The "Commandment" And The Church
The Lord Jesus was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit unto the apostles whom he had chosen." (Acts 1:2) Bible students readily recognize this "commandment" as being what is commonly referred to as "the great commission." Matthew's account of it is: "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (Matt. 28:19, 20) Mark wrote: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned." (Mark 18:15,16)
The action "preach the gospel" was to be taken with reference to the "whole creation"; the action "baptizing them" was limited to those who believed and the action "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you" was for the benefit of those who were baptized in response to the preaching of the gospel. The fact that the action "preach the gospel" was for the benefit of the whole creation provides no comfort for the practice of infant baptism for the action "baptizing them" was limited to those who believed. Care must be exercised to avoid extending the commission beyond its scriptural limits; it is equally true that care must be exercised to avoid placing limitations upon the commission which are without divine sanction.
The Whole Creation
Francis D'Assisi presumed to go beyond the commandment of the Lord and preach to the brute creation. "Francis had a message for the brute creation and preached to the birds. 'Brother birds' he said on one occasion, 'you ought to love and praise your Creator very much. He has given you feathers for clothing, wings for flying, and all things that can be of use to you...." (History of the Christian Church — Philip Schaff.) What was wrong with such action? Fifteen years ago hardly anyone would have thought that such needed serious attention; it would have been sufficient answer to just read it and prove that it was an historical fact, but perhaps the question needs to be answered today. The possible response of the creatures addressed rules out preaching the gospel to the brute creation. The birds and beasts cannot believe and be baptized. The language of the commission rebukes attempts to extend the preaching to the brute creation.
Human creatures make up the whole creation to whom the gospel is to be preached. The apostles were commanded to "preach the gospel to the whole creation," The point that this includes only human creatures will not be labored further here. That the apostles preached the gospel to the whole creation in obedience to the Lord's command is seen from a study of the book of Acts. There is not a single intimation in all of Luke's latter treatise that the apostles imposed any age level to which every creature must attain before the first action of the commission could be taken with reference to them.
The Church Teaching Children
Lately, some among us have revived an old error which opposes the practice of the elders of the church making arrangements and spending the church's money to "preach the gospel to the whole creation," allowing the church to preach or teach the gospel only to "creatures" above a certain age. They contend that teaching children the fundamentals is exclusively a parental responsibility. There is general agreement that parents have a responsibility toward their children to "nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord." (Eph. 6:4) This is not the issue. The point to be settled is whether or not the church also has a responsibility of teaching the gospel to children.
The Church And The Commandment
The relation of the church to the commandment of Christ determines the responsibility of the church in preaching the gospel. The extent of the responsibility is set by the commandment. When it is shown that the church is charged with the responsibility of the action "preach the gospel to the whole creation," the authority for the church to make provisions for children to have the gospel taught to them will be established.
The relation of the church to the commandment is taught in apostolic approved examples. The church at Philippi had "fellowship in the furtherance of the gospel...." (Phil. 1:5) The church of the Thessalonians was commended by the apostle Paul — "For from you hath sounded forth the word of the Lord." (1 Thess. 1:8) The teaching of these examples establishes the responsibility of the church with reference to the commandment to preach the gospel to the whole creation. The church, by reason of its relation to the commandment of the Lord, also has the responsibility of the action which is for the benefit of those who have been baptized ("teaching them to observe all things" commanded by Christ). The church has the responsibility of addressing the gospel to every creature in order to bring that one to the point where he can believe; after one has obeyed the gospel the church has the obligation to edify that one.
It should be noted that the parent's responsibility, to nurture the child, does not end when that child becomes a Christian. This responsibility with reference to the child continues in force and the church's responsibility of edifying the young saint is also in force at the same time. The fact that parental responsibility doesn't end when a child becomes a Christian has never been taken as evidence that the church did not have a responsibility of "teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."
A Serious Matter
It should be remembered that "he that doubteth is condemned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; and whatsoever is not of faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23) This passage has to do with one's personal conviction as to whether a practice is right or wrong. If the practice is unscriptural, it is sin regardless of what one might think about it. But even if it is right and one does it doubting, his act in doubt is sin. Brethren who express doubt about the practice of the church providing teaching for the children should ponder this soberly. What about the churches where they are located or where they hold meetings? Do those congregations spend the church's funds for equipment to implement the teaching of children? Can the preacher "go along" with the practice "in doubt"? If these preachers entertain real doubt, what should they do in the light of Romans 14:23? If their doubt is not real, they should cease voicing such, lest they create doubt in the minds of brethren. If they bring the brethren to doubting the practice and the brethren continue the practice contrary to their conscience, what is the state of these brethren? These things are worthy of sober thought.
— 417 E. Groesbeck, Lufkin, Texas