Child's Baptism invite rejected by Family
Q: My children responded to the Gospel of Jesus, and they are being obedient to God to get baptized at our church. I believe they really got saved. They are excited about the baptism this Sunday. It is interesting and great they're all doing it the same day.
They told family & invited their grandfather (my dad) to come and see them get baptized. He very rudely and bluntly told them no and that he didn't go to church. My kids started begging and asking him to please come "just this once", and he still said no. He got slightly angry with them for continuing to ask.
This rejection hurt my kids - they don't grasp why he doesn't want to be there. They are having a hard time understanding that the reason he doesn't want to be & there has nothing to do with them. I've told them that not everyone understands their relationship with Jesus, but we can pray for non Christians.
My dad was never a believer. Growing up a lot of the time I was not allowed to go to church. And I didn't start going to church until my son was born. My dad didn't come to my baptism, as a matter of fact no one did. But I'm an adult I can handle that and understand that it doesn't matter as long as I have a relationship with Jesus.
But my children are having a tough time with this and I don't want them heartbroken this Sunday when he doesn't show up. I don't want them this day to be sad. I want them to be celebrate their new life in Christ and love God! Any ideas on how to help my children?
A: There are things you will need to discuss with them, bringing them aside at home. It wouldve been better if you had this conversation in advance so they knew that if he says no, we cant force him. Also it may have been better to mail formal invites (for a celebration & a potluck style reception for your children afterwards). Hindsight is 20/20.
Let them know there are other ways you can share your love of Jesus with people, but we cant force them to come. For now, Have the celebration video recorded. Tell them He will regret not attending if he later gets saved, but that they have a video they can later share with him, if thats the case.
On their born again birthday next year, and share the video clip on fb with tag to grandfather and family as a "memory" and note the childs thankfulness to God for salvation. And a note (from mom) about how they have each grown spiritually since then.
In tje mean time...Let them know they need to grow in righteousness and live out the Christian life as best they can so it can help draw their grandpa to Christ vs push him from Jesus. That a believer is to live differently from all the other people in the world, and that our example is witness that can keep people from becoming Christian, so we need to live rightly now and because we love God.
After the baptism make sure they go through age appropriate New Believers class / Discipleship course. If the church doesnt teach the essentials every believer should know then at home you should be doing this. If your husband is a Christian he should as the spiritual leader be doing family worship hour which teaches these essentials from the Bible to the kids. You can also sing a Scripture verse song to memorize a verse every week.
Basic Essentials to teach
More ways you can teach the essentials
Memory verse songs
Help them learn how to kindly explain the gospel to anyone. This video helps.
Ensure they understand what baptism is. It is a testimony showing what already happened when they got saved; died to sin and raised to new life in Christ. The benefit of the resurrection provides our justification. See link @37:37+ it will help them understand this.
Bonus: Raising Kids in Christ
Related - If you are not OP and are reading this cuz of discussing children's or teens baptisms, these resources can help you:
1. Ensure they understand the Gospel, & that they are giving up their way of living & thinking and are now following God's way.
2. Testimony and Baptism celebration ideas
