Adapted from official MHC position statement written by Pastor Steve Tompkins

On Sunday, November 29th, we are holding our next round of baby dedications. Invariably, there are many questions about what it means to “dedicate” and why we do this. This brief article is meant to answer those questions, allay concerns and prepare for this great day.

As your pastors at Mars Hill West Seattle we strongly encourage parents to actively take up their biblical responsibility to raise their children in the knowledge, love and grace of God in Jesus (Deut. 6:6-7; 11:19; Psalm 34:11; 78:1-8; Prov. 1:1-8ff; 3:1-10; 22:6; 1 Kings 2:1-4). The following are seven points to understand about dedicating children to the Lord:

1. The practice of baby dedication is based on scriptural precedent, rooted in the Old Testament, in which Jesus was presented to the Lord in the temple as an infant (Luke 2:22-35).
2. The practice of baby dedication acknowledges God’s blessing on, concern and care for children (Isaiah 54:13; Matt 18:1-5, 10; 19:13-15; Luke 18:15-17; Acts 2:39; 1 John 2:12-13).
3. It is the parents who are doing the dedicating. It is a commitment parents make in their heart before Jesus and agree together to live out in their home. The dedication we perform during the church service is a public acknowledgement of that commitment.
4. Parents are acknowledging that their children are a gift from God (Gen 33:5; Psalm 127:3-5). As such they are a blessing, a great privilege, and a source of joy (Prov. 23:24-25)—and a lot of work too! Ultimately, we recognize that children are created by our Father in heaven, and as such, belong to him and are entrusted to parents as stewards to raise in Jesus (Exodus 13:2,12).
5. Parents are committing to, by the grace of God, serving as a positive example of what it looks like to follow Jesus, making it easy for their children to follow them as they follow Jesus (1 Cor 11:1), and not be a stumbling block to their children’s saving faith.
6. Additionally, the church leadership and community (elders, deacons, and members) commit to support and equip parents, by the grace of God, to fulfill their responsibility, and likewise be good examples to their children.
7. Lastly, it is important to highlight that baby dedications are not “dry” baptisms nor a replacement for baptism. Mars Hill Church recognizes believer’s baptism as being the only biblical expression of baptism. Baby dedication is not magic, nor a formula that manipulates God, nor does it place any sort of extra-special blessing or protection upon your children, nor does it secure or ensure their immediate or eventual salvation.

We celebrate “new birth” on November 29th. We’ll celebrate “re-birth” on Dec 13th.
More to come.

In Christ,
Pastor Adam