Question
My six-year-old daughter wants to be baptized. I was baptized at age twelve and six just seems young to me. I believe that understanding comes with age, and that she should gain a little more maturity before being baptized. I’d like to hear your opinion, and any biblical references that you can find.
Answer
I agree that 6 is a little young. It’s important to understand why we are baptized: for the remission of our sins (Acts 2:38). Paul said in Romans 6 that when we are baptized, we die to sin (6:6-7). 1 John 3:4 states that sin is lawlessness. So the reason we are baptized is to wash away our sins, and we it isn’t possible for a person to sin until they are old enough to understand God’s law and the fact that there are things He has told us not to do.
So the question is, does your 6 year old understand exactly what sin is? Personally, I don’t believe that God holds 6 year olds accountable because I don’t believe they are old enough to understand God’s law and what it means to transgress it.
By Michael Molloy
