United Methodists have long practiced baptism for both adults and infants. Infant baptism is an ancient and well-established practice rooted in biblical foundations, centuries of Christian tradition and Wesleyan theology. Even so, pastors and church leaders may sometimes encounter questions or challenges regarding it from both within and outside their congregations.
United Methodists believe baptism is a sacrament and a means of grace freely offered by God to all. To learn more about the importance of baptism as a sacrament, read Mark W. Stamm’s The Meaning of Baptism in The United Methodist Church.
Here are a few key reasons why infant baptism is important.
Infant baptism is biblical
While there are no specific instances of infants being baptized in the Bible, this does not mean the practice is unbiblical. Nowhere in scripture is there a prohibition against baptizing infants. Jesus’ command to the disciples in Matthew 19:14 to “let the children come to me” demonstrates his intention to include children fully in the life of the church.
In Colossians 2:11-12, baptism is linked to the Jewish practice of circumcision. Through circumcision, Hebrew male infants were initiated into the covenant of Israel. They could not choose this for themselves; instead, their families made the decision on their behalf, promising to raise them according to God’s law. Similarly, Christians who baptize infants see it as an initiation into the covenant community of Christ’s universal church.
One reason infant baptism does not explicitly appear in the New Testament is that Christianity was a new and fringe religion at the time, primarily made up of converts from other faiths. There would have been very few children, let alone infants, within the early church. Family units only became the norm in the church over time.
Although the Bible does not specifically mention any infant receiving baptism, there are hints that it may have been practiced at the time. In Acts 16:33, after Paul and Silas convert their jailer, scripture says “he and his entire family were baptized without delay”. These likely included children, some of whom may have been infants. Other passages in the Bible also mention whole families and households being baptized together.
Infant baptism is an ancient practice among Christians
Infant baptism is not a radical or new idea; it has been the standard practice of most Christians for over 1,500 years. Today, Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and the majority of Protestants continue to baptize infants. Only certain branches of Protestantism practice adult (or believer’s) baptism exclusively.
We have the witness of saints and theologians stretching back over the centuries. Figures from St. Augustine to John Wesley have written in support of infant baptism. Pastors, Sunday school teachers, and other Christian leaders can draw from this wealth of inherited wisdom when teaching about baptism.
Infant baptism is an expression of God’s grace
Infant baptism can be a beautiful illustration of God’s redeeming grace. As The Rev. Dr. Mark W. Stamm writes in his work The Meaning of Baptism in the United Methodist Church, each of us comes to the sacrament as babes preparing to be born anew, whether we are baptized as infants or adults. The act is an expression of our need for God’s redeeming grace.
The fact that the infant is unaware of what is happening at their baptism shouldn’t concern us because baptism always follows God’s initial invitation to us. Whether we come as infants carried in the arms of parents or as adults of our own volition, it is always in response to God’s prevenient grace in our lives. Long before any of us loved God, God already loved us.
Baptism (for both infants and adults) is a sign or symbol of justification, by which we are cleansed of our past sins and reborn in the Holy Spirit. Through baptism we are entering into a relationship with God. John Wesley believed baptism by water was the “outward and sensible sign” of one’s rebirth through the Holy Spirit. This does not mean, however, that baptism by water is synonymous with justification. For both children and adults, the sacrament of baptism is typically a first step in the process of being justified, whether it begins with a person's conscious choice or by others acting on their behalf.
Baptism is also associated with sanctification, the process by which we are made actively righteous through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Wesley refers to baptism as “a sign and seal of regeneration by his Spirit” in his sermon The New Birth. Infant baptism reminds us that faith is a journey. Baptism is not the end, but a vital step along the path. It does not make us perfect or exempt us from life’s trials, but it does set us on the path toward sanctification.
To learn more about Wesley’s beliefs on grace and salvation, read Bishop Kenneth L. Carder’s A Wesleyan Understanding of Grace.
Infant baptism reminds us of our duty as a community of believers
One of the most significant aspects of infant baptism is how it reminds us that this sacrament is not just about the individual being baptized. Baptism (for both infants and adults) is a communal exercise. All those present are taking part in the sacrament too.
Parents vow bring their child up in the Church and teach them to live Christian lives. The congregation also promises to love and nurture the child. In doing so, each church member reaffirms John Wesley’s order for Methodists to “watch over one another in love” and “help each other to work out their salvation”[1]. Even though the infant may be unaware of what is happening, they still receive the blessing of becoming part of a loving Christian community. This is another way we affirm how the Church as a community of believers serves as means of grace too.
Infant baptism is a meaningful practice deeply rooted in scripture, tradition and Wesleyan theology. It illustrates the power of God’s redeeming grace, the communal nature of faith and the beginning of a lifetime of discipleship.
Other resources
- Ask the UMC: What do I need to know about baptism in The UMC?
- Renewing waters: How United Methodists understand baptism
- The Meaning of Baptism in The United Methodist Church by Mark W. Stamm
- By Water and the Spirit: A United Methodist Understanding of Baptism
- This is Your Baptismal Liturgy: A Resource for Understanding the United Methodist Ritual of Holy Baptism
[1] “The General Rules of the Methodist Church.” The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2016