If it's wrong to baptize newborns, why is it okay to baptize eight-year-olds?

Jesus did not teach that infants should be baptized. Why is that fact significant?

Consider: Jesus earnestly taught his disciples about God’s requirements.

At times, he repeated key teachings. Why? To ensure that his disciples grasped the point.

Yet, not even once did he teach that infants should be baptized.

Did Jesus somehow forget to mention the requirement? Impossible! Surely, if infants must be baptized, Jesus would have said so.

baptism is a serious step. Baptizing an infant is wrong because a baby cannot understand, make a decision, and become a disciple. Matthew 28:19, 20

Those baptized during Philip’s ministry in Samaria were “men and women,” not mere infants. Acts 8:4-8, 12

Baptism is for those old enough to learn, believe, and exercise faith.

Jesus’ words at Matthew 28:19, 20 show that it is those who have been made his disciples that should be baptized.

Hence, it follows that no infant or small child could meet the Scriptural requirements for baptism.

An infant could not exercise faith in God’s Word, in God the Creator, and in his Son Jesus Christ.

An infant could not understand that the holy spirit is God’s active force; nor could it repent of past sins and make a solemn vow to do God’s will.

SOME eight year olds are mature enough to know they love God and want to serve him. I admit it's rare but one cannot rule this out. A newborn has zero capacity for making such an informed choice - it's a physical impossibility, you cannot say that of an eight year old.

Jesus (admittedly a perfect child but nonetheless a child) clearly knew his calling at 12 and there have been other children that have proved very faithful in the bible (young Samuel, Josiah, Joseph...)

In my religion JEHEOVAH'S WITNESS early teens is much more usual but I think it's wrong to say an 8 year old child is incapable of wanting to serve God.

I myself was baptised at 13.

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An argument can be made for both sides: should it be the parents' right, or the children's right? My parents had both my brother and I baptized as infants. I decided to wait until my daughter was old enough to make her own decision.

an 8 year old can conceptualize what is taught to him/her as right or wrong in the basic of things. Not to lie, steal, etc,. A newborn infant has no idea of such things. A child 8 years and older has the capacity to understand basic wrong and right ways, if taught by the parents.

Just ignorance. I was once told by my ex pastor how children are in hell and need to be baptized when they know right from wrong. I immediately disowned Christianity and learned for my self the way of the world and discovered that Religion is complete and utter bulllshit

It's just water... dunking is harmless and means nothing. Parents should be allowed to mumble some words and dunk their babies if they want to, c'mon.

Why not concentrate on more serious issues, like the custom of cutting bits of baby off?

Why misrepresent the Protestant to bring him down? If an eight-year-old wants to follow Christ, there is nothing stopping him from getting baptized.

I think eight-year-old child can understand most of our words.

Well that's your problem them isn't it? Don't others have their own choices too?

It ain't your kid so wtf do you care? Just make sure they can be aborted and your job is done.