Final Comments…From the “Paedo” side.

     JB1 and myself have decided to bring our discussion of “paedo vs. credo” to a close, each taking a moment to post a summary statement about this issue.  As I thought about what to write, the following things came to mind.  First, it has not been my intention to make converts of anyone who sees credo as the proper view of baptism.  Too many wonderful pastors, scholars, authors, and friends hold to that view for me to be overly harsh or dogmatic in my opinion of baptism.  That being said, I did set out to do three things:

1.  Acquire more knowledge in order to solidify the paedo view in my own mind.
2. Take this as an opportunity to inform others
3. Defend this historic church practice (to the best of my ability).

     From my reading and personal study, one point that, to me, encompasses the two differing views best is the following quote from Randy Booth (pastor of Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church) found in “The Case for Covenental Infant Baptism” (P&R Publishing 2003):

Those who see the new covenant as a replacement for the old covenant demand explicit New Testament warrant to include the children of believers in the covenant and administer the initial covenant sign to them.  Those who comprehend the new covenant as the extension of the old covenant, where the children of believers were always included in the covenant, require explicit New Testament warrant to exclude their children from the covenant and deny them the initial sign of the covenant. (p. 175)

     It is my belief that the above comment shows one of the biggest points of contention between these two views.  JB1 and myself spent much of our discussion focusing on the newness of the new covenant, using Jeremiah 31 as a spring board.  For me, my study has solidified in my mind the latter of the two; that the new covenant does not replace the old, but rather extends it.

     This study has been a wonderful journey into depths of God’s Word that I never envisioned this topic would produce.  Through it, I have been convinced of my Presbyterian leaning and of the biblical truth supporting paedo baptism.  The chance for true, challenging, deep discussion with a cherished brother in Christ has paid enormous dividends in my life, causing me to look forward to more in the future.

JB2