I am a baptist looking (again) into covenant theology. One obstacle is the concept of a covenant child. What exactly is a covenant child?
I agree with the household principle, by the way. All in our household that we bring to church hear the Gospel and so sit under the covenant blessings. But Presbyterians say they are "in" the covenant instead of just under the covenant blessings.
So who qualifies as a covenant child?
If I have a biological child but my wife and I die at their birth and that child is raised as a pagan....is he a covenant child?
If I adopt a child, is he a covenant child?
If the Muslims capture Balkan Christian kids and use them as Janissaries and indoctrinate them in the muslim fate during the middle ages, were those covenant children?
If I own slaves, do those slaves become part of my household such that they are now covenant children?
If I run an orphanage, are those kids covenant children if under my care?
If a child is raised in the church by parents who claim to be Christian but are actually hidden apostates, is that child a covenant child?
I agree with the household principle, by the way. All in our household that we bring to church hear the Gospel and so sit under the covenant blessings. But Presbyterians say they are "in" the covenant instead of just under the covenant blessings.
So who qualifies as a covenant child?
If I have a biological child but my wife and I die at their birth and that child is raised as a pagan....is he a covenant child?
If I adopt a child, is he a covenant child?
If the Muslims capture Balkan Christian kids and use them as Janissaries and indoctrinate them in the muslim fate during the middle ages, were those covenant children?
If I own slaves, do those slaves become part of my household such that they are now covenant children?
If I run an orphanage, are those kids covenant children if under my care?
If a child is raised in the church by parents who claim to be Christian but are actually hidden apostates, is that child a covenant child?