Bavinck vs Kuyper: A Neo-Calvinist Duel
In the history of Reformed churches one discovers a curious insistence on baptizing an infant "as soon as feasible." Early in Reformation history fathers would present their infant children for baptism only days after their birth. This wasn't because of the persistence of a Roman Catholic theology of ex opere operato whereby baptism had some kind of power to forgive original sin. It was largely a protest against the Anabaptists for whom the baptism of infant children was delayed until they were "of age" and could profess faith on their own. Over time, other reasons arose for delaying baptism, some familial (e.g., so the mother could be present) and others financial (e.g., celebrating multiple baptisms at once was cheaper). The Synod of Dort (1574) was the first assembly formally to make the judgment that baptism should be administered promptly after birth, and this was reaffirmed by the Synod of Dort (1618-1619). Abraham Kuyper (1837-1920) was not initially c...
