One of the contradictory things about the slogan is that it is speaking on behalf of the child. Exactly what the parents are doing in baptism (and in a host of other decisions). Making decisions for our children is one of the responsibilities of parents. Christian parents make the decision for their child to opt in to following Christ. The child will still have to choose: to stay in or opt out.  But it will be a more informed decision than for those who know nothing and want to opt in when they have grown up.

What Christian parents pray and work towards is giving the children an accurate and insider’s view of following Christ so that they will want to follow him themselves. They are not giving their children a label , or a brand, they are helping them grow up knowing Christ and teaching them how to follow him.

It is one of many decisions parents make for their children because it is a decision they have made for themselves.  In its magnitude it is akin to the choice refugees make not to leave their children behind when they flee.

Dale