Yesterday my niece and nephew were baptized into Christ.  It was a blessing for me to attend on a long lunch break.

Yesterday they declared their independence from this world and declared their dependence on our Savior.

Looking back on it I am thankful for their tender hearts, knowledgeable and patient Bible class teachers and spiritually minded parents who helped guide their decision.

There is always a waiting time for Christian parents with unsaved children who wonder if they will make the decision to obey God’s commands.  Sometimes a very religious family has that son or daughter who, although a good moral person, yet never making that commitment to God.  It is heartbreaking.  And sometimes if you never reach them in early adolescence you may never reach them.  It becomes harder and harder for them to make that last step for salvation by being baptized if you try to teach them in their late teen years into adulthood.

This is also a tale of two families with children making religious decisions.  Just a few weeks ago a Facebook friend from high school posted to Facebook about how it was his son’s confirmation and how he became a full member of the church.

Yet I read in Acts 2:47

And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. – Acts 2:47

This is right after Acts 2:38 which declares

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. – Acts 2:38.

Confirmation is not in the Bible!  I’ve had many discussions with another denominational friend of mine about confirmation vs. baptism. Deep down I got the feeling that he knew that his church was practicing something unbiblical and probably passed down through tradition.  Years later he did admit that baptism in a biblical sense is immersion.  I pray that he one day finds the Biblical steps to salvation.

Back to my friend who’s son was confirmed at church.  They performed a song afterwards (also not worship; but performance driven entertainment). What was the song they sang afterwards? “Down to the River to Pray,” which ironically has the refrain “Good Lord, show me the way!” – Yes please show them the way.  Show them that confirmation and infant baptism is not Biblical!  Show them that tradition can be a salvation issue especially if one practices an act not authorized in the bible.