If we were to limit ourselves to the Bible, “conversion” would propbably primarily refer to the ongoing repentance that is part of sanctification in the normal Christian life. I pray for my children’s conversion as I do my own.
But, in common Evangelical parlance, “conversion” means repentance from unbelief, a transition from death to life. In that case, claiming one’s children must be converted is ordinarily an implicit denial of the doctrine of justification by faith alone. I have four children ranging in ages from two to nine. All pray to God as Father. All acknowledge Christ as the only savior. To claim that they must do something more in order to be saved is synergism and works-righteousness.
Is this hard to understand? Faith in Jesus is sufficient for salvation. It is Satan’s job to falsely accuse the brethren, not ours. We should not be declaring our praying, worshiping children to be unbelievers. We should be encouraging them to grow in the faith they have.
Of course, we all know there are children who never are given true faith and thus who apostasize. But this is no different than professing believers who also are lacking in this manner. The fact that such people exist doesn’t give one license to accuse professing believers of being unregenerate. Nor do we have a right to abuse and undermine the faith of our children in this manner. Our job is to encourage faith and deal with those who refuse our encouragement in the way God instructs us to.
What a novel idea!!!!
I’ve actually been toying with this for a while.
If someone were to honestly ask me what they must do to be saved. I would answer, “Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of calvary as a replacement for you and that your sins are forgiven”. If they said yes, then I would say “Congratulations! Everything has been done for you. You need nothing else to be saved!”
Your timeline is all messed up. If your kids already have faith, then they already have “converted,” and you don’t have much of an objection or an argument.
That’s the point 8ball. Saying that so-and-so doesn’t believe children need to be converted is a deliberate misrepresentation. It is passed off as reasonable critique.
I’m sorry, I guess I misunderstood you. I thought you were objecting to the idea that Evangelicals believe children are fallen/depraved.
It just seemed that your third paragraph was in support of some kind of baptismal regeneration, age of accountability, or fell in the Federal Vision camp.
First there’s a movement and now there is a camp.
I was discussing the gospel with someone who believes that christianity seems to be the only viable religion the other night. At the end of the conversation he asked me, “So what all do I need to believe in order to start calling myself a christian now?” I said, that God provides the only possible way of reconciliation between Himself and you. That Christ as God incarnate came to die and rose from the dead. He was astonished that christianity was so simple. He has been hearing from other christians that there are lists of doctrines one must adhere to in order to be saved.
I think the same is true with children. We focus way too much on rules and catechism questions, when the focus is relationship. Trust God. Pray to HIm. Believe what the bible says when it speaks into your life. Covenant children should be continually steeped in that from birth. (no paedobaptism pun intended)