The
subject of baptism is of great practical importance. Should Christian parents
have their babies baptized (paedobaptism)? Or should they evangelize their children,
pray for them, and wait for a disciple’s profession of faith from them before
baptism (credobaptism)? Is “repent and be baptized” a command that parents
should obey for their children, or is it a command for their children to obey for
themselves (Acts 2:38-41)?
Is
paedobaptism so clear in Scripture that it would be sinful not to
baptize one’s babies? And if sinful, should not the paedobaptist pastor’s
exercise disciple against those church members who refuse to baptize their
infants? Would Christian parents who believe sola Scriptura (Scripture
alone), find infant baptism so clear in Scripture that they would become convinced
in their own conscience that they must have their infant baptized or
else disobey God’s revealed Word? Must they rely on “expert” theologians to
explain their biblical study toward their children for that they cannot see in
Scripture for themselves? (Fred A. Malone, The Baptism of Disciples Alone: A
Covenantal Argument for Credobaptism Versus Paedobaptism [rev ed.; Cape
Coral, Fla.: Founders Press, 2008], xiii-xiv, emphasis in bold added)
