What Is Infant Dedication

There are many times in the church that we practice different rituals and sacraments without stopping to think about what we are doing.  They have just become part of our tradition.  To do so, however, is to miss out on the true beauty and significance of what we are doing.  One such ritual is that of infant dedication.

“Let Them Come”

  The significance of dedication begins with an understanding of the relationship of God with children.  To many, Christianity is seen as an adult thing. Only adults are able to understand the Christian faith.  Children are just to be tolerated in religious circles until they are old enough to comprehend what it is all about.

The disciples of Jesus had this idea.  In Matthew 19 the disciples try to keep the children from disturbing Jesus and taking up his time.  Jesus surprised them, however, by saying in verse 14, “Let the little children come to me.”

In doing so, Jesus demonstrated that God is concerned about the lives of children.  He is concerned about their needs, and he is also concerned about their relationship with Him.  A child is never too young to begin to discover the love of God and the power of God at work in saving and sanctifying grace.

A Gift from God

 Many see the roots of infant dedication in the story of Hannah and her husband Elkanah found in 1 Samuel 1-2.  Hannah was unable to bear a child and so she prayed to God that he would open her womb, and she would bear a child.  God heard her prayer and she gave birth to a son, Samuel.  Hannah knew that this child was truly a gift from God.

Like Hannah we believe that becoming a parent is a gift from God.  It is a privilege, a blessing, and a responsibility.  It is this understanding that brings us to present our children to God at the altar.

Surrendered to God

Hannah was a so overwhelmed by God’s gift to her, that she took her son Samuel to the tabernacle of God and gave him back to the God who had blessed her.

That is what we do as we dedicate our children back into the hands of God who gave them to us.  This means that as parents we give control of the lives of our children to God.  We will accept his choice of how their lives shall unfold.

As parents, we will accept the career choice God has for our children, the level of intelligence he bestows upon them, and the special gifts and abilities He chooses to bless them with, or not bless them with.  We will also accept the length and quality of life he chooses for them.  They now belong to Him and we will accept what He chooses for their lives.

We Are Stewards

Our story is not the same as that of Hannah’s, however. When Hannah pre-sented her child to God she left Him at the Tabernacle under the care of the priest.  The priest would raise her child.

When we dedicate our children, we do not leave them at the church to be raised by the pastor.  Instead, they return to our homes with us.  What changes is not where our children live and who raises them, but our roles as parents.

Our role is now that of a steward.  A steward is not an owner.  A steward cares for that which belongs to someone else.  As parents that means we now have the responsibility to raise children that belong to God.  As stewards we will be held accountable to God for the ways we raise His children.

This makes our role as parents even more critical Instead of asking how I would raise my children; the question now becomes how would God desire me to raise His children.  What would He have me teach them? What does He desire they experience?  How should they be educated?  Where should they live?  What atmosphere should they be raised in?

God Chose You

Many parents might think at this point that it would be better for someone else to raise their child for this is just too big a responsibility.  However, God did not choose to give their child to someone else, He choose them to be their parent.  That means that God believes that they are the best parent for that child.  He sees in them what it takes to raise His child the way they should be raised. He has confidence in them.

Parents may not feel confident at times, but they must remember this, the reason God knows they are the best parents to raise His child, is because He knows that He is going to give them everything they need to be a great parent.  He will give them wisdom, strength, courage, and patience as they look to Him.  Parents never have to face this task alone.  God will always be there.

At times as parents we will make mistakes.  God also understands this as he entrusts His children into our care.  One marvelous aspect of God’s grace is how He is able to work in the lives of our children despite our mistakes and even through our mistakes.

Who Should Present Their Child

As we have seen, infant dedication is not some cute ceremony performed to show off a new baby.  It is a ritual to be practiced with the utmost reverence and respect.  This is a vow we are making to God, and all vows made to God are serious commitments to Him (Deut. 23:21-23).

Because of the seriousness and nature of this commitment, only Christians are proper candidates for presenting children to God in infant dedication.  This may be a parent, guardian, or grandparent.

This is important for the fact that only a Christian can properly raise a child as God would have that child raised.  God’s greatest desire is that that child know him as Lord and Savior.  How can we lead a child where we have not been.  We cannot just point them in the right way, they must see it lived before their very eyes.

We must also remember that only as Christians are we open to God’s guidance.  There is not a page by page guide to take us through the steps of child rearing.  God has, however, promised His children the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them through life (John 14:26).  As we yield ourselves to Him we can truly be the parents He has called us to be.

Time of Renewal

Infant dedication is significant for the parents of the child, but it should also be significant for the congregation that witnesses this wonderful event.  It should serve as a time of renewal for other parents who have previously dedicated their children.  It is a time of remembering our commitment to God and reaffirming that commitment in our own hearts.  This is important no matter the age of our child.

This can also be a special time for parents who have not publicly dedicated their child to God.  Even if their child is no longer a young child, they may choose to quietly make their own commitment of dedication to God.  In their own hearts they may place their child into God’s hands and pledge to accept His will for their life, and also commit themselves to be the influence on the lives of their child that God would have them to be.

Infant dedication as you can see is a very special and life-changing ritual.  If you would desire to present your child to God in a service of dedication please speak with your pastor, and may God richly bless you as a parent.