Baby Dedication

Baby dedication is more about you (the parent) declaring your (the parent) intentions to raise the child in a Christian home, as a Christian...than it is about announcing the baby's name, welcoming them into the community, and praying for them. Additionally, it's about the extended family and the church (as the extended family) saying that they intend to raise the child in a Christian way.

You're right - it doesn't make any sense to have the baby dedicated at a church to which you do not belong. So - you could fix that by joining a church - then dedicate the baby at a year - or two - it doesn't matter. You'll still need the church's help when the baby is two! Trust me!

Nobody's going to look at you funny for bringing a toddler up after you join the church - we were just at a baby dedication where a similar thing happened (I think the child was over 2).

If you don't intend to join a church at all, then I suggest that if you feel strongly about having some sort of ceremony that you wait until a family/friends gathering and declare your intentions!

Constance

KJNELLAMORE said:

I am hoping some of you may have some insight on this topic. My daughter is now 7 1/2 months and I had all intentions of having her 'dedicated' when she was still a 'baby' (and not a crawler!). However, due to some medical problems and other events, as sad as it makes me now.. I never 'got around to it', which sounds absolutely awful. I assume part of that reason, at least, is that we are not really 'members' anywhere. My husband was baptised at the church he grew up in and we have been attending a church that we really like here where we live. My husband had assumed she would be dedicated at the church he grew up in, since his parents attend it. It just doesn't feel 'right' to me, to have my daughter dedicated in a church that we don't even attend... however it also doesn't feel 'right' to have her dedicated in a church we are not members of. Subsequently, it doesn't feel right to not dedicate her at all, either! What is a Christian mom to do? Is a 'dedication' more of just a formality, in your opinion?

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A dedication doesn't have to be when your child is a baby. Older children can be dedicated to the Lord as well. Just because she is crawling doesn't mean she is too old to dedicate to the Lord.

Just be sure that you search your heart and dedicate her for the right reasons and not just because you want to introduce her to the congregation or because everyone else is dedicating their babies. Dedication means to give her to the Lord, to pledge to raise her to know him and give her life to serve him. Is that what you want to do?

Well, I'm glad that you stood up to your in-laws. Infant baptism is a sticky subject that carries repercussions that your child has to deal with.

Constance

constance said:

Well, I'm glad that you stood up to your in-laws. Infant baptism is a sticky subject that carries repercussions that your child has to deal with.

Constance

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I second that! Amen!

KJNELLAMORE said:

What is a Christian mom to do? Is a 'dedication' more of just a formality, in your opinion?

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Infant dedication is very similar to infant baptism in other churches in the sense that parents (and godparents) make a pledge to raise the child in the Christian faith. Neither me nor my brother were dedicated, I don't see a Scriptural command for it, and I don't even see an example of it being done in Scripure, so I really don't see the point to it.

Diane

KJNELLAMORE said:

I am hoping some of you may have some insight on this topic. My daughter is now 7 1/2 months and I had all intentions of having her 'dedicated' when she was still a 'baby' (and not a crawler!). However, due to some medical problems and other events, as sad as it makes me now.. I never 'got around to it', which sounds absolutely awful. I assume part of that reason, at least, is that we are not really 'members' anywhere. My husband was baptised at the church he grew up in and we have been attending a church that we really like here where we live. My husband had assumed she would be dedicated at the church he grew up in, since his parents attend it. It just doesn't feel 'right' to me, to have my daughter dedicated in a church that we don't even attend... however it also doesn't feel 'right' to have her dedicated in a church we are not members of. Subsequently, it doesn't feel right to not dedicate her at all, either! What is a Christian mom to do? Is a 'dedication' more of just a formality, in your opinion?

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A dedication is a ceremony directed by a pastor for the parents. It is the parents publicly stating that they are going to raise their child in the ways and teachings of Christ. It can be done anywhere since the ceremony is a promise from the parents to God, but is best done in a place where people can support you. If you do it in the old church where your husband grew up, then I would have no problems with that since he was a member there (when you are baptized in a Baptist church you are considered a member). There are benefits to doing this in the new church as well, because others could benefit from your testimony of action in your current church. So, either place would be fine, if it were me. The important thing is that you dedicate the child's upbringing to God and ask for His direction in raising her.

I agree that this is not mandated by Scripture. There are no instances of infants being dedicated (much less baptized). Infant baptism (IB) has a separate meaning to it that sets it completely apart from dedication. IB is intended to save the child. Baptism in churches that practice IB is typically viewed as a salvific event. Is it wrong to dedicate your child to God in the tradition set up in Protestant and Baptist churches? No. Traditions that do not contradict God's Word are fine as long as they are intended to follow Scripture. Children were brought to Jesus in Matt 19:13 (Mk 10:13 and Lk 18:15) and Christ said "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me". Christian dedication is something similar (not exactly the same, mind you) to what was done in these passages.

