A year and half ago, our boys started asking questions about salvation in Christ. We let them talk to our pastor and decided that they didn't quite yet have the understanding needed to make such a life changing decision public. If you are aware of how it works in most Southern Baptist churches, once you've decided to live your life fully and wholly for Christ, you make that decision public. Hubby and I take this decision from our boys very seriously as we don't want it to be just an act of human routine or expectation but instead an act of obedience to God.
For the past year and a half, our boys consistently asked questions and expressed that they wanted to be baptized. During this time of spiritually growing, their questions became more complex and their understanding became more obedient. We discussed that we don't make these kind of decisions haphazardly but rather with full understanding that our lives are to be lived for His Glory. And during this time we have talked about how living for Christ is more than just walking down an aisle and being baptized...while these actions are so very important as they are ways of letting fellow believers know of the life you have chosen to live, these acts alone are not what makes you a Christian. We've discussed that how we actually live our life is what makes us Christians, a life that is to be obedient to Christ.
JB and I never wanted to push our boys to make this decision just to satisfy us, we didn't want them to make this decision just to copy what a fellow friend did, we didn't want them to make this decision and not fully understand what they were doing. Sure, they still have questions. They can't give you deep theological answers. They aren't some sort of young apologists waiting with abated breath to defend their faith with some deep theology. No, instead, they have the simple faith that God wants us all to have...Our salvation to Him is through Him and not of ourselves, it's not because of any good works we do in hopes of improving our chances of salvation, it's not because we must follow this long list of rules or else be kicked out of His loving arms. No, they understand, as much as a child can that it's because of a relationship with Christ that they live their life according to His will and to glorify Him.
So it was with great joy that we watched our boys walk down to the front of our church and express to their fellow believers, that they have decided to follow a life glorifying God. Last Monday night, they asked on their own effort, if they could talk to us. They wanted us to sit down and listen to them. I honestly I had no idea what they wanted to talk about. "Momma, Daddy. We are just ready to be baptized. We know Jesus lives in our hearts and we want everyone else to know it." Well, we felt like it was time...it was God's time through them. I prayed all week that if they weren't ready that God would somehow let me know or at least confirm to me that they are ready. I got that confirmation during the week and I have no doubts our boys fully understand what they did this morning.
JB and I will continue to help them grow spiritually. It's our number 1 parental responsibility. We are just so overwhelmed with joy that this step has come to fruition and look so forward to watching our boys grow in their life of Christ.
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