One of Meck's favorite events is our Baby Dedication! This is a time for family, friends and the church community to rally around the parents as they publicly decide to raise their child in a Christian home. It takes a village and Meck has an awesome village!
A Baby Dedication is a ceremony for babies younger than 2 years of age, in which a Christian parent(s) make a commitment before the Lord to raise their child according to God's Word and God's ways. A more accurate name might be a “Parent Dedication” because the parent is the one who is dedicating themselves before God, friends, family and the church to be committed to raising their child according to God’s plan.
Specifically parents affirm these four commitments:
1. Parents commit to see their children as a gift from God and to be thankful for this wonderful gift.
The Bible says, “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him.” (Psalm 127:3) Our children belong to God and He gives them to us as a gift. A gift that will – through joys and sometimes hardships – draw you closer to God and help you to become more like Christ. Circumstances might get difficult, but a baby is always a gift, intended for the good of your family. And parents need to receive this gift with thanksgiving.
2. Parents commit to owning their personal faith in God.
The greatest and most important responsibility that parents have is to introduce their children to their Heavenly Father. Parents who are dedicating their babies to God will recognize that their children are more likely to follow after God’s heart if they do, more likely to love and respect people, if they do, read the bible, pray and attend church by what is modeled at home. They understand that their children need to see an authentic – not perfect, but authentic – relationship with God modeled by them.
3. Parents commit to each other in marriage.
It is important that parents put their marriage first before their kids. The family began with them. Let’s recall what God said in the first book of the Bible – “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.” (Genesis 2:24, NIV). A husband and wife are ONE flesh. One team. Parents need to guard this oneness as best as they can. Parents who are dedicating their babies commit to investing in their marriage. Marriage takes work and they take this work seriously. What about the single parent? The Bible tell us that God is a father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5), which means that He is with them always – as a parent to them and their child – providing strength and companionship to them. This is also when the Church can step in to give support to the single parent family. A single parent can raise a godly child and God will equip them every step of the way.
4. Parents commit to teach their child the gifts and claims of the Christian faith and by prayer, word and example to bring their child up in the nurture, discipline and instruction of the Lord.
The second commitment addressed their personal relationship with God, but now we turn to how they will parent out of that relationship. Parents are asked to teach their children about God and to pray for their children. This command is beautifully expressed in the Bible:
“So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-21, NLT)
Baby Dedication Includes God
Baby Dedication is a deep commitment between parents and God. It doesn’t mean parents will be perfect. None of us will ever be perfect! But it does mean parents will be committed to walking with Christ in an authentic way, partnering with their church and be intentional about bringing Christ into their homes.
What about you?
As you read these commitments, do you need to “re-commit” to any of them? Take time to reflect on your role as a parent and know that we are praying for you every day.
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MecKidz