Baptism has been on our minds for several weeks. The 1st Sunday after Epiphany we observed the Baptism of Christ. The following 2 Sundays we had 2 baptisms at Christ, Chili. When we baptize infants, we may hear the question from people of other denominations: "Why do you Lutherans baptize babies?" Sometimes the question is an honest inquiry; sometimes it's rooted in a deep disagreement on the practice. There are many Christians who believe infant baptism is inconsistent with Biblical and early Church practice.
Well, let's look at the evidence. Underneath the city of Rome is a very extensive, multistory network of caverns and passages, (hundreds of miles in all), that in ancient times was the city's burial ground for an estimated 6 million dead! Until Christianity was legalized in 313 A.D., these catacombs were often used by Christians for their worship services, which had to be held in secret during times of persecution. Many of the larger caverns were actually converted into churches. Archaeological excavations of these ancient catacombs have revealed a wealth of artwork and inscriptions left by the early Christians on the cavern walls, providing unparalleled insight into Christian worship and practices prior to 313 A.D.
Various denominations that are opposed to baptizing infants assert that infant Baptism was not practiced in the primitive Church. However, Jesus once said that "the stones will cry out" (Matthew 19:40), and the very stones of the catacombs do indeed cry out in testimony to infant Baptism in the primitive Church. An article by Rev. Kevin Vogts of Concordia University, Wisconsin says:
" ... Baptism receives several illustrations from the monumental evidences of the Catacombs. There are numerous epitaphs of neophytes (a term applied only to newly baptized persons) which indicate that this Christian rite was administered at all ages from tender infancy to adult years .... "
There is also much other archaeological evidence which overwhelmingly testifies to the practice of infant Baptism in the early Church, such as a fragment of a tombstone for a child who died very young, likely less than a month old, which describes the child as "dulcissime nate," literally, "The Most Blessedly Bathed." Another example is from about 206 A.D. in a North African tombstone inscription from Hadrumetum, which indicates that this child who died nine hours after birth had been baptized.
Considering the clear, overwhelming evidence that the Church has always practiced infant Baptism, one wonders why some churches today still object to it. Modern objections to infant Baptism can be traced to the time of the Reformation in the 1500's. This was also the era in which "Humanism" arose, and some of the Reformers other than Martin Luther, (such as Ulrich Zwingli and John Calvin), were infected with the spirit of Humanism. The primary tenet of Humanism is that "man is the measure of all things," and therefore human reason is the final judge of truth - even to the point of passing judgement on the testimony of God's Word on the basis of whether or not it agrees with human reason. So, if infant Baptism does not makes sense to human reason, it is to be discarded.
Perhaps it does not seem sensible or reasonable to you that humans are born sinful and in need of a Savior; but the Bible says: "Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me" (Psalm 51 :5) Perhaps it does not seem sensible or reasonable to us that infants can have personal, active faith in Jesus as their Savior; but Jesus Himself calls infants, "these little ones who believe in me" (Matthew 18:6).
Perhaps it does not seem sensible or reasonable to us that Baptism is more than just a symbolic act but actually washes away our sins; but the Bible says, "be baptized and wash your sins away" (Acts 22: 16).
Perhaps it does not seem sensible or reasonable to us that God should use this act as a means by which to save us, but the Bible says, "Baptism doth also now save us" (1 Peter 3:21).
Perhaps it does not seem sensible or reasonable to us that a ,child can have faith; but the Bible says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this [faith) not from yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). So, faith in Christ is "the gift of God" - (and therefore not dependent upon our having attained a certain "age of reason" only after which one may have personal faith in Christ. This idea is NOT taught in the Bible.) No one is excluded from God's kingdom, on any basis, including age, maturity or intellect. We have Christ's command to baptize all people, andinfants are indeed included in that command.
So, do not be misled by those who claim that the eariy Christians did not baptize infants. The archaeological evidence of the Catacombs and elsewhere quite clearly demonstrates that they did. Why do we believe that infants can indeed have active, personal faith in Christ? Why do we baptize infants? The simple answer is: "The Bible says it, I believe it, and that settles it." As Luther says, writing about Baptism in the Large Catechism: "Men may err and deceive, but God's Word cannot err."