By Jim on
Fundamentalism & Evangelicalism
Childhood Conversion

Peters opens his book by laying out that all too common situation in the average church. Parents and pastors leading a young child in a prayer of salvation, and then swiftly moving him through the waters of baptism. A child in the majority of those situations rarely understands the Gospel message, let alone the decision he is making. As Peters explains, his decision regrettably leads him into a lifetime of affirming a false conversion. His departure from the faith is really a result of a general ignorance of the Gospel message, and his parents prompting him in a quickly rehearsed prayer.

Discussion

Tue, 05/16/17

It looks really interesting, and an endorsement by John MacArthur suggests it could be worthwhile.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

Tue, 05/16/17

I already know it’s a problem. I’ve seen it. Glad somebody wrote a book about it, but I don’t need to be convinced I should worry about it. I already do.

Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.

Tue, 05/16/17

Maybe I’ll report back on whether it’s deeper than “high pressure tactics yield false conversions.” Feel free to nag me if you don’t hear back.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.

Sat, 05/20/17

Here. More or less, Peters makes a great case against revivalism and easy-believism with no need for discipleship, suffering, and the like. However, I think he falls short in attributing this to being willing to baptize children.

Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.