Let the children come!

Scripture reminds us not to hinder anyone—especially children—from coming to Christ. When a young heart seeks Him, we should encourage that faith and walk beside them as they grow.

Christopher Sumrall

3/22/20261 min read

Many churches and parents today hesitate to allow their children to be baptized at a young age. Often the reason given is that children are “too young to understand.” While the concern usually comes from a sincere desire to protect the child from making a decision they may not fully grasp, Scripture gives us an important perspective that we should carefully consider.

In the Gospels, we repeatedly see Jesus welcoming children and encouraging their faith rather than discouraging it. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” We see the same message echoed in Mark 10:13–15 and Luke 18:16. In these passages, people were bringing children to Jesus, and when the disciples tried to turn them away, Jesus corrected them. He made it clear that children were not a distraction from faith—they were an example of it.

Children often have a sincere and trusting faith that many adults struggle to maintain. When a child expresses a desire to follow Christ and to be baptized, it should not immediately be dismissed because of their age. Instead, it should be treated as an opportunity to guide them, teach them, and nurture that faith as it grows.

Baptism is an outward expression of a person’s desire to follow Christ. While children may not understand every theological detail, many adults who are baptized do not either. What matters is a genuine heart that wants to come to Jesus.

As parents, pastors, and church leaders, our role is not to stand in the way of that desire but to help guide it with wisdom and love. We should walk alongside children, teaching them about faith, helping them grow in understanding, and encouraging their relationship with Christ.

The words of Jesus remind us of a simple but powerful truth: we should never hinder someone who desires to come to Him. Whether young or old, every person who seeks Christ deserves to be welcomed, encouraged, and lovingly guided in their faith journey.