Infant Baptism, Objections Answered, 4

4. The next objection is yet another variation on the first: Christ himself wasn't baptized until He was 30 years old.

I don't need to tell you how unimpressive this objection is. It falls short on two counts. 

First, Jesus was baptized by John. John's baptism was not Christian baptism. Acts 19 clearly proves this point. Moreover, considering all the thousands of Jews John must have baptized, if his baptism were identical to Christian baptism, we would be forced to believe that Christ-rejecting Judea was filled with Christians. 

Further, under the Old Testament arrangement, when the High Priest began his work, he was solemnly washed with water and anointed with oil (a symbol of the Holy Spirit). The High Priests then began their ministry only when they were about the age of 30. When Christ began His high priestly work, He inaugurated it with the same ceremonial washing at the age of 30. Besides, the baptism of Christ has no reference to this controversy; hence, it cannot be made to speak for or against our practice in regard to this sacrament. 

Secondly, if Baptists wish to remain true to their principles, they should prohibit anyone being baptized until they are 30 years old. I have personally witnessed Baptist baptisms of children as young as 10 or 12 who have made a “profession of faith.” I was baptized myself at the age of 10 by a church who was baptistic in their doctrine of the sacraments. I don't remember a single objection to the fact that I and several other children were being baptized before the age of 30. But this begs the question. If Christ's baptism at the age of 30 is to be an example to us, what right has anyone to tamper with the formula and baptize anyone before their 30th birthday? To make the assertion is to refute it.