Baptism of friend’s baby
My wife (a WELS member) and myself have been attending her WELS church since we were married 5 years ago. I have enjoyed the messages put forth during the services and have begun the process of joining the church. One particular message that resonates with me is the importance of infant baptism. I have a Christian friend who is in a same-sex marriage who has just adopted a baby from Africa. They also see the importance of infant baptism and are currently looking for a church in our neighborhood that will meet this need. I told them about how much I enjoy going to my wife's church and that they should consider having their baby baptized there. My wife says that a WELS church would never baptize a baby from a same-sex couple. If this is true, why would a church refuse the opportunity to put a baby on the path to God's kingdom? I pose this question on this forum to avoid any embarrassment I meant cause my wife by asking one of our church pastors directly. Thank you very much for your response.
You would not be causing any embarrassment if you were to ask the pastors of your wife’s congregation this question. I encourage you to do that.
Bringing a child to be baptized requires little effort on the part of parents. What requires much more time and energy and zeal is bringing up that child “in the training and instruction of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Parents in a same-sex marriage, living contrary to God’s will (Genesis 2:24; Matthew 19:4-6; Romans 1:26-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10), would not be bringing up a child “in the training and instruction of the Lord.” While Baptism can plant the seed of faith in a child’s heart, that seed needs to be nurtured through faithful use of God’s word. Faith that was once planted in a heart through Baptism can weaken and die.