Just as there are differences of opinion regarding eschatology, there are differences of opinion, particularly among Reformed churches, regarding baptism. The two views are held by those who baptize infants (paedo-baptism) and those who baptize only believers (credo-baptism).(1)

Before the Reformation, converts were baptized as believers, but Christians baptized their babies. The general idea was that the baby would be saved by baptism (wrong!).

When the Reformation happened (1500s), the Reformers rediscovered the gospel and Protestants started their own churches. For most of the Reformers, infant baptism continued. Some still mistakenly equated baptism with salvation. Most knew better and baptized their babies into the church family, trusting that they would be saved later when they understood and believed the gospel. Most Reformed churches today still baptize their babies.

There were some Reformed folks who were convinced by Scripture that only believers should be baptized. These did not baptize their babies, waiting for them to make a profession of faith. These “Reformed Baptists” also preferred baptizing believers by immersion, since the word baptize means dip or immerse.

To this day there are theologically Reformed believers who are paedo-baptist and those who are credo-baptist. There are more paedo-baptists than credo-baptists. Our church and the association of churches to which we belong are credo-baptist.(2)

Why Credo and not Paedo?

The word baptize means to dip or immerse.
Because baptism is an outward physical sign of an inward spiritual reality (salvation), the sign lacks validity unless the reality is true because one is saved before one is baptized.
While the New Testament does not explicitly teach either way, Baptists only see believers being baptized in the book of Acts.
Too many people who were baptized as infants (or as young children) have a false sense of security regarding salvation because they were baptized.

As we mentioned about differing views regarding eschatology, I would espouse the same loving toleration regarding the mode of baptism. While baptism is clearly commanded, the mode is not. One of my Baptist heroes, John Bunyan, wrote: “While I own believers’ baptism by immersion as the biblical way, I will not divide the body of Christ over it.” (3)

Notes:
(1) Paedo = infant, or child (baptism). Credo = belief, meaning a person must be old enough to have a credible profession of faith to be baptized.
(2) We are members of the Fellowship of Independent Reformed Evangelicals (F.I.R.E.)
(3) John Bunyan was a 17th Century Baptist preacher who wrote the famous, The Pilgrim’s Progress.