Evangelizing Youth

“So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.” – Acts 2:41
 
Without question, evangelism is flawed in our day.  The Gospel is often corrupted by adding works or ceremony to the work of Christ.  This includes the message extended to adults and children alike.  Easy-believism has taken root in Sunday School classes, revival meetings and corporate worship services.  The idea that you need only bow your head, repeat a prayer and let Jesus into your heart has, at best, confused the true message of the Gospel.  Such an approach sets aside repentance and faith for a “hocus pocus” attempt to gain access to Heaven.  Such evangelism must be avoided. 
 
As Baptists, we are convinced that church membership is limited to regenerate individuals.  That is, baptism is offered to those who are old enough to understand the Gospel and profess faith in the work of Jesus.  As a result, we do not baptize infants.  We see Israel and the church as distinct institutions.  Therefore, we do not believe baptism replaced circumcision.  The clear examples of baptism in the New Testament were of individuals who heard the Gospel and trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  So, we Baptists reject infant baptism as valid New Testament baptism. 
 
Where does this leave us in relation to the evangelism of our youth?  Do we, in trying to avoid infant baptism, refuse to baptize believing children?  Without question, we say no.  On the day of Pentecost, “those who received [Peter’s] word were baptized”.  This is the New Testament pattern.  Our duty as churches is to evangelize our communities with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Those that believe, we are to instruct to follow the example of Jesus by being immersed in water as a declaration of faith to the world.  Are 10 year olds somehow restricted from doing what Christ commands?  Without hesitation, we answer no.  If, by God’s grace, a 10 year old comes to trust in Christ as Lord and Savior, he is duty-bound to profess it before an assembly of believers.  He is also just as duty-bound to profess it to the world through the ordinance of baptism.  In fact, unless a believer follows the Lord in New Testament baptism and unites with a local church, he is living in rebellion against the clear commands of Scripture.  Are we to actually approve or  even enforce such rebellion?  Are we to be the instrument that would restrict such a one that God has extended grace to from serving God faithfully?  A thousand times no!  If one receives the Word of the Gospel, he should be baptized. 
 
In Colossians 3:18-4:1, Paul addresses various groups that were members of the church – wives, husbands, children, fathers, bondservants (or, slaves) and masters.  All of these groups were part of the assembly in Colossae.  God had clearly been very gracious in saving households of believers.  As Christian parents, our primary hope for our children must be that God would save them.  And even, our hope is that God would do so at an early age to (hopefully) preserve them from the wiles of this world.  For this reason, we “train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6).  We “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).  Paul declared that Timothy had been acquainted with the sacred writings of Scripture since childhood (2 Timothy 3:14-15).  His mother and grandmother had made sure of that (2 Timothy 1:5).  Christian evangelism must begin in our own homes.  And, this includes the command by God to make a public profession of faith through baptism when one (regardless of age) is brought to faith in Christ by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel message. 
 
Are there those coaxing scores of children into false professions today?  Without question.  Are there those that are scaring youths into repeating some magical prayer that seems to give a free pass right by repentance and faith?  Most certainly.  But, again, this is occurring with people at every age.  We cannot discard clear instructions merely because some have perverted the truth. 
 
“But we must know a person is saved before we baptize them!”, one may declare.  First of all, those believing on the day of Pentecost weren’t watched for weeks or months prior to baptism.  They were immediately baptized.  In fact, every profession of faith in the New Testament was soon followed by baptism.  This is the Biblical pattern.  And furthermore, it’s impossible for us to know for certain that a person is saved when they make a profession.  Endurance is the mark of a true conversion (Matthew 10:22, Matthew 13:21, I John 2:19).  God will sovereignly work this out.  A false convert cannot sit under the faithful proclamation of the Gospel year after year…decade after decade.  The church at Corinth appears to have been populated by formerly “sexually immoral… idolaters…adulterers…men who practice homosexuality…thieves…the greedy…drunkards, …revilers…swindlers” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  There is no suggestion that a “wait period” was required for these when they believed the Gospel (Acts 18:8).  If this were the case for such vile sinners, certainly this would be the case for a young child professing faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. 
 
Friends, Biblical evangelism is carried out the same way to every people group of every age.  We preach “Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24).  We do this to young and old, male and female, poor and rich.  Those that respond in faith, we baptize and we teach.  This is the command.  This is our mission.  This is Biblical evangelism.  And, this includes youth. 
 
“Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.’ And he laid his hands on them and went away.” – Matthew 19:13-15