The word “christening” is not found in the Bible. However, the ritual of christening does have its roots in several biblical principles and practices. At its core, a christening ceremony is about dedicating a child to God and welcoming them into the Christian church. Let’s explore what the Bible does say about these related topics.
Dedication of Children
There are several examples in the Bible of parents and families dedicating their children to the Lord. In 1 Samuel 1, Hannah dedicates her son Samuel to the service of God by bringing him to the temple as a young boy to live and minister there. In Luke 2, Joseph and Mary bring the infant Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate him to the Lord and offer a sacrifice according to the Law of Moses.
These acts of dedication were a way for Hebrew parents to formally recognize God’s sovereignty over their children. They were committing to raise their children according to God’s ways and for God’s purposes. The dedication was also an act of thanksgiving to God for the gift of a child.
Some key verses on child dedication include:
- 1 Samuel 1:11,27-28 – Hannah dedicates Samuel to the Lord
- Luke 2:22-24 – Joseph and Mary dedicate Jesus at the temple
- Deuteronomy 6:4-7 – God commands parents to diligently teach their children His ways
- Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go
While the modern christening ceremony is not a direct parallel to these examples, it does mirror the spirit of thankfully dedicating a child to be raised as a follower of God. Parents who bring a baby for christening are making a public commitment to teach and model the Christian faith for their child.
Circumcision and Baptism
In the Old Testament, the sign of God’s covenant with His people was circumcision. Boys would be circumcised on the 8th day after birth as a symbol of being set apart as one of God’s chosen people (Genesis 17:9-14). However, in the New Testament, water baptism becomes the identifying mark of God’s people – for both male and female, child and adult.
Jesus Himself was baptized, setting an example for all believers. And in the Great Commission, He commands the apostles to “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).
Several key passages connect Old Testament circumcision with New Testament baptism (Colossians 2:11-12, Acts 2:39, Acts 16:14-15). Based on these, most Christian churches practice some form of infant baptism or christening. Just as circumcision was a physical sign that Jewish boys belonged to God’s people, baptism marks Christians as belonging to God’s family.
Household Baptisms and Dedications
There are several examples in Acts of entire households being baptized together. In the baptisms of Cornelius (Acts 10), Lydia (Acts 16), the Philippian jailer (Acts 16), Crispus (Acts 18) and Stephanus (1 Corinthians 1), all their household family members were baptized alongside them. This implies that children and infants were likely included.
Whole household dedications and baptisms reflect the biblical principle that faith is a family affair. Children are included in the covenant promises of God. The sign of baptism, like circumcision, signals their belonging to God’s people. The commitment to raise children in the faith is made on their behalf by the parents and the church community.
Jesus Welcomes Little Children
Jesus clearly valued and welcomed little children throughout His ministry. He rebuked the disciples for trying to prevent children from coming to Him, saying “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:14). And He held them up as examples of humility and faith for grown-ups to emulate (Luke 18:15-17).
Dedicating a child through christening echoes Jesus’ warm invitation to children. Parents are presenting their infant before God and the church, just as parents brought their kids to see Jesus. And they are committing to nurture a faith in their child that emulates the innocent trust Jesus praised in little ones.
Inclusion in the New Covenant
One significant theme of the New Testament is that God’s covenant promises are opened up to all peoples, not just the Jews. In Christ, Gentiles are now included in God’s family. This message comes through strongly in verses like:
- John 3:16 – Whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life
- Galatians 3:28 – In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek
- Ephesians 2:19 – Fellow citizens with the saints
- Titus 2:11 – The grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all
Infant christening highlights that God’s household is open to children as well as adults. From the very start of life, the blessings of belonging to Christ through faith are freely offered. There is no barrier excluding even the youngest member of the human family.
Christening Ceremony Traditions
While the Bible does not prescribe a specific ceremony for dedicating or baptizing a child, it does give us principles to guide how we welcome little ones into God’s family. Some common christening traditions and their biblical roots include:
- Naming the child – As in the story of Zechariah naming his son John (Luke 1:59-63), the public announcement of a child’s name has long been part of dedication rituals. The name often honors ancestors and expresses the parents’ hopes for their baby’s life.
- Anointing with oil – Oil was a symbol of the Holy Spirit and His blessing/empowerment. People and things dedicated to God were anointed with oil (Exodus 30:26-29). The practice symbolizes setting apart for God’s service.
- Water baptism – As discussed above, water baptism is the identifying sign of God’s New Covenant people, just as circumcision was for the Jews.
- Godparents – These sponsors pledge to help parents raise the child in the Christian faith. Their role mirrors the concept of spiritual mentors like Barnabas guiding new believers.
- A white christening gown – This echoes clothing baptism candidates in white robes. White symbolizes purity/cleansing from sin and new life in Christ (Revelation 7:13-14).
- Candles – Candles represent Jesus as the Light of the World (John 8:12). Parents and godparents lighting candles express their commitment to share the light and truth of Christ with the next generation.
While not required by Scripture, these traditions help visibly convey important biblical truths about our identity in Christ and the community’s role in discipleship. The ceremony allows parents to publicly commit to raising their child as a follower of Jesus from day one.
Responsibilities for Christian Parents
Whatever form a child dedication service takes, the real substance is in how parents follow through after the ceremony. The Bible gives clear guidance on responsibilities of Christian parents:
- Proverbs 22:6 – Train up a child in the way he should go.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – Impress God’s commandments on your children, talk about them continually.
- Ephesians 6:4 – Bring children up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
- Proverbs 22:15 – Discipline drives folly from a child’s heart.
- 2 Timothy 3:14-15 – Continue in the faith you were taught from childhood.
- Proverbs 29:17 – Discipline your children and give them rest.
In their seminal book Shepherding a Child’s Heart, authors Tedd and Margy Tripp explain, “More than a specific ceremony, dedication is a way of life. It’s an ongoing spiritual orientation of the heart.”[1] The ceremony is just the starting point of a lifelong commitment to nurture each child’s faith.
Church Family Responsibilities
At a christening, parents are not just dedicating their child to God. They are also committing to raise him or her in the context of a specific church community. In turn, that congregation makes promises to assist the parents in their task. Key principles for the church include:
- Acts 2:42-47 – Be devoted to fellowship, breaking bread, prayer, sacrificial generosity
- Hebrews 10:24-25 – Meet together, encourage each other
- Ephesians 4:15-16 – Speak the truth in love, grow into Christ together
- 1 Corinthians 12:25-26 – Members should have equal concern for each other
- Galatians 6:2 – Carry each other’s burdens
In addition to weekly worship and Bible teaching, churches can provide specific support such as parenting classes, mothers’ groups, youth mentoring and intergenerational relationship building. All of this nurtures a child’s growth in the faith long after their christening day.
Conclusion
While the word “christening” is not in the Bible, it aligns with the biblical principles of publicly dedicating a child to God, welcoming them into the family of faith and committing to raise them in a Christ-centered way. Key elements include thanking God, declaring belief in Christ’s redemption, committing to instruction in the faith and identifying as part of God’s covenant people through baptism.
Most of all, both parents and church community take responsibility for modelling and teaching vital truths about God and His Word to raise up the next generation of Jesus’ followers. Through the lifelong journey of discipleship that begins at their christening, children can embrace God’s love and grace for themselves.