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60**A*Covenantal*View*of*Baptism*and*Its*Relationship*to*Evangelism*stumbling*block*to*Baptists,*because*they*argue*“how*can*a*child*have*faith?”.*It*is*my*contention*that*the*practice*of*believer’s*baptism*focuses*wrongly*on*what*“man*is*doing”*rather*than*on*what*“God*is*doing”.*It*portrays*salvation*by*faith*instead*of*being*by*grace*through*faith.*It*leaves*a*potential*vacuum*for*the*doctrine*of*the*family*and*it*inserts*doubts*as*to*the*place*of*children*in*the*church.**Similarly,* it* would* be* wrong* if* I* gave* the* impression* that* all* churches*that* practice* a* covenantal* view* on* baptism* have* all* things* right.* Wellum*raises*an*important*concern*that*paedobaptism*may*lead*to*a*“downplaying*of*the*need*to*call*our*children*to*repentance*and*faith” 36 .*However,*I*believe*that* Wellum* misses* the* mark* to* claim* that* believer’s* baptism* is* the* “new*covenant*sign...*ordained*by*our*Triune*God*as*a*proper*means*of*grace*that*we* ignore,* distort,* or* downplay* to* the* detriment* of* our* spiritual* life* and*mission”. 37 *Our*final*section,*discusses*a*healthy*approach*to*evangelism*that*a*covenantal*framework*for*baptism*should*hopefully*encourage.**Baptism!and!its!relationship!to!evangelism!!It*is*almost*unnecessary*to*explain*that*it*is*beyond*the*scope*of*this*paper*to*outline*a*complete*theology*of*biblical*evangelism,*though*such*an*essay*on*this*subject*is*exigent.*William*Still’s*assessment*of*British*evangelicalism*in*his*day,*probably*still*holds*true*today.*He*lamented*that*“we*are*suffering*from*an*evangelistic*complex,*an*obsession*with*evangelism,*which*at*best*is*too*fruitless”. 38 *There*must*be*a*biblical*balance*in*the*church*to*focus*on*the*“you*and*your*children”*as*well*as*reaching*out*to*those*who*are*“afar*off”.*A*return*to*this*all:important*subject*of*baptism*may*well*provide*meaningful*answers*to*help*the*church*redress*imbalances*that*may*exist.*R.*B.*Kuiper*helps*us*all*because*he*reminds*us*that*there*is*a*“double*responsibility*of*the*church”:*this*is*to*“build*up*its*members*in*the*faith”*while*equally*and*simultaneously*bringing*the*“gospel*to*those*who*are*outside*the*church”. 39 *Within*these*constraints,*I*will*make*a*general*proposition*applicable*to*all*sections*of*evangelicalism,*irrespective*of*their*baptismal*stance.*This*will*be*followed*up*with*five*particular*implications*that*stem*from*a*covenantal*view*of*baptism*and*its*relationship*to*evangelism.*This*section*will*handle*its* suggestions* within* the* proposed* covenantal* framework* of* “command–sign–promises–responsibilities”*to*address*some*familiar*evangelical*practices*that*probably*need*to*be*re:examined*and*amended.*There*is*an*inevitable*********************************************************************36*Wellum,*“Baptism*and*the*Relationship*Between*the*Covenants”,*161.*37*Wellum,*“Baptism*and*the*Relationship*Between*the*Covenants”,*161.*38*William*Still,*The!Work!of!the!Pastor*(Fearn:*Christian*Focus,*1984,*repr.,*2010,)*81.*39*R.*B.*Kuiper,*The!Glorious!Body!of!Christ:!A!Scriptural!Appreciation!of!the!One!Holy!Church*(Edinburgh:*Banner*of*Truth,*1967,*repr.,*2001),*158.*