Should Young Children Who Profess Christ be Baptized?

Baptism is to be one of the first acts of obedience for a believer when they repent and come to Christ in faith (Acts 2:38; 8:35-38). But how should parents and elders respond to the testimony of young children who profess Christ? Is there a certain “age of maturity” kids should reach before being baptized?  

In this podcast Scott Brown and Jason Dohm, joined by special guest Jeffrey Johnson, tackle this thorny topic. Arguing against a minimum age, they emphasize that, prior to baptism, children should demonstrate a cognitive maturity and clear articulation of the gospel they profess, accompanied by tangible fruit of a real heart change. Acknowledging that children are impressionable, they counsel for careful evaluation of each child’s profession, while also encouraging baptism when the signs of conversion are clear. This is somewhat of a counterpoint of the podcast with Sam Waldron on the same subject.