Faith like a child

I went to a baptism service today at church. The pastor gave a good illustration of the importance of baptism as a sign. Baptism is like a wedding ring, he said: you're just as married without it, but it cheapens it if you keep it quiet.

The amazing thing about this baptism was the age of these new believers - in a Bible (neo-Baptist) church, remember. Beto Berry is 4, Kenton Geyer is 5. I tried to transcribe their testimonies in response to why they were being baptized.

Beto: "Because I believe in Jesus Christ, that He died for me and gave His life on the cross."

Kenton's was a bit more detailed and harder to take down: He talked with his mom about his family all being baptized... and prayed that Jesus would come into his heart.

It is tempting to look down on the faith of these children, and think our grown-up, rational faith is better than theirs. But Christ condemned this attitude in Matthew 18:1-4:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.


And in the next chapter:

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

The angels in heaven are rejoicing.