(Editor's note: Orchard Church holds semi-annual child dedication events for parents who wish to participate.)
When talking to parents who are interested in dedicating their child to God, we get a number of questions. Questions like:
There are differing church traditions surrounding child dedication, so it’s easy to see why some parents have questions. Here at Orchard, one of our values is “We always ask, ‘What does the Bible say?’”.
So, let’s see what the Bible says about child dedication. :-)
The idea of dedicating your child to God is first seen in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. Here, a woman named Hannah, who was unable to have children, pleaded with God for a son.
“And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life...” - 1 Samuel 1:11
God answered Hannah’s prayer! Later in the chapter, Hannah did as she vowed and dedicated her son to the Lord.
“For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him. So I have also dedicated him to the Lord; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the Lord.” - 1 Samuel 1:27-28
In the New Testament book of Luke, chapter 2 records Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the temple as a baby to dedicate him to God.
Here are some important things to know:
So, a parent dedicating a child to God does not ensure that child’s salvation. Instead, it's the parent who is declaring their trust in God for the child's future.
I know, it’s a bummer that there is no ceremony that parents can choose to ensure our kiddos never see the gates of hell. However, I do have some hope for you, because God loves your kids even more than you do.
Deuteronomy 6:5-9 tells us God’s plan for our kids, and our role as parents in that plan.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” - Deuteronomy 6:5-9
I know writing them on the doorframes and gates seems a bit overkill but you get the point.
TALK TO YOUR KIDS ABOUT GOD.
The only way to ensure salvation is for your child to put their faith in Jesus as their personal Lord & Savior.
Romans 10: 9-10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
As parents, we can’t make that decision for our children or save them ourselves, but we can pray and show them how to have a relationship with Jesus.
Q: So if child dedications don’t save our children then why do we have them?
Here is what it really comes down to:
Parents, you are the primary spiritual influence in your children’s lives. The church is secondary. The church’s role is to come alongside you, the parent, to equip you to raise your child to know that God made them and loves them.
Please note, this doesn’t just apply to parents either, it applies to whoever is responsible for the well being of the child. It could be a grandparent or aunt or uncle or even a foster parent who has taken the child in and are raising them as their own.
It is ultimately up to your child to make that decision to believe in Jesus. As a church, we want to help you guide them in the right direction.
Child dedications don’t save your kids, but they do mean you don’t have to raise them alone!