What is Child Dedication?

 “Children are a heritage from the lord. offspring a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

God places a high priority on children. When asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of God, Jesus responded… “Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

In Luke 2 we see the parents of the baby Jesus taking Him to the temple, “…to present Him to the Lord.” Later, the Gospels tell us that little children and infants were brought to Jesus for Him to touch them and bless them. Because of these examples, we encourage parents to publicly dedicate their children to the Lord.

We do not practice “Infant Baptism.” However, we do practice what is called, “Child dedication.” This is a ceremony in which it is recognized that your child is God’s gift to your home and you are returning the child in dedication to the Lord. The parents, extended family, and the congregation is admonished to acknowledge the child as a gift from God and vow before Him to set a Godly example for the child and a commitment to lead the child to Christ at an early age.

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Dedicating a child to the Lord deals more with the parents’ commitment to raising the child in a Godly manner than it does with any choice the child makes. “These words, which I commanded you this day, shall be upon your heart: and you shall teach them diligently unto thy children, and you shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Your entire life is a living example for your child. You must be intentional in your choice to raise your child in a God-pleasing, Biblically-moral home. This is God’s requirement for blessing.

FAQ:

What is the difference between baptism and dedication?

We believe that baptism is a public declaration of an individual’s decision to follow Christ. Until a child is capable of making that decision, we reserve baptism for a time when an individual is old enough to understand their decision to accept Christ as their Savior.

Does dedication make my child a “Christian?”

The Bible is clear that salvation can only be found in a relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith is not passed on to a child through dedication; parents make a commitment to model a life of faith in Jesus with the hope that one day their child will accept Christ as their Savior.

Who should we invite to the Child Dedication service?

There is no limit to those you may invite! We encourage families to invite anyone with whom they would like to share the commitment of raising their child.

I am a single parent. May I still dedicate my child?

Anyone who is living a life that demonstrates a clear desire to raise their child in a Godly, Christ-centered home may dedicate their child. However, parents choosing to live a lifestyle that is against Biblical principles will not be permitted to dedicate their child.

Must I be a member of River of God Church to dedicate my child?

No, participants do not need to be church members. We only ask that you be regular attendees with a sincere desire to raise your child in a Godly, Christ-centered home.

If you have further questions, please contact the church office at: (717)732-1434

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday

9:00am to 5:00pm