Paedofaith Quotes

“It simply will not do to say that infants here symbolize weak adult human beings, as though the babes and infants in Psalm 8:2 only served as metaphors. Such a reading robs the psalm of its force. Besides, it crashes into the New Testament usage of this passage. Matthew 21:12–17 records Jesus’ temple cleansing, amidst the cheers of children, portraying the event as a prophetic fulfillment of Psalm 8:2 (among other Old Testament prophesies). In this recasting of Psalm 8:2 the chief priests and scribes are the “enemy and the avenger,” whose objections to Jesus are silenced by the praising chorus of children (Mt. 21:15–16). Jesus stops up the mouths of His accusers by pointing to the children who have been crying out, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” These children have identified Jesus as Messiah, the One who brings the Lord’s salvation. The Jewish religious leaders are offended by the cry of the children, but Jesus accepts their praise. The arrogant become indignant over the cries of the children, but Jesus is delighted by them. The children manifest a greater degree of Spiritual perception than the priests and scribes, a typical example of a gospel reversal. We are forced to ask: Is our attitude toward children more like Jesus or His enemies? Do we treat their claims to love God as mere lip service or as the fruit of the Spirit’s work in them? Are we skeptical of the praises, professions, and experiences of small covenant children? Or do we believe that through such humble means, God has “perfected praise” (Mt. 21:16)?”
― Rich Lusk, Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents

“Their inarticulate babblings are accepted by God as beautiful worship and powerful praise.”
― Rich Lusk, Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents

“Ultimately, the question here is simple: what has God promised to our children? The biblical answer is clear: He has promised them Himself. He has promised to give Himself to them in the covenant to be their God (Gen. 17:7). He has promised them His righteousness (Ps. 103:17). He has promised them His Spirit (Isa. 59:21). He has promised them holiness (1 Cor. 7:14). He promised to make them Christ’s disciples (Mt. 28:18–20). He has promised them forgiveness (Acts 2:38–39). All taken together, it adds up to a promise of salvation (Acts 16:31). Thus,”
― Rich Lusk, Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents

“Covenant children are like olive plants gathered around the table. This makes parents gardeners. Parents are not given weeds for children who must then be converted into wholesome plants. Rather, they are given the best possible plants to work with. They are to care for and nurture these plants in the greenhouses of home and church until the children are mature, fruit-bearing trees. The”
― Rich Lusk, Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents

“The godly man does not have children in order to fill Satan’s forces or populate hell, but in order to reclaim the earth for the kingdom of God as warriors in the great cosmic battle of history.”
― Rich Lusk, Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents

“The enemy and the avenger may appear strong, but the Lord uses the verbal, babbling praise of these young covenant children to silence their accusations. God works through the lowliest of the low to bring in His victorious kingdom. By setting covenant infants in the context of holy war, this psalm also helps us understand the task of Christian parenting. As parents, we must (by faith) view our children as warriors in the Lord’s army. They are on active duty even in their infancy, but we must continue to train them to obey their Commander-in-Chief more fully as they mature. They will learn more and more how to wield their weapons, use their defensive armor, and follow out the Captain’s battle strategy. But this passage indicates they are conscripted by the Lord from their earliest days; the Lord does not need to wait for them to develop intellectually and physically because He is the one who fights through them. Indeed, young children are some of the best soldiers in the Lord’s army precisely because His strength is manifested in their weakness (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9). This does not mean their immaturity remains ideal; they must grow up over time, attaining to maturity in Christ. However, it does mean that even before they grow they are able to fight. God has already stationed them on the battlefield.”
― Rich Lusk, Paedofaith: A Primer on the Mystery of Infant Salvation and a Handbook for Covenant Parents