It might be helpful to address what the dedication of a child is not before we address what a child dedication is. The dedication of a child is not an ordinance of the Church. It is important that you understand this. We live in a period of time in Church history where there is great confusion about, and harmful liberties taken, on what the marks of a true Church are. A dedication is not an infant baptism service; no water will be used in any way. When your child is dedicated, they do not become Christians. That is something that God Himself does. John’s Gospel helps us here:

Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, Children born not of natural descent nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.  John 1:12-13

This makes it clear that there are no magical rights in the dedication of a child. The happy work of caring for your children, cleaning your children, spending large amounts of time with your children, as well as large amounts of cash on your children will continue on. And most assuredly, the Biblical mandate for the parents, at the father’s lead, is to wisely, regularly teach and model the Scriptures (and so Christ). The dedication is in no way a “dry baptism.” This is what a dedication is not, and now to what the dedication of a child is.

The dedication of a child is a wise and significant event for parents to consider. The dedication is an opportunity, asked for, to acknowledge God’s sovereignty over the father, mother and child’s life. The child is nothing less than a precious gift from our Creator and Sustainer God. The parents are making a public declaration that they are humbled by such grace and in constant need of such grace. In the dedication, the parents acknowledge the child came from God and belongs to Him first.

The dedication is an opportunity to publicly declare your intentions to raise your child in a Christian home. You are saying to the family of God that you pledge, with God’s help, your home will be a home where the Bible is taught, Christ is adored and His Church is prized in the family. The dedication is a benchmark you can return to, time and time again, in order to call on God.

Subsequently, if things do not go the way that we had hoped, we can remind ourselves that the child was dedicated, that they were set aside for a purpose, the purposes of God. Therefore He, and no one else, will have the final word. But if things do go the way we had hoped, we will avoid the temptation to be proud or puffed up to think that our parental techniques, and not God’s mercy, was the key to everything.

Finally, a child dedication is a reminder to the Church, that they too have a responsibility before God to the child. As a matter of practical Christian living, the watching congregation will understand before God that their life, and example and prayers will have some bearing on the child. A mutual commitment before God that though the child does not belong to us in the earthly sense, because of Christ, we are family in the spiritual and so eternal reality. So that we would live to the end that says we are not to exclusively seek the good of our own, but rather because of Christ, we will not look after only our own interest, but also to the interest of others. (Philippians 2:4)

If you have an interest in the dedication of your child(ren), please fill out the form below.

With any questions, please call the church office at 218-999-9030 or email secretary@westcohassetchapel.com.