Baby Dedication, Christian Thoughts

A few weeks ago, there was a baby dedication held at Devon Church where Hiroko attends. This is not a baby baptism*. A baby dedication is where the parents offer their baby to God and pledge to raise their baby to be a child of God. The order of a baby dedication performed by the pastor of Devon Church is described in these photos.

The whole family steps up in front of the sanctuary by the pulpit.

The baby's father shared with the church congregation the history of the baby and how the baby gave joy to their family.

The parents gave praise and thanks to their Lord God with their singing.

The pastor asked the baby's family if they will take the responsibility to raise their baby to be a follower of Jesus Christ and they answered "yes." Then, the pastor asked the same question to the congregation. And, of course, the congregation said "yes" with joy.

Then each member of the family, even the 4 and 6 year old children, were anointed by the oil to sanctify them. They are reminded of God's great love and with this love they can raise their baby.

At last the baby was anointed by oil and water. The baby didn't cry at all.

The oil and water used for the anointing.

The baby dedication was finished.

Congratulation!

The family served refreshments to the congregation in the church fellowship room. "Congratulations" was heard throughout the church with joy.

The family extended their happiness to many friends and invited them to their celebration luncheon at a restaurant called "Great Beijing".

This is the food served at the restaurant.

The restaurant menu

The Emily’s Celebration Day’s luncheon menu..
won ton soup
fried pot stickers
sweet sour pork
Mongolian beef
shrimp and lobster sauce
shrimp fried rice
eggplant in garlic sauce
assorted lo mein
lemon chicken
shrimp vegetable supreme

The restaurant's cooking is well suited for the Japanese, so many Japanese use this restaurant to have meetings. However, the taste of the restaurant has changed. Hiroko has to arrange the lunch meeting with our missionary next month at this restaurant. Is it a problem!?!?

The baby and Hiroko.

Part of the baby's family.

It is a big responsibility, but Hiroko will remember this family in her prayer as much as possible.
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*Baby Baptism

Among Christians, there are arguments against infant baptism. The Roman Catholic Church and many others practice infant baptism. On the other hand, the Protestant Churches traditionally reject infant baptism.

According with the Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, it explains, "The Roman Catholic Church considers baptism, even for an infant, so important that ‘parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptized within the first few weeks’ and, ‘if the infant is in danger of death, it is to be baptized without any delay.’ It declares: ‘The practice of infant Baptism is an immemorial tradition of the Church. There is explicit testimony to this practice from the second century on, and it is quite possible that, from the beginning of the apostolic preaching, when whole 'households' received baptism, infants may also have been baptized.’ It notes that, ‘when the first direct evidence of infant Baptism appears in the second century, it is never presented as an innovation.’" It is not only the reason but there are many other reasons to practice infant baptism in the Catholic Church.

In the article by the Wikipedia, there are many reasons listed for Protestant Churches to reject infant baptism. Several reasons among the list are...
-Baptism always has the prerequisite of repentance and faith, which are impossible for an infant
-The Lord's Supper and Baptism are both sacraments and are the same sign and seal, since the Lord's Supper may be given to unbelievers neither should baptism (I Cor. 11:28)
-Baptism is for the remission of sins and infants are not capable of repenting

The Catholic may believe that baptism can save people and secure their eternal life. However Hiroko knows that "baptism cannot save people, only by the grace of God. People are saved by believing that Jesus is Lord.

Well, where do infants and children go when they die?