So, this past Sunday I got to have a very familiar activity.  About 1/3 of the way through the service there was something called a "Child Dedication."  At this dedication a pastor came up as well as 10 infants and their parents.  The pastor then went to each child individually and essentially made a promise to the child to be raised in Christian fellowship and family.  He would then ask the parents questions similar to that of a baptism in our church, and then one question to the congregation.  It all seemed ominously familiar, but under a different name.  The difference here is that the child is merely looked at as a hopeful Christian down the road.  The child can not be a member of the church until that time.  It then confused me how this child can be raised to feel like part of the Christian body if he is seen as a non-member?  Then later in the service John Piper was actually present and gave an excellent sermon on John 1:1-3.  While that part was very exciting and encouraging, I could not get out of my head this idea of a "Child Dedication."