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Jesus Loves the Little Children: Why We Baptize Children

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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?"

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."

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!!

As someone new to the Reformed faith, infant baptism was a difficult concept for me to grasp, and even more difficult to explain to my non-Reformed friends and family. Rev. Hyde illustrates the correlation between circumcision and baptism in the context of God's covenantal relationship with His people. This book has been pivotal in my understanding of this important concept, and I recommend it highly.

Although I certainly can't claim to have read every book on the subject, I am nevertheless confident that Daniel Hyde's little book "Jesus Loves the Little Children" is the ideal text for introducing the reader to the Reformed doctrine of Infant Baptism. He opens the work with a discussion of the presuppositions we bring to the issue, the commitment to scripture and desire to be faithful that can be found on both sides of the debate, and the need for Christian charity when examining the subject. The author then goes on to lay out a well structured case for the Reformed view of baptism, maintaining this same irenic spirit throughout. The reader will not find any innovative or unique ideas propagated here, but merely a faithful passing on of the historical, confessional teachings of the Reformed churches.

Author and Pastor Danny Hyde concisely and in a clear manner guides the reader in why we Baptize children.

I've learned a great deal from this book. This important teaching on Infant Baptism and of covenant family and community are fairly new to me and this book not only introduced, but explained Biblically--not by giving just proof texts and stopping there--but carefully putting together, and showing the reader the bigger picture of the whole jigsaw puzzle.

Also, the book gives you the whole enchilada--the important history of infant Baptism, a word to parents, an appendix on the Reformed Confessions and Baptism, and more.

Highly recommended!