Fathers Must See Their Babies Baptized

 By Pastor Benjamin Glaser - Posted at Thoughts From Parson Farms:

The Responsibility and Place of Baptism in the Worship of the Presbyterian Church

Howdy!

Today’s lesson comes to us from the Directory of Public Worship on the question of Baptism. When we went over this question in our time in the Larger Catechism the conversation was much more about the theology of infant baptism. The directory’s concern is less about the why’s of when and how, and more focused on the what’s and when’s of the doctrine. Remember, the main goal of the DPW is to regulate and formalize practices so that Christians attending Presbyterian churches can be comforted that worship is not an “every-man-for-himself” phenomenon. The sign on the door should tell you what is happening inside. It is unfortunate that even in Reformed circles there has been a complete and total breakdown of conformity when it comes to what we do on the Lord’s day, and even in regard to the Sacraments. As we walk through the arriving conversation about Baptism part of our hope is that we would see the wisdom of the ancients and ask ourselves some hard questions about whether “new and fresh” is what the Bible would have us to be and to do, especially when it comes to the signs of the covenant.

Here’s the opening word:

BAPTISM, as it is not unnecessarily to be delayed, so it is not to be administered in any case by any private person, but by a minister of Christ, called to be the steward of the mysteries of God.

Nor is it to be administered in private places, or privately, but in the place of publick worship, and in the face of the congregation, where the people may most conveniently see and hear; and not in the places where fonts, in the time of Popery, were unfitly and superstitiously placed.

The child to be baptized after notice given to the minister the day before, is to be presented by the father, or (in case of his necessary absence) by some Christian friend in his place, professing his earnest desire that the child may be baptized.

The opening sentence is just a repeat of what the Westminster Confession of Faith says, “Although it be a great sin to contemn or neglect this ordinance . . .”. Delaying Baptism for lawful reasons like health of the child, weather, or other providential hindrances is certainly not in view here. However, when we read unnecessarily the DPW and the WCF have in mind things like “just not getting around to it”, “not seeing the need”, or “we want to wait until we are ready”. Part of what the directory wants to do is to on one hand demystify the sacrament as well as encourage parents to offer their little ones up to the blessings of the covenant family.