Should Believers Be Baptized As Children?

For many Christians, there is a heated dispute on baptism. Should believers be baptized as children? Or, should baptism only be administered to those who are able to give consent? Many believe that Christians should be coherent and willing before being baptized. And that ultimately, baptism should only be performed on those who chose it for themselves. This ideology has been termed believer’s baptism. In contrast, there is a belief that we should be baptized as children or infants. This practice is known as infant baptism. In the debate, I agree with the practice of infant baptism.
Many argue that in order for baptism to be meaningful, it must be performed on someone who has chosen to accept Christ into their life as their Lord and Savior.
At such young ages, we have no inklings of the reasons why we are made to endure countless needle pricks or why our parents are so insistent that we can only have candy once a month. Clearly, children full of youth and naivety do not understand what is best for themselves or their future. However, it is the responsibilities of the child’s guardians and loved ones to choose what is best for the child. Infant baptism only continues this belief: to do what is best for the child. This argument is strengthened through scripture. An example of such would be 2 Timothy, where it reads, “But as for you, continue in the truths that you were taught and firmly believe. You know who your teachers were, and you remember that ever since you were a child, you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
Eternal life and salvation is promised to all believers. However, a prerequisite to this everlasting life is baptism. With infant baptism, the parents and guardians of the child are simply my paving the way to salvation. In some ways, infant baptism is almost identical to a step-ladder, giving a child a small boost towards a life in Christ. Further, if for any reason a child is unable to affirm their faith in Christ, if previously baptized they will still be able to receive God’s
Proverbs 22:6 reads, “Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their lives.” Here, we are told to instruct children in the way of the Lord. Scripture such as this paves the way for rationalizing infant baptism. Baptism is fundamental in the church’s teachings and foundational in Christian theology. Quite evidently, in scripture it is written that without baptism one will not be able to receive salvation or redemption. Why then deny salvation? While baptism is the introduction of a person into the church, it is by no means a permanent ticket. One is not automatically propelled into heaven based solely on the fact that he was baptized. For Christians, while baptism is the gateway to salvation, entrance into heaven is multifaceted and requires more than, put quite simply, the immersion into water. We are called to be loving, God-fearing individuals, who put the needs of other before our own needs. For myself, it is doubtful that a baptized man who has continuously sinned throughout his life without remorse will gain entrance into heaven.
Infant baptism is practiced in several denominations including: Catholics, Eastern and Oriental Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans, Presbyterians and other Reformed denominations. In many of these churches, baptism is viewed as a way to cleanse the person of original sin. This is why baptism is administered to children, in order that the child may be ‘born