which changeableness God especially intends for the time when they are living as dependents in the home, being trained in all the basics of life and faith) is a gift from God and is to be used to bring them to maturity (Exod. 20:12; Deut. 1:39; 5:16; Prov. 1:8-9; 6:20-22; Isa. 7:15-16; Rom. 9:11). It should also give us caution in assuming the permanence of desires, dreams, affections and decisions of children (1 Cor. 14:20; James 1:6). Nevertheless, should the young person desire to pursue baptism and membership in the normal course set out by the church, we will examine them on a case−by−case basis, with the involvement of the parents.
In the event of young persons from non−Christian families coming to the church for an extended period of time, professing faith and giving evidence of the reality thereof (Gal. 5:22-23), requests for baptism and membership would be considered without the involvement of the parents. While all the previous comments on the nature of immaturity still pertain, the fact that such a young person would be doing so despite indifference, or even opposition from their parents (Matt. 10:34-39) would or could be evidence for the reality of their conversion.
Nothing in this statement should be construed as casting doubt about the legitimacy of the baptism of any among us, regardless of how young they were when they were baptized as believers (2 Tim. 1:5). Because they have continued in the faith into their adult years, we assume the legitimacy of their initial profession made at baptism (Heb. 6:9-12). The question we are concerned with here is looking forward, not backward. To put it another way, we are raising the question about how many people have been baptized in the past as younger people and children who went on to give no evidence of ever having been savingly converted (2 Cor. 13:5), and what damage was done to them (Heb. 6:4-8), and to the witness of the gospel (Rom. 2:24) through a church's premature baptism of them (1 Tim. 3:10; 5:22). It is our judgment that while there is some danger of discouragement on the part of those children who do give some good evidence of being converted and yet are not baptized and welcomed into membership in the church, through good teaching in the home, and through the loving inclusion of the families in the church as we currently do, that danger is small. There is, however, we believe, a greater danger of deception on the part of many who could be wrongly baptized at an age in which people are more liable to make decisions which are sincere, but ill−founded and too often short−lived (Matt. 13:20-21).
Two other notes in conclusion. First, we realize that this issue is an issue of great emotion for some, and we in no way are trying to lead anyone to disobey their conscience on this matter; we simply are trying to inform and educate our consciences from the Scriptural necessity of a credible profession of faith for baptism. Second, while it is not generally known among American evangelicals today, the practice of baptizing pre−teenage children is of recent development (largely early 20th century) and of limited geography (largely limited to the United States, and places where American evangelicals have exercised great influence). Baptists in the past were known for waiting to baptize until the believers were adults (Heb. 5:13-14). Baptistic Christians around the world are still much more cautious than modern American Christians, often waiting in Europe, Africa and Asia to baptize until children are grown and are in their 20's.
