Question: My question deals with two doctrines really – that of baptism, primarily infant baptism, and election. The Bible makes clear that God chooses us to be saved, and that we cannot "make a decision" for him by our own will or power. But how does this doctrine reconcile with infant baptism, where the vast majority of babies in Christian families are baptized? The baptism is a decision made by the parents and the family. But if God chooses when he will, what good is our decision to baptize infants, or even ourselves as adults? Does baptism make one "eligible" for the Lord’s election?

Mark

Answer: Dear Mark,

Your question, as I understand it, concerns the place of baptism within the construct of God’s plan – and how we perceive that plan – i.e. predestination, etc.

Christians who favor infant baptism are more usually those who follow an Orthodox view of God’s plan – Catholics, Orthodox (Eastern – Greek and Russian), and Reform/some Lutherans, etc. who see God’s plan for us in more black and white terms – in – if you like, as described by Protestants – a Calvinistic view. Calvin saw God sovereignly choosing some for salvation not because of merit or foreknowledge of faith and belief, but because of his unmerited grace and his will.

Thus, the systematic theology that supports such a view can include infant baptism – for if this decision is essentially a foregone conclusion, than why not baptize as soon as possible. No human decision will change divine reality – whether as an infant, or at 20, 30, or 70 years of age.

On the other hand, the majority Protestant view favors adult/believer’s baptism, which would follow the methodology of Arminianism – a view that sees God’s decision as being based upon his foreknowledge of who will believe. Some Arminians also believe that a person who is granted salvation can lose their salvation. Given this general view, it is easy to see that adult/believer’s baptism fits this theological framework.

Both views are accepted as Orthodox, and neither view sees baptism as salvific – as being necessary or "required" for salvation. The orthodox (and of course, biblical) view is that baptism is a commitment on our part, an expression of our belief, a public statement of our acceptance of what God has already done in our lives, and our decision to live in the light of it.

Hope this helps, Mark.

In Christ,

Greg Albrecht