Baptism what age?

what would you say to a child of seven or eight being baptised?

Seeems a bit young to me.

Anne wrote:

what would you say to a child of seven or eight being baptised?

Hi Anne. Personally, I believe that if someone is young enough to make the decision to become a Christian, they are able to be baptised.

I've never been able to understand why a gap between becoming a Christian and being baptised seem to be encouraged? I get the impression from the New Testament that when people were saved, they were baptised almost immediately, e.g. Acts 2:41, 16:31-33.

I definitely believe that something happens after baptism. I became a Christian when I was 9 but didn't get baptised until I was 18. It seemed that almost as soon as I got baptised, the spiritual understanding started to come.

Paul writes that whole families were baptised, so I see no reason for age limits.
Jesus said that man needs to be born again, once of water (physical birth) and once of the Spirit.
Baptism is an outward sign of being a Christian.
I know people of all ages who have been baptised.
Some are BA, some are not. I think a gap is encouraged nowadays to discourage false baptism, though I wonder if sometimes it's the gap that encourages the falling away.

Elaine I think the points you made are spot on !! Like you say , Paul said whole households were baptised, and we must assume that would have included babies too.
I personally don't believe there should be any upper or lower age limits, if someone is concerned that a baby isn't really of an age to decide for themselves then that child can always reiterate there faith later in the form of a *confirmation* ?

That is what all 3 of us did Janie.
Claudia was quite young when she became BA, and 12 when she was confirmed, or rather when she confirmed her faith.
Both Tim and myself were in our 30s, mostly because of falling away.
Sometimes I wonder "what if", but then I wouldn't be me, here & now, so maybe God had His purpose for things turning out the way they did.

My daughter Paula-Jayne is getting baptised in November (we only do it twice a year) she will be 14. I was 33, Paul was 35, James 14 and Naomi 13. I believe if they know in there hearts they are ready it is fine, now in saying that my other daughter Jennifer is 9 and would love to be baptised, though I feel she is still a bit young in her faith and not sure if she is doing this because she sees other people doing it. She is doing a discipleship course in church for her age group, so I will see how she gets on with this then, we can talk about being baptised.