Nathan and his friend from infancy, Rachel, were baptized on the same day.
Nathan's first steps after the symbol of his commitment to follow Christ
Nathan was baptized this past Sunday. He prayed to receive Christ on New Year's Eve of 2005, when he was only 5 year old. His salvation was genuine, but we waited these years to be certain he understood the importance of his choice to follow Christ. Even now, he is so young... I think back to my life when I was in the second grade, and I remember very little... only the most important events, really. I remember my mother having a major surgery and being worried she would die. I remember being placed in the "low" reading group, which was embarrassing. Unfortunately, that's about it. A few images of playing with a little girl named Ginger, the Blanchard playground, and a Brownie uniform; but not much else.
So, how did I know Nathan was ready, even in second grade, to take this life-altering step? How could I be sure he would remember it?
To begin with, I have always been absolutely sure about the authenticity of Nathan's salvation experience. I didn't want him to ask Jesus to save him at 5, because I knew his memory would be limited and I was afraid he would be too young to understand what he was doing. However, he was absolutely determined to have Jesus live in his heart, and would have prayed with or without my help. I could not pass up the invitation to be a part of what God had obviously initiated in his heart, so I just did as much as I could to explain salvation on a 5-year-old level. I adapted the "ABC" formula that I'd learned from the Lifeway VBS curriculum to a language Nathan understood:
A: Admit you're a sinner. Understand everyone sins (the preacher, Mommy, Daddy... everyone but Jesus). Romans 3:23
B: Believe that Jesus died for our sins on the cross because he loved us... that he took our punishment for us (a little boy I used to know said it's like Jesus took our spanking for us). Also believe Jesus rose from the dead (came back to life) 3 days later and is alive now in Heaven and in our heart as the Holy Spirit. John 3:16
C. Commit to try your best to follow Jesus and make Him Lord of your life (the boss). Even though you will make mistakes (refer back to A); you're going to try your very best to do what Jesus wants you to do.
"C" is by far the hardest part of salvation; but I believe it is crucial to help children understand this part of our salvation before Baptism; because otherwise, we are cheating them out of something absolutely necessary for living in Christ. I know of what I speak; I didn't realize I had not done "C" until I was 31 years old. By this time, I had already been baptized twice (once at confirmation and again when I joined a Baptist church); but I had missed out on the key to working out my salvation. I didn't want my children to make the same mistake I had made, so I have really stressed making Jesus "the boss" of your life.
The other thing that helped me know for certain Nathan's salvation experience was genuine was the presence of the Holy Spirit in his tiny body... it was unmistakable. Nathan was strong-willed from the very beginning. He knew what he wanted to do and what he didn't want to do... and there was not a spanking, time-out, or lost privilege in existence to change his mind once it was made up before Christ lived in his heart. Nathan's mind was his law... his own word was final for him. I have never seen anything like it. All I could do was pray.
My prayers for Nathan were pretty specific. He was obviously strong-willed; and I prayed God would use Nathan's strong will for His glory. I prayed my Nathan would be like the prophet Nathan who bravely confronted King David about stealing Bathsheba and murdering her husband. Some of the worst trouble Nathan has ever been in has been for vigilante justice (administering playground justice to bullies when the teacher does not punish an offender); so it seemed like God had already made Nathan to stand up for what was right. I just needed God to harness that tendency and use it for His glory instead of Nathan's vigilantism!
After praying to receive Christ, Nathan was suddenly able to be swayed from doing his own will. He was able to see other people's points of view. He began backing bending his own will when it went against God's will. The Holy Spirit in Nathan was obvious because it was such a stark contrast to Nathan prior to salvation. There was no mistaking it!
This is not to say Nathan no longer sins... far from it. A week ago, he acted out badly at children's church, over something he wrongly perceived as an injustice. Before Christ, there was only an unyielding belief that his own will was superior to all others. Now, Nathan is able to admit mistakes in judgement and actions. Through Christ, he is capable of repentance.
