by Pastor Dan Dodds
Of all the issues that we deal with in the introductory class at WRPC, the one that is the biggest stumbling block for most newcomers—more than creeds or worship—is baptism: who should be baptized and how.
Generally the most pressing question about baptism is “why do you baptize infants?” The best way to answer this question is not by a direct approach, but by looking behind the question to more fundamental issues, and it is here that we find the most productive conversation about baptism.
In American Christendom, there are two schools of thought on a overall approach to Scripture. The two schools are called Dispensationalism and Covenant Theology.
In the Dispensational Model the general approach is to see Biblical history as a series of time segments in which God deals with His people in different ways, such as, for example, before the fall, after the fall, pre-Moses, post Moses.
Changes between these Dispensations do not reflect a development or unfolding of God’s plan—but a change to it. Each one is a kind of fresh start. Especially significant is the change that takes place between the Old Testament (OT) and the New Testament (NT) in which the Jews reject Jesus and God ushers in a new Dispensation; the Jews are put to one side and Gentiles are brought onto the main stage as God’s people. This is known as the Dispensation of the Church. In this approach, all that was taught the Jews (commands, principles etc.) was addressed to them as a Theocratic Nation having little to say for us as either Gentiles or as NT believers.
A key to understanding Dispensationalism then is to see this change between Old and New not as a maturation or growth of God’s plan, but as an interruption and as God’s ushering in of a new way of dealing with His people. OT laws and principles are not carried over to the NT because they were for the Jews. Though there is some similarity between the two testaments we must be careful not to confuse or mix them.
We see several covenants described in the OT such as the covenants with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses and David. Finally comes the New Covenant (Testament).
Covenant Theology thus teaches that unless a command or principle from the OT is rescinded we assume it to be still binding. Because the ceremonial, dietary and sacrificial laws are specifically abrogated in the NT (see Acts and Hebrews) they are no longer binding. The Ten Commandments are still binding, as they have not been rescinded.
What does all this have to do with baptism? Only everything! If you hold to Dispensational Theology you will not look to the OT for any binding principles or commands, you will only look at the NT. When you do not read of the need of any passages that call for the baptism of infants or see any (explicit) examples of it you assume that baptism is only for those who profess faith in Christ.
If you hold to Covenant Theology you note continuity between the sacraments of OT circumcision and NT baptism (see Colossians 2.11-12) – both are signs of initiation into God’s covenant people. In the OT children of the Jews were considered members of the covenant people of God – this is taught explicitly in Genesis 17 and this principle – children as covenant members – is not rescinded in the NT and thus it is still binding. Thus: infants should be baptized. There is a very clear line from the OT to the NT in this thinking.
I recognize that this answer does not address the question that naturally arises from this discussion: how do you know which of these approaches (Dispensationalism or Covenant Theology) is true? At WRPC, as Reformed Presbyterians, you should know that we hold to Covenant Theology; but as to why we do so that is for another day and another article!!
- Who Should Be Baptized? - April 18, 2022
- Step By Step - June 17, 2019
- We’re Not in Kansas Anymore - November 28, 2016
