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98* “Let*the*little*children*come*to*me…”*But*should*we*baptise*them?**George*Barna*claims*that*though*“85%*of*parents*believe*that*they*have*the*primary*responsibility*for*the*moral*and*spiritual*development*of*their*children…*more*than*two*thirds*of*them*abdicate*that*responsibility*to*the*church…*For*instance,*we*discovered*that*in*a*typical*week,*fewer*than*10*per* cent* of* parents* who* regularly* attend* church* with* their* kids* read* the*Bible*together,*pray*together*(other*than*at*meal*times)*or*participate*in*an*act*of*service.” 18 *Because*of*the*need*for*some*Christian*spiritual*oversight,*it*does*mean*that* I* might* cautiously* suggest* a* lower* baptismal* age* for* those* professing*faith* from* a* non:Christian* background.* In* the* case* of* a* clear* profession* of*faith*by*one*who*is*not*following*their*parents'*faith,*the*need*for*Christian*leadership* from* the* church* may* be* a* reason* to* consider* baptising* sooner.*However,*this*too*is*not*without*huge*sensitivities*pastorally.*Will*respect*for*parents* be* able* to* be* well* communicated,* even* as* faith* in* Christ* is* being*publically* professed* in* baptism?* Are* they* ready* to* take* on* the* respon:sibilities* of* membership?* Might* there* be* ways* to* give* a* clearer* pastoral*oversight* of* such* children* without* giving* them* the* burden* of* church*membership?* I* still* have* un:answered* questions* here,* but* I* also* hear* few*asking* them.* These* questions* require* the* wisdom* of* elders* who* know* the*church*and*know*the*teenager*and*their*circumstances.**The%responsibilities%of%the%pastors%*As* already* stated,* unless* a* pastor* has* very* good* reasons* not* too,* the*temptation*will*be*assume*that*any*child*who*takes*the*initiative*to*request*baptism* must* be* ready* to* receive* it.* It* is* a* pressured* situation* but* every*pastor* must* recognise* his* responsibilities* to* that* candidate,* their* parents*and*the*wider*church.**Responsibilities%to%the%candidate%*The* younger* people* are* the* more* vulnerable* they* are,* and* the* more*direction* they* need.* We* are* neither* to* doubt* the* sincerity* of* a* child’s*profession*of*faith,*nor*the*boldness*of*their*request*for*baptism.*Every*step*to*profess*faith*in*Christ*should*be*verbally*and*prayerfully*encouraged*but*not*immediately*certified*by*baptism.*Though*children*can*live*as*disciples*of*Christ*from*when*they*are*very*young,*much*of*the*discipleship*of*the*young*is* training* for* the* future* responsibilities* of* adulthood.* When* a* child*expresses*a*premature*desire*for*such*responsibilities,*whether*it*be*a*sexual*********************************************************************18*George* Barna,* Transforming% Children% into% Spiritual% Champions* (Ventura:* Issachar*Resources,*2003)*109,*quoted*in*William*Yount,*The%Teaching%Ministry%of%the%Church*(Nashville:*B*&*H,*2008)*288.*