Baptism Faith TrainingSýnishorn

Day 6: Baptism and Faith

Back to the question of the intersection between baptism and faith. Figuring this out is crucial. It not only requires knowing what baptism is but what faith is as well.

Many people think they have a good handle on what faith means. Faith is rational understanding and assent. Someone comes to realize that they are a sinner or that something is missing in life. They are taught that Jesus died for them, has a purpose for them, and that they need to believe in him. They come to be convinced of this, and it’s labeled as faith.

But is faith dependent on cognitive understanding?

What about an infant? Or someone whose mind has been robbed by Alzheimer’s? Or someone with severe developmental disabilities? Or someone who grew up in a culture that’s never heard the name Jesus or God’s plan of salvation? Can they have faith despite their lack of cognitive ability or understanding?

If your definition of faith is restricted to cognitive understanding, then the answer would have to be no. This, of course, raises other issues since the New Testament is adamant that only those with faith in Christ will be saved. Are “the least of these” excluded simply on the basis of cognitive ability or opportunity?

The good news is that the New Testament portrays faith as something deeper than mere rational assent and understanding.

Think about it this way. Can a newborn child know her mother? She doesn’t know her mom’s name. She can’t tell you any facts about her mom. She doesn’t understand the nature of her familial relationship. But at some level, she’s drawn and directed to mom, even if it’s just knowing and trusting at some base level that her mom is warm and safe and good. In fact, in some ways, a newborn “knows” her mother far better than a host of other people who can recite all kinds of facts about her.

Faith works the same way. Faith is an inclination of the heart that leans towards God and trusts in him, even if that trust exists at what we might call an instinctual level.

That is why an infant (or any others who are considered “the least of these”) can have faith. Because faith is best understood as trust. And trust does not require being able to articulate the reasons why it trusts. It just requires that you do.

This is part of what Jesus is getting at when he says we must be born again. The Spirit of God changes our will and inner inclination from someone who leans away from God to someone who leans towards him. To trust. To faith.

This is what James touches on that gets so many Christians hot and bothered:

James 2:19. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that – and shudder.

James is making a distinction between knowing the facts and trusting God. The devil and his demons know more about God than we ever will. But they do not trust him because they are not inclined towards him. You can know everything there is to know about God and not have faith. You can know next to nothing about God and have a faith that moves mountains. (The Greek word translated “believe” is the exact same word translated “faith.” Don’t let that throw you.)

Faith does not equal knowledge. Faith encapsulates our entire being and involves the inclination of our heart and will. Despite how it often gets talked about, this has always been the Christian understanding of faith. It’s too bad when faith gets sold short as simply answering the right questions, saying the right prayer, or making a formulaic profession.

Because articulating faith is not faith. It is a fruit of faith – a work, a sign of faith.

None of this is to deny that faith should grow. Nor should we ever be content with a lowest common denominator faith. The intuitive side of faith must eventually be fed with the cognitive, or it will wither. But the cognitive should never be taken as the prerequisite sign of faith.

It’s for this reason we advocate infant baptism. We believe that baptism is a sign and commitment of faith in Christ, but also a powerful way that God comes to us and instills faith. We think baptism is more than just a symbol. We believe it actually does something in a person.

If baptism is just an outward personal profession of faith, then it makes sense to wait until someone is old enough to make that choice for themselves. But if baptism is also a way that the Holy Spirit comes to us to work in us and strengthen faith, then it is a powerful way for parents to begin a journey of discipleship in their children.

Profession of faith is not the same as faith. We believe faith can exist before it can be articulated. While baptism without faith is meaningless, God can (and does) use baptism to plant a seed of faith. Whether this seed sprouts and grows often depends on how a parent or other shepherding person nurtures it.

Questions

1. Which is stronger: Your head faith or heart faith? How can you fuel the other?
2. In what ways have you witnessed seeds of faith thrive or die?