The presentation or dedication of children is a common practice in many Christian churches, and despite this, it is possible that even today some wonder if this is something that parents in the local church should do or not.
But before answering that question, it is necessary that we define what is the presentation or dedication of children. The presentation of children is a public response by parents to the commitment to which God has already called them, where they manifest a clear understanding of their role as disciplers of their child, with the help of the Holy Spirit, praying that he or she will come to know, love, and follow God.
What does the Bible say about the dedication of children?
The presentation of children is not a biblical ordinance. That is, there is no passage that obliges parents to do so. That’s why I defined it above as an answer desired parental.
Two cases have commonly been presented as the biblical foundation for this ceremony: when Ana presents Samuel (1 S. 1:27-28), and when Joseph and Mary present Jesus (Lk 2:22-24). However, neither of them could be considered a solid support for such a practice today.
In the first, Hannah, the mother of Samuel, prays to the Lord in the midst of her barrenness and swears that if she conceives, she would give her son in service to God (1 Sam. 1:11; cf. Ex. 22:29 ). This example cannot be considered as normative because it deals with a special situation that is born from the particular heart of a mother and that is within a very specific historical, religious, and social context.
The second case, the presentation of Jesus in the temple, involves legal aspects of the Old Testament related, first of all, to the ceremonial impurity of the mother who has given birth (Lev. 12:1-4). We also find an allusion to a law concerning the presentation of children, in this case, of Jesus. “Because he was his mother’s firstborn (Lk. 2:7) and because he did not belong to the tribe of Levi but to that of Judah, he had to be exempted from the temple service by paying five shekels of silver (Ex. 13 :1, 2, 11–15; Num. 3:11–13, 41, 44, 45, 47–51; 18:16). Therefore, this particular example does not constitute a Biblical foundation for the presentation of children in our day either.
Although we do not find biblical support of a normative nature for this practice, the Bible does speak about our work as parents in the spiritual formation of our children. The psalmist wrote that children are “like arrows in the hand of a warrior” (Ps. 127:4). What does that phrase mean? That the children of godly believers have the potential to be like arrows that “shoot” into society to represent godly values.
Dependence on and fidelity to the Lord is fundamental in fulfilling our work within the home, for the blessing of the nations (Gen. 12:3). In this sense, the presentation or dedication of children ceases to be seen simply as a beautiful or interesting ceremony in church, to become a public affirmation of the parents’ commitment before God. Thus they show the desire to become disciples of their children and to model a life of fidelity to the Lord (Gen. 6:9; 17:1-7; Josh. 24:15).
How to implement the presentation of children in the church?
If you are a pastor and want to implement the presentation or dedication of children in your local church, I would like to give you some advice that can help you not to fall into the error of celebrating superficial and inconsequential ceremonies that lack spiritual value.
Families wishing to introduce their children must be members of the local church. The commitment to pray, guide, model, and accompany the parents and children that are presented will only be possible if it is a family that has identified with the local church, understanding its biblical role within it. Why is it important that both parents are committed to their Christian faith? Because in the presentation we affirm a two-way commitment: 1) From parents to God. 2) From parents to the church and vice versa, seeing them as an extended family in faith, who have the ministry of helping us and accompanying us in parenthood. None of this will be a reality if the family presenting their child is not an active and committed part of the local church.
Offers a brief preparation study as a prerequisite for submission. Some may see this step as unnecessary or too complex and want to reduce it to a simple meeting where you briefly explain what the presentation is about and what parents need to say when they are on the platform.
However, understanding the dimension and magnitude of the responsibility of parents (Ps 78:1-8), helps us to recognize that a preparation study like this constitutes an indispensable stepping stone for equipping healthy families, even when it comes to experienced parents. Let us not assume that all families in the church, and particularly those who want to introduce their children, have understood the purpose of the family and its place within God’s mission.
It is important that in each act of presentation the church remembers and understands the reason why we celebrate this ceremony. Help your church understand that this ceremony is not an exclusive commitment of the parents and children on the platform, where the church has little or nothing to do with it. Nor is it a ceremony and commitment that expires at the end of the Sunday service. What we celebrate in each of those performances or dedications is a reminder of an eternal commitment to which God has called us as parents and as a church to watch over our children, guiding them with the gospel because we recognize that, finally, they belong to the Lord and we affirm that through this ceremony.
Therefore, parents need to remember this truth of the gospel and of parenting, so that they are encouraged to remember their role and function within the larger family of faith to which they belong.
conclusion
The dedication or presentation of children is not a commitment that parents make on their own initiative, but rather is a response to the obligation that God has already given us to teach the gospel to our children, from generation to generation (Ps. 78).
Through this ceremony we pray and seek that parents understand the importance of the local church as a community of faith, above all other extracurricular activities. They must confirm their understanding of the importance of not neglecting marriage due to the mistake of prioritizing children, since the relationship between spouses constitutes a model of the relationship between Christ and his church and testifies to our children the gospel message.
Ultimately, through this effort we seek to affirm the importance of the home as the full-time ministry of parents. The church meeting only takes two or three hours out of our week and serves as an important reinforcement of our and our children’s instruction, but we must never forget that the greatest impact and influence that children will receive does not come from the world or from the church, but of the parents within the home.
If we recognize them as God’s inheritance and reward, then we will work with effort and dedication to present them before the Lord not only in a ceremony, but also committing ourselves to make them faithful disciples who will know and serve God for the rest of their lives.