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Originally Posted by armourbearer  Quote:
Originally Posted by a mere housewife It does lead to one further question for clarification, which would be then that not only children, but adults --servants presumably in Lydia's household (or would you presume some other composition of her household?) would need to be baptised regardless of age based on the head of household's standing, on this view? | Yes, the household baptism is understood to include all within that household under the authority of the head thereof. But there is a disconnect here with modern practice due to the fact that servants today are not considered a part of the household. |
I agree.
Fundamentally, Heidi, we're dealing with whether or not the household is going to allow for the worship of multiple Gods or not. This issue arises quite a bit but, if people sat back and considered this point, would you really allow a servant (who lived among you and your
children) to be worshipping another God? Don't we do even a better job than that with who we allow our kids to have as babysitters?
Fundamentally, Heidi, as I pointed out in another thread, Baptism is for disciples. Disciples are not necesarily only those that have been definitively converted or know everything. Baptism is the
beginning of discipleship and understanding and not the end of it. Discipleship is in the things of God and parents are commanded to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. In other words, children are disciples and, as such, should be baptized.
It is not merely because the parents are believers that the children are baptized but because they are to be trained and, as such baptism belongs constituently to their status as disciples in the things of God.