Paedofaith [Paperback]

Rich Lusk (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 16, 2005

At what point is it reasonable to suggest that a child has faith? The Scriptures indicate that we can be confident that our children have faith from the womb and that we can expect that faith to flower and bloom throughout their lives by God's grace. What is the nature of such faith? From where does it come and what do the Scriptures have to say about it? How can anyone say that an infant has the capacity for faith? In this book, Rich Lusk answers these questions and more, giving hope to Christian parents that their little ones do indeed belong to Christ and have the capacity to trust him.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rich Lusk is the pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama, is the husband of Jenny and the father of four paedobelievers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 171 pages
• Publisher: Athanasius Press (November 16, 2005)
• ISBN-10: 0975391429
• ISBN-13: 978-0975391426
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #442,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars paedofaith as credible faith, December 1, 2005

By 

Daniel J. Dillard (Bend, Oregon) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paedofaith (Paperback)

Paedofaith is a very readable and challenging study of the Scriptural teaching on infant and child faith. I urge everyone who has always "taken it for granted" that small children and even infants cannot have faith to read pastor Lusk's book with a mind open to the Scriptures. Lusk writes in a clear and Scripturally-probing style. No sentimentalist, as critics of paedofaith might wrongly presume, pastor Lusk tackles the hard questions. This book should be a great encouragment to parents and church pastors in the blessing and duty of nurturing Christ's little ones. Get it, read it, and read it again!

18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What is Biblical Faith?, November 29, 2005

By 

Keith R. Ghormley "the presbyteer" (Lincoln, NE USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Paedofaith (Paperback)

The modern enlightened man characteristically scoffs at the idea of infant faith. Even in churches that teach and practice infant baptism, you rarely find anyone teaching that infants are capable of anything we could ever properly call "faith."

Thank God for Rich Lusk, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Birmingham Alabama. His recent book Paedofaith sits all alone on the shelf reserved for books written to address this topic Biblically. He asks us to consider the Biblical evidence, starting with Psalm 22, the nature of God's covenant promises, and along the way he gently rubs our reluctant noses in the implications of the incarnation itself for infant faith.

Of course the whole question of infant "faith" depends on how you define "faith." If you have your mind made up that faith can only be something that requires an intellectual assent to nice theological propositions, then, fine, you've just defined infants out. But Lusk is asking us to define faith in a way that is more in line with what the Bible actually says.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Creative exegesis results in intriguing topic, July 27, 2006

By 

Ken Johnson (Fresno, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Paedofaith (Paperback)

Rich Lusk presents an intriguing book about the possibility of "paedo" faith. Although he bounces back and forth between infant faith (even fetal faith) and child faith, he does present an interesting text that creates much conversation without too much controversy.

Lusk attacks revivalist's theology's emphasis on conversion by embracing Reformed theology's stance on the people of God being in the covenant. Needless this to say this has created many great discussions in my church and staff.

I do believe that his exegetical work is creative at best, sketchy at worst. He makes some very large theological stretches in his exegetical arguements that need to be re-evaluated. I am glad I read the text as it has broaden my understanding of child faith and helped me to see areas I had ignored previously.

I would recommend this text to anyone working in children's ministry, particularly in Reformed churches. Churches outside of the Reformed tradition will have a harder time understanding the theological jumps he makes; however, that shouldn't discourage someone from reading it.