Commenting on The Watchtower May 15, 2008 pages 17‐21 Study article “While You are Young, Choose to Serve Jehovah”
Child Baptism
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In context: 2) You young ones in the Christian congregation, have you made a dedication to Jehovah? Many may find the choice to serve the true God difficult to make. Business leaders, educators, and sometimes family members and friends point youths toward materialistic goals. When young people pursue spiritual goals, the world often scorns them. But the fact is that serving God is the best way of life you can pursue. (Ps. 27:4) In this regard, consider three questions: Why should you serve God? How can you succeed in leading a life of dedication to God despite what others may say or do? What wonderful opportunities of sacred service can open up for you?
This Watchtower study is a call to the children of Jehovah’s Witnesses. What we discover here is the darker side of child‐baptism and its effects on the people of this religion. You young ones in the Christian congregation, have you made a dedication to Jehovah? Many may find the choice to serve the true God difficult to make. –Study, paragraph 2 The Watchtower does condemn infant baptism, such as practiced by the Catholic Church. Notice the reasons why: Clearly, baptism is a serious step. Baptizing an infant is wrong because a baby cannot understand, make a decision, and become a disciple. Those baptized during Philip’s ministry in Samaria were “men and women,” not mere infants. Baptism is for those old enough to learn, believe, and exercise faith. –The Watchtower January 15, 1989 page 13 Since baptism is such a vital step, would baptism of young children be much different than infant baptism? Look how the Watchtower features very young children as examples: The preteen son of an elder sincerely wanted to get baptized. So his father had three other elders discuss with the youngster the questions designed for those contemplating baptism. Their conclusion was that, though quite young, he qualified to be baptized as an ordained minister of Jehovah God. Why, attending the Pioneer Service School in the Bahamas recently was a ten‐year‐old baptized girl. –The Watchtower March 15, 1988 page 14
(Note: The reference to a ten‐year‐old “attending Pioneer Service School” infers the girl was baptized at the age of 9 or younger. A Witness must be a Pioneer (full‐time minister) for a year before qualifying for Pioneer Service School.)
... since her baptism at age 11. –The Watchtower June 15, 1985 page 23 … one young man from El Salvador who, at the age of ten, submitted to baptism … –The Watchtower November 1, 1967 page 644 At age 11, he symbolized his dedication to Jehovah by water baptism. –The Watchtower August 1, 1995 page 21 There is no Biblical example of any youth baptism. Even Jesus was 30 years old when he was baptized. So why hurry children into baptism? Why not wait until they are adults? The question becomes even more puzzling when you compare the Watchtower’s advice on marriage. The advice is to wait. The Bible sets no minimum age for marriage. But it does recommend that before marrying, one should be “past the bloom of youth. … Why? Because such young people are just in the early stages of developing the emotional maturity, self‐control, and spiritual qualities necessary to handle married life. –Awake! January 22, 1998 page 19 Here the Watchtower makes a specific example of immature ages for marriage, the same ages that they recommend for baptism. Did you have the same values at 13 that you had at 5, or the same values at 20 that you had at 13? Has your understanding and appreciation for life grown or lessened as you have gained greater experience over the years? … Is it not often true that the “only” boy in a girl’s life when she is 16 or 17 years old is long forgotten as she grows to womanhood and attaches greater importance to a man’s godly traits and personality? –The Watchtower November 1, 1985 page 18 So why does the Watchtower ignore the Bible and it’s own advice on maturity when baptizing teenagers and pre‐ teens, some as young as 9 and 10 years? Because after baptism, in which the person pledges “association with God’s spirit‐directed organization“ that child can no longer choose to leave the religion without severe consequences, namely disfellowshipping. The Awake! admits:
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in association with God’s spirit‐directed organization? Affirmative answers to these questions constitute a “public declaration” of the baptism candidates’ faith –Organized to Do Jehovah’s Will (2005) page 215
A lot of young people hesitate to get baptized because they fear it’s a final step that they can’t back out of. They feel that if they do something wrong, they’ll be put out of the congregation. –Awake! March 22, 1990 page 27 Imagine shunning a child. God’s Word commands Christians not to keep company or fellowship with a person who has been expelled from the congregation ... “A simple ‘Hello’ to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowshiped person?” –Our Kingdom Ministry August 2002 page 3
Witness children are raised in a closed environment and only allowed to develop relationships with other Jehovah’s Witnesses. They are programmed to become productive members. In the early years, put before your children theocratic goals—regular pioneering, Bethel service or missionary work. Encourage your children to auxiliary pioneer during school vacations. –Our Kingdom Ministry October 1983 page 2 Critical thought is repressed, leaving only information favorable to Jehovah’s Witnesses. Each day, parents are confronted with the task of finding out what has been planted in their children’s minds, uprooting what is wrong and replacing it with the wholesome truths found in God’s Word. –Our Kingdom Ministry October 1983 page 1 Jehovah’s Witnesses put on a different face when confronted about their child‐rearing policies. The guide, Preparing for Child Custody Cases, printed by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, coaches Witness children what to say: Be careful that they don't get the impression that they are in a demonstration at the circuit assembly, when they would show that the first things in life are service and going to the Kingdom Hall. Show hobbies, crafts, social activity, sports, and especially plans for the future. Be careful they don't all say that they are going to be pioneers. Plans can be trade, getting married and having children, journalism, and all kinds of other things. Maybe you can show an interest in art and the theatre. They must be clean, moral, honest, but with the interests that you would expect from other young people. –Page 43 Many Witness youth resist the pressure to get baptized. The longer they wait, the more the pressure builds. It is not enough simply to believe the Bible truths you have been taught, nor is it enough simply to tag along with your parents to Christian meetings. Those desiring salvation must dedicate themselves to God and do his will. –Awake! March 22, 1990 page 26 If you are a child of Jehovah’s Witnesses, be very careful about committing to baptism. Educate yourself about the history and truth about Jehovah’s Witnesses. Look outside the organization for information, because the Watchtower is not telling you everything. Even if you choose not to become a Witness, you will still have your family. Probably your religion was decided for you by your place of birth, over which you had no control. Surely, nothing is lost by examining what the Bible says about God. –Mankind's Search for God (1990) page 378