“If we take your counsel — and other credobaptists, then for all we know, nobody under 25 was ever baptized because the Bible is silent on age — and therefore nobody under 25 should ever be baptized.”
“Tell us where the “belief” verses are about the rest of his household? (Go ahead, list them for us)”
While the Bible is silent about exact ages, it is not silent about belief. Believing IS a requirement. That is why we are often referred to as “believers”. There are roughly 500 verses in the New Testament alone that cover the requirement to believe.
It is not open to debate. It is EXCRUCIATINGLY CLEAR that faith and believing are requirements to become ‘believers’!
If someone has not believed, they cannot be “in Christ”. They are not part of the body of Christ.
So why would ANYONE want to baptize an infant? What do they think it is going to do? Is it a magical ritual, per Simon Magus?
Your post 119 is telling. You deny belief is required for salvation. You deny the entire New Testament to justify your belief.
“Finally, most credobaptist groups have created “baby dedications.” The Bible is silent on ANY age kid-dedications, let alone baby ones... “
Having sat thru many, the point of the dedication is for the ADULTS to pledge themselves to teaching the child about God. It does not, in any way, mean the child is blessed or changed or promised anything by God.
#1 The way Jesus described it is (a) babies "come unto" Him; and (b) "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Here's the context:
15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 17 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Luke 18)
#2 Even were I to be able to convince you that to little children "such belong the kingdom of God" (or face Jesus' rebuke to stop hindering them from coming unto Him)...
...even if I could convince you that...
...pre-schoolers can "believe"...
...kinderkids can "believe"...
...primary-aged kids can "believe"...
...you know what?
...People who are steadfast against these little children won't baptize them either!
So "belief" here is just a smokescreen.
It isn't the real demarcation.
Because even if I could convince you these children above can "believe," the likelihood is that your church -- or thousands of other churches in this nation -- still won't baptize them! (Which means many churches deserve the rebuke given them in Luke 18)
So direct questions here:
Would your church baptize a pre-schooler?
Would your church baptize a kinderkid?
Would your church baptize a first grader?
(& for many churches, would that church baptize a 2nd grader whose 7?)
If not, are you thereby announcing to the world, that "no," these-aged kids can't believe?
Are you claiming that these-aged kids don't fit into Jesus' definition of eternal life?
3 Now this is eternal life: that they KNOW you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." (John 17:3)
(and note: "knowing" doesn't = DEEP cognitive development)
And also, what's your stance on mental retardation (beyond mild retardation)?
Do you claim they can't "believe" also -- those whose mental development is say, 7 yrs old & younger?
And where do find your Biblical standard for a non-existent "age of accountability?"
Where is that found in the Bible?
Are you telling me that if you've been a parent, you don't hold your 7 & younger aged kids accountable?
Are you saying there was no sin present in their lives that Jesus' blood covered, or needed to be?
What was circumcision for? Reference Genesis 17:12-14.