God bless you,
Dave

Not a fan. It is is a man-made tradition dangerously close to a ritual.

Fairly useless as far as I can tell.

KJNELLAMORE-
Don't feel pressured by any means...it is not a necessity. It is definitely somewhat of a formality. I am sure you already plan on raising your child with instruction from God. My children were not able to do that b/c of moving, etc.... but it is so special, I agree, that people will stand up and agree to help you raise your child in accordance to God's word. God knows what is in your heart..and again...you or your children are not in and spiritual danger b/c that is osmething you have not done.

Later when you children accept Jesus it will be even more special to see them baptized- which is what baptism is intended for...but not as special as accepting Jesus, I am sure!

bleechers said:

Not a fan. It is is a man-made tradition dangerously close to a ritual.

Fairly useless as far as I can tell.

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I agree that it is a man-made tradition, but I think it is a good one.

Gold Dragon said:

I agree that it is a man-made tradition, but I think it is a good one.

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Hello, GD!

"You make the Word of God of none effect by your tradition."

I would not necessarily say this is "tradition"....at this time on this month MANDATED like infant baptism in other churches.

Goodnight folks, if we want to say that committing to pray for a baby when they enter this world is under "tradition" then we need to stop meeting on Sundays, going to Sunday School, conducting businesss meetings, having vacation bibe school, an easter pageant, a Christmas musical, etc.

If it did not have a title to it and one Sunday someone walked up to the front of the church with their baby and asked the pastor if people would pray for him/her would it be a tradition? NO. People do this for themselves perosonally all the time. Because a time is set aside to do something does not make it wrong. It is such a far cry to compare infant baptism with a baby dedication.

Again, if someone wants to baptize a baby and state that all that means is "will you pray for my child and I will promise to bring him/he up in the Lord", then I think these people need to find another way of doing that. A family can do that without misusing baptismal waters and what it is biblically intended for. God Almighty reserved water baptism for those that accept Him as Lord and Savior and it is being made into something else.

Perhaps if we did not call it a baby dedication and all the parents at once did not go up there and it was not outlined in the bulletin, would that be okay? Say they just went up sporadically after a few weeks of birth?

I'm just warning you... lots of "it's not really a tradition" things turn into rituals. Hey, I am all for praying for children (hope you'll pray for mine)... but one day a couple walking forward asking for the pastor to pray turns into "Hey, we should do that with ALL our new church babies!" which turns into "Aren't you going to take your baby to the front?" which turns into "Next Sunday is Dedication Sunday, all new parents please meet with the pastor to go over the wriiten responses..."

we need to stop meeting on Sundays, going to Sunday School, conducting businesss meetings, having vacation bibe school, an easter pageant, a Christmas musical, etc

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Business meetings, as cruel as they are, don't tend to gain religious meaning to them. VBS is not connected with any religious event either. BUT as for the Ishtar pageant and Christmas musical, well they can become dangerous.

I don't particularly care for Easter and Christmas... my choice not to celebrate them as "religious holy days" has caused me suffer rude comments and angry letters (even though I don't make a big deal out of my position). By just NOT feeling any need to "celebrate" extra-biblical stuff, what is supposed to be a FREE activity becomes a MANDATED activity and all dissenters will be ostracized!

I am all for liberty. If you want to dress all your kids in purple and dance the hokey-pokey that's fine with me... just don't bring it into God's assembly without biblical cause.

KJNELLAMORE said:

I am hoping some of you may have some insight on this topic. My daughter is now 7 1/2 months and I had all intentions of having her 'dedicated' when she was still a 'baby' (and not a crawler!). However, due to some medical problems and other events, as sad as it makes me now.. I never 'got around to it', which sounds absolutely awful. I assume part of that reason, at least, is that we are not really 'members' anywhere. My husband was baptised at the church he grew up in and we have been attending a church that we really like here where we live. My husband had assumed she would be dedicated at the church he grew up in, since his parents attend it. It just doesn't feel 'right' to me, to have my daughter dedicated in a church that we don't even attend... however it also doesn't feel 'right' to have her dedicated in a church we are not members of. Subsequently, it doesn't feel right to not dedicate her at all, either! What is a Christian mom to do? Is a 'dedication' more of just a formality, in your opinion?

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Dedicating your child is really a choice you make. It doesn't give your child any special rights to heaven. What it does do is show your committment to raise your child well and with the knowledge of God. Your child makes the decision about what he/she will believe. It's up to the parents to provide the best atmosphere and teaching for the child to make an informed decision.

I do believe there are a few instances of children being dedicated to God in the Bible - Samson and Samuel come to mind.

My friends were between churches at the time and the one they were attedning only did infant baptism, which they did not feel right about (being raised anabaptist). So they decided to ask one of their friends, who is a pastor to dedicate their child. They invited family and close friends to their house and had a dedication "service" (for lack of better word) in their backyard. There was music, a message (suitable for children too), and prayer. It was wonderful.

Just a few thoughts and ideas.