Jesus Loves the Little Children: Why We Baptize Children [Paperback]

Daniel R. Hyde (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2006

A practical and accessible explanation of the covenantal understanding of baptism. This book is especially helpful to those who are new to the Reformed faith and the concept of infant baptism.

Product Details

• Paperback: 104 pages
• Publisher: Reformed Fellowship, Inc. (2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965398196
• ISBN-13: 978-0965398190
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #580,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rev. Daniel R. Hyde is the pastor of the Oceanside United Reformed Church (United Reformed Churches in North America) in Carlsbad/Oceanside, California. He has a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) from Vanguard University, Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from Westminster Seminary California, and a Master of Theology (Th.M.) from Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. His Th.M. thesis was entitled, "Of Great Importance and of High Concernment: The Liturgical Theology of John Owen (1616-1683)," and was read by Drs. Joel Beeke, Derek W. H. Thomas, and Mark Jones.

Some of Danny's favorite authors and books are John Calvin (Institutes of the Christian Religion), J.R.R. Tolkien (The Hobbit), the poetry of John Donne, the writings of John Steinbeck, the writings of Hughes Oliphant Old on worship (e.g., The Patristic Roots of Reformed Worship), Michael Horton (e.g., In the Face of God), and John Williamson Nevin (e.g., The Anxious Bench).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Covenant Symphany on Infant Baptism, October 25, 2006

By 

Shane (Washington State) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Jesus Loves the Little Children: Why We Baptize Children (Paperback)

In this book, Pastor D. Hyde has nicely and succinctly explained the biblical, covenantal, confessional, and historical doctrine of infant baptism. Without attacking those who reject infant baptism, Hyde shows how circumcision and baptism point to the same reality--gospel promises. He also sets forth the historical and confessional Reformed doctrine of the covenant of grace and what it has to do with baptizing infants of believing parents.

Hyde's booklet is a useful tool for Reformed Christians to strengthen their understanding of infant baptism; it is also an excellent book to give to those outside the Reformed faith who reject infant baptism. It will not add fuel to the sometimes fiery debates; rather, it will be a catalyst for patient and charitable conversations on this debate that dates back to the Reformation.

Short, sweet, biblical, confessional, historical, and practical, this book should be on your shelf if you've ever thought "Why do we baptize babies?" or "Why do Reformed churches baptize babies?"

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Different Book on Infant Baptism, November 20, 2006

By 

Wes L. Bredenhof (Surrey, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus Loves the Little Children: Why We Baptize Children (Paperback)

Books defending infant baptism are plentiful. Over the years, many authors have tackled this subject and offered many solid defenses. But this book by United Reformed pastor (in Oceanside, CA) Daniel Hyde is different and the differences make this book worth recommending.

First of all, Pastor Hyde has offered a compilation of the best Biblical arguments for the baptism of the infant children of believers. The arguments are offered concisely but with footnotes and references for those who wish to dig deeper. The skeleton is here, so to speak, but those who wish to see more meat on the bones will not have far to look.

Second, the book presents the Biblical arguments with a sense of church-historical consciousness. Hyde is especially sensitive to the practices and beliefs of the first sixteen centuries of the Christian church. With his references to Reformed liturgies and creeds, he clearly shows that infant baptism has nothing to do with "popery" and everything to do with the apostolic church.

Finally, so far as I know, this is the only book on the subject that deals with the practice of dedication found in some evangelical circles. Pastor Hyde points out that many of the proof-texts used to support dedication are the same texts used to argue for infant baptism. He calls for consistency, but also points out the far greater richness of baptism - a sacrament that speaks of the sovereign grace of a covenant-making God.

This book could profitably be used in situations (i.e. church planting) where God is bringing in people not (yet) convinced of the infant baptism position. It could also be used for those who, having grown up Reformed, have had doubts planted in their minds. If I would make one small suggestion for an improvement it would be the inclusion of the Bible texts with the "Reformed Confessions on Baptism" in Appendix 1. Aside from that small matter, this is an excellent explanation of "why we baptize children."

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book on a Misunderstood Subject, November 14, 2006

By 

Kevin W. Efflandt - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus Loves the Little Children: Why We Baptize Children (Paperback)

I just received my copy of "Jesus Loves the Little Children" and want to give it my highest recommendation. As a pastor, I have long been looking for something that presents the subject of infant baptism in such a way that walks people through the entire reason of why we do what we do. I have often found that books on infant baptism assume too much. They assume that the reader understands "covenant theology," when this is often far from the truth. As a church planter of a rather young church (4 years old) this will be a wonderful tool for me to place in the hands of those who think the Reformed doctrine of infant baptism is nothing more than a holdover from the Roman Catholic Church. To date, this is the best book I have seen that presents our understanding of baptism from a biblical, covenantal, and confessional perspective and also one that is very conversational and easy-to-read. HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!