Why do Lutherans baptize infants?
To begin with it should be noted that infant baptism has been practiced in the Christian Church as far back as we can trace. There appears to be no time in the history of the Church when infants were not baptized. In addition to this there is no trace in either the New Testament or the early Church of the Baptism of the children of Christian parents who had been brought up in the faith. It appears then that they were either baptized as babies or they were never baptized. What this means is that Lutherans really do not have to defend the Biblical, Holy, Christian and Apostolic practice of infant baptism, it stands on its own. The burden of proof lies with those who would abandon it. Presently we find a segment of Christianity which practices ‘believers’ baptism. This group does not practice ‘infant’ baptism but usually has some sort of consecration of the child to God. Lutherans baptize infants because: 1) It is biblical. • While it is true that there is no command to baptize ‘infants’
All children are born with the problem of sin in their lives. The evidence of this problem is the fact that even little children can succumb to the “wages of sin” as the Bible calls death. And the Scriptures teach of no other way for any human being of any age to be spared eternal death than by having Jesus Christ as his or her Savior. So a child and even an infant needs Jesus Christ as Savior. Baptism is the only way which the Scriptures assure us that the relationship of faith can be established in the life of an infant. For in baptism God claims us as His own and gives us His own Name, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, to wear as our own. We believe that God is strong enough to give this gift to anyone whatever their age might be. Therefore we baptize infants as well as adults and rejoice in the assurances it can give us concerning the redeemed life of such a baptized infant.
