Infant baptism is not “heaven insurance”. God loves your child — whether they are baptized or not. Baptism does not save them. They have to decide about Jesus — whether to reject Him or love and follow Him — for themself.

Baptism is actually about the parent(s), godparents (if any) and family saying they will follow Jesus so that, when their child is old enough to make their own decision, he or she will want to affirm their baptism.

If you are a Bears fan and you watch every game, sometimes going to Soldier Field, talking about it during the week, making it a focal point of your weekend — your child is very likely going to grow up loving the Bears. It’s important to your family so it becomes important to them.

Just so with Jesus. If He is important to you — if you read the Bible regularly, if you enthusiastically attend church, if you pray for and with your child, if you talk about God during the week — your child will grow up wanting to love and follow Jesus for himself or herself.

Ideally, baptism ought to happen in a church. For the church pledges their support to you — the parent(s) and family — as you pledge to raise your child to know and love Jesus. But Rev. Phil is willing to do a baptism in a home, restaurant, hotel, etc.

Unlike weddings, baptisms are explicitly Christian. Rev. Phil will ask the parent(s), godparents (if any) and the family three questions (taken from the oldest confession of the faith, the Apostle’s Creed):

1. Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth? If so, please answer “I do.”
2. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died, and was buried, rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? If so, please answer “I do.”
3. Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy world-wide Church, the communion of believers, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting? If so, please answer “I do.”

The cost for a personalized baptism by Rev. Phil at a Chicagoland location of your choosing is $400.