Chicago Christian Academy - Statement on Youth Baptism

Statement on the Proper Age to Baptize Youth Who Profess Faith in Christ The question of the appropriate age to baptize youth has been historically debated among those who hold to Believer’s Baptism. While we eagerly celebrate the stated faith of any child in the church, there is a healthy pause that is historically consistent with our Believer’s Baptism theological position when it comes to baptizing children of too young an age. This historical pause is rooted in what we consider a healthy tension. On the one hand, Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14).” We want to honor this command of Christ by actively discipling children and by removing any spiritual barrier that might be in their path. On the other hand, we recognize that it can be difficult with young children to distinguish between a real saving faith in Christ and simply a desire to please one’s parents.

Historically, churches of similar theological persuasion to our own, have wrestled with this exact question. The concept of the “Age of Accountability” has historically functioned as a marker of the appropriate age to baptize youth. The Age of Accountability is the age whereby a child is held responsible for their sin before a Holy God. The challenge with utilizing the standard of the Age of Accountability as a standard for the age of baptism is two-fold. First, this doctrine is inferred but not directly described in scripture. It is therefore difficult to utilize it as a basis for something as important as Baptism. Second, the physical and spiritual maturity of children can differ quite drastically from child to child. The Age of Accountability is therefore not necessarily a fixed age for all children.

Other churches, particularly those associated with more formal baptist denominations, have attempted to link baptism to membership in the Church. The general sense of this argument is that once a person is baptized they are to be included in membership along with all the benefits in membership including any voting rights as well as real accountability to Elder oversight.

Under this mode of thinking, from a practical standpoint most children are not ready for the high responsibilities of Church Membership yet and therefore they are not yet ready for baptism. To this argument we simply say that while we understand the wisdom in connecting baptism to membership, we do not see a mandate in scripture for the connection, and therefore we do not believe this is the best basis to inform the proper age to baptize children.

After careful consideration, we recommend a holistic and individual approach for each family.

Holistically, we recognize that there is wisdom in the doctrine of the Age of Accountability. In some ways, this idea is baked into the structure of our Sunday experience where we provide children’s programming on Sunday mornings for children up through fifth grade. After fifth

grade however, children graduate from the Sunday children’s ministry and begin participating in the Sunday gathering with the adults. While certainly an imperfect measurement, we appreciate the idea that if we are entrusting a child with the mental and spiritual capacity to engage alongside the adults in a full Sunday gathering, then we ought not prevent them from using those same mental and spiritual capacities to decide to get baptized if they and their parents believe they are ready. Upon baptism, youth are also invited to participate in the Lord’s Supper, a regular occurrence in our Sunday gatherings.

Simply graduating from our children’s ministry is not evidence of preparation for baptism however. To the best of our abilities we want to ensure that all baptism applicants have stated a “credible profession of faith.” This also is somewhat subjective, but baptism applicants ought to be able to express with some level of clarity, at a minimum the following four aspects of faith. 1) Their personal understanding of their depravity and need of a Savior. 2) The salvific work Jesus Christ has accomplished through his death and resurrection. 3) Their personal decision to receive the free offer of Christ’s grace by faith. 4) The commitment to live obediently to Christ’s commands. Further, even among youth, a baptism applicant’s life ought to visibly demonstrate evidence of the Holy Spirit illuminating, convicting, and sanctifying.

In short, we suggest that the minimum age a child should be considered for baptism is around the fifth grade marker, nine years old earliest. While some children may indeed be ready for the commitment of baptism at that age, others may not. It is the parents that will have the closest eye and best discernment of their own child’s spiritual maturity and whether their profession of faith is credible. Historically, it is between the ages of ten to fifteen that the majority of Christian parents have discovered evidence that their child has made a credible profession of faith.

In order to best prepare all baptism applicants, both young and old, for the step of baptism, we require all applicants to fulfill the following steps prior to their baptism.

1.​ Class: Attend and participate in the baptism class 2.​ Interview: Complete an interview with an Elder to discern one’s “credible profession of faith.”

3.​ Foundations Course: Complete the New City Catechism Curriculum in which baptism participants are connected with disciplers in the congregation to spend 4-5 sessions together studying the New City Catechism in order to lay a solid theological foundation for life. This can be done before or after baptism.