Child Dedication Explanation

I. Biblical Basis For Dedicating Children

From a Biblical standpoint, the practice of dedicating children comes from two primary experi­ences. One is found in the Old Testament, and the other is found in the New Testament. In the Old Testament, Samuel, who became a priest and prophet of God and the last judge of Israel before the time of the kings, was a miracle boy. Elkanah, his father, and Hannah, his mother, were unable to have children. Hannah prayed regularly at the Temple, petitioning God for a son. God heard her cry, and Samuel was born. The name Samuel means "heard of God," because he was an answer to prayer. Elkanah and Hannah brought Samuel to the temple of God and to the priest Eli, presenting him before the Lord and dedicating him (see 1 Samuel 1 :27, 28). Hannah said, "As long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord" (v. 28). There, under the care of Eli, Samuel grew up and became a priest of God, fulfilling God's call on his life. In this story, the concept of dedicating children to the Lord is beautifully depicted.

The second experience is found in the New Testament-the experience of Jesus himself. Jesus, as all Jewish males, was circumcised on the eighth day. It was on that day that He was given His name-Jesus. After the time of purification, which was 40 days for the mother after giving birth to the child, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the Temple to present him to the Lord. They also offered a sacrifice of praise to the Lord (see Luke 2:21-24).

II. SIGNIFICANCE OF CHILD DEDICATION

There are four important components of the actual baby dedication.

1. The first is praise. Dedicating children to God is an act of praise and thanksgiving. Psalm 127:3 declares, "Children are a heritage from the Lord." The very act of dedicating children is an expression of praise and thanks to God for the gift of children.
2. The second is pledge. When parents present a child in dedication to the Lord, they are pledging themselves to be faithful to raise that child in the "[nurture] and the admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4). When a couple presents their child at the altar, they are also presenting them­selves, as well as making a pledge in good faith. They are dedicating themselves to raise their children in the ways of the Lord.
3. The third component is the promise. It is a time to claim the promise of God. The Scripture says in Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." The best way to start training up a child is at the very beginning in the act of dedication. And God says that the child will not depart from what he has been taught. They may stray; they may test it, as all children do, but what is put in their hearts, God promises will remain. It is a time to claim the promises of Acts 16:31: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household." It is a time to claim the salvation of the child for the glory of God.
4. The final component is a time of prayer. It is a time that the child is presented to God in praise and thanksgiving. The minister prays for the blessing of God on the life of the child, for the will of God to be fulfilled, and for salvation to come into the life of the child. This is the significance of dedicating children to the Lord.

Implementing the Dedication Service

A. First, the minister explains to the family and the congregation the meaning of infant dedication. They will explain that this is a time of praise to God, a time for the par­ents to pledge themselves, and a time to proclaim the promise of God. Child dedication is NOT infant baptism; it is not conversion, but believing God for the salvation of the child.

B. Second, the minister will give a charge to the parents to pledge themselves to raising the child in a Christian home and to teach their children the word of God. Also, the minister will give a charge to the church body to support the family and the child in their relationship with Jesus Christ.

C. Thirdly, the minister then will stand with the family. The minister will either hold the baby, or let one of the parents hold the child and the minister lay hands upon the child. There needs to be the physical contact of ei­ther holding the child and placing a hand on the head of the child or laying hands on the child as the parents hold it. Even as Jesus took children into His arms, the Bible says, and blessed them, so the minister stands with the family, and lays hands upon the child.

Now that you understand the principle and practice of child dedication you may click "Next" to proceed with the your child dedication request. *Child dedication is reserved for infants and toddlers and also for regular attenders and/or members.*