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FOUNDATIONS*103**follow*the*Lord*Jesus,*and*it*will*be*unhelpful*to*attempt*do*this.*We*should*teach*children*what*it*means*to*follow*Jesus,*and*how*to*find*full*assurance*of*salvation*in*him*without*declaring*their*faith*real*in*baptism.*In* terms* of* the* Parable* of* the* Sower,* when* assessing* baptismal*candidates*we*are*dealing*with*those*who*are*either*good*soil,*rocky*soil*or*thorny*soil.*We*are*by*no*means*requiring*a*criterion*of*certainty*before*we*would* baptise* anyone.* We* simply* do* not* have* the* ability* or* the*responsibility*to*look*into*a*baptismal*candidate’s*heart*in*order*to*discern*whether* a* profession* of* faith* is* credible.* In* order* to* have* reasonable*evidence*that*someone*has*genuine*faith,*and*is*therefore*good*soil,*we*need*also*to*have*reasonable*evidence*that*they*are*not*thorny*or*rocky*soil,*that*is,*they*are*not*those*whose*profession*of*faith*will*cave*under*the*pressures*of*persecution*and*worldliness*(Mark*4:13:20).*If*a*mere*profession*of*faith*is*required*rather*than*a*credible*profession*of*faith*then*baptism,*designed*by*the*Lord*to*be*a*great*aid*in*the*assurance*of*the*believers’*faith,*will*offer*false*assurance*to*many.*In* the* case* of* those* still* living* in* the* parental* home* with* little*independence,*there*is*a*real*question*concerning*the*extent*to*which*such*evidence* is* possible.* How* much* has* such* a* profession* of* faith* faced* the*pressure*of*persecution*and*the*pull*of*the*world?*The*answer*is*not*to*send*children* out* like* sheep* amongst* wolves* so* that* they* will* show* earlier*evidence* of* regeneration,* but* to* recognise* the* huge* opportunities* that* the*safety*of*childhood*gives*for*instruction,*for*patience,*and*for*preparation*for*a*lifetime*of*discipleship*that*we*pray*they*will*have.*Children* are* designed* by* the* Lord* to* be* malleable,* even* gullible.* It* is*natural*for*children*to*believe*what*their*parents*tell*them.*They*are*able*to*be* shaped,* and* formed* by* teaching* and* instruction* due* to* their* natural*childlike*trust.*Paul*expects*church*members*to*be*unlike*children*“tossed*to*and*fro*by*the*waves*and*carried*about*by*every*wind*of*doctrine,*by*human*cunning,* by* craftiness* in* deceitful* schemes.”* (Eph* 4:14,* ESV).* In* order* to*discern*if*a*child’s*faith*is*credible,*one*has*two*choices:*either*to*accept*their*faith*upon*the*basis*of*the*credibility*of*the*parents’*faith*(but*then*we*really*have*become*paedobaptists)*or*to*try*to*distinguish*between*faith*in*Christ*and* faith* in* the* parents,* which* is* extremely* difficult,* and* has* doubtful*spiritual*benefits.*Rather*we*should*allow*children*to*profess*faith*within*the*nurturing*environment*of*the*family*home*until*such*time*as*childhood*is*left*behind,*and*a*credible*profession*of*faith*is*possible.*If*credibility*of*belief*is*at*all*an*aim,*there*is*something*seriously*awry*when*we*count*someone’s*faith*in*Christ*credible*at*an*age*when*many*of*their*peers*believe*in*Father*Christmas.***%%!