The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum "We sometimes allow children to die unbaptized. ."

You would be wrong. Westphal (See Dr. Lee's "Baby Belief Before Baptism) and Lutheran apologists after him have erroneously defended emergency infant baptism based on baptismal regeneration. Such a defence is contrary to scripture and the Book of Concord. All infant baptisms, emergency or otherwise, are done for the sole purpose of obeying God's command to baptize our children.

Luther writes in the Large Catechism, "We bring the child in the conviction and hope that it believes, and we pray that God may grant it faith; but we do not baptize it upon that, but solely upon the command of God." Baptism is grace for the person receiving baptism and law for the person performing the baptism.