This past Sunday Jeremiah was dedicated at church. As Baptist's we don't baptise infants but we do stand up as parents and publicly recognise them as a gift from God and make a series of promises and acknowledgments relating to them and recognising the larger Body's role in that process.
As his parents.....
We released Jeremiah to the Lord and relinquished all worldly claim upon his life. (We don't own him.)
We pledged to raise him (with God's help) in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
We promised, through God's blessing, to provide for his physical, emotional and spiritual needs.
We promised to seek Gods help in wisdom, love and strength to serve Jeremiah and not use him.
We promised to pray regularly for his salvation.
Then Pastor Dan spoke these words of dedication over him: "Jeremiah, together with your parents who love you dearly and this people who care about the outcome of your faith, I dedicate you to God, surrendering all worldly claim upon your life in the hope that you will belong wholly to Jesus Christ, forever." And the congregation said "Amen."
Ten times I have stood before our church family and had these words spoken over my children. Each of the promises is etched into my heart, and I am so relieved to know we don't walk this parenting path alone.
(thanks to Jan/Joby/Weldon for working to get us a photo of the dedication - sometimes it takes a team to get these things done!)
4 comments:
Congrats!! How special!
Question(s): We recently (about 3 years ago) became Christians. I was raised Catholic, but won't get into the details about my view on their way of baptism.
#1. Should I be baptized again?
#2. I have three girls (ages almost 6, 2 1/2, and 7 mos old.) Is it too late to dedicate them even if they're not infants?
What a special and beautiful way to bring a child to the faith.
Gorgeous pictures too :)What a sweetheart!
That is a beautiful thing sister. Praying God's wisdom will shine in your life in parenting these precious children.
Leslie, MO
Hi Britt - Within our thinking it's never to late to dedicate our children to the Lord. It's a releasing and covenant agreement with the larger Body to partner together in their lives - for God's glory.
As far as being baptized again...talk to your pastor. Many of us 'older' believers have been re-baptized because there was no commitment or public statement made when infant baptism was preformed. My first question when people ask is usually - why do you ask? Most people find their own answer to the question when they head down that path of thinking and consider what baptism is.
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