The Roman Catholic Church, Lutherans1 and the Church of England hold that a minister sprinkling babies and using the right formula regenerates those infants. But what about the Reformed who baptise infants? What do they believe? What follows is self-evident. The statements – which are just a sample of what might be gathered – are riddled with Christendom-speak, brought about by the mixing of the two covenants, the old and the new. I refer to such things as talk of Israel and the ekklēsia as two aspects of one church, talk of the visible church, sacraments, with baptism – sprinkling – as a seal. And, it must be borne in mind, the use of 'seal' means guarantee, assurance. What is more, the double-speaking metaphysics of the theologians must not divert attention from reality: it is not what the ivory-towered Reformed theologians and the officiating minister pronounce but what the people standing at the font believe, what they instinctively feel and what they hope for. About that there is no question. Most of them believe, feel, hope that the baby is now safe; something has been done to him or her. Phew, that's a relief! Whatever happens from now on, the child is in the covenant, whatever that may mean. And the growing child is constantly reminded that he or she is in the covenant. That's the stark reality. |