No baptism, please

When my younger son was eight, he was baptized without my permission and against my wishes into a Baptist church. It was my desire that he wait until he was older to be baptized, until he understood what the ritual meant. When I found out he was to be baptized the next day, I sent this message:

Dear Pastor ****,

I'm am trying to get a message to whomever is in charge of baptisms. My son, T****, will be baptized into your church this Sunday.

I believe that both parents should agree to a child's spiritual upbringing. I do not agree that my son should be baptized in your church--or any other for that matter. I think he should wait to make this decision until he is older. An 8-year-old child cannot rationally decide.

When I asked T****, "Why are you being baptized?" He said, "I don't know. Ask my brother."

I said, "Do you know what it means to be baptized?" He said, "No, I learned one time, but I forgot."

It is unconscionable to manipulate a young mind so that you can increase your numbers or bring in more income. If you baptize my son knowing that he does not understand why he is being baptized, then you are no different than religions--like Catholicism--that baptize their children before they can speak. T**** does not even know why he is being baptized other than it pleases his dad. His dad has already baptized him once in another church when he was a baby. I hope you will refrain until T**** is old enough to understand. His spirit should not be used as a pawn or an accessory.

I will post the pastor's reply next time.