Children and Communion

I was recently asked to present a discussion paper to our Church Council on this subject.  Here’s what I came up with:-

Children and Communion

Some time ago, I participated in a debate on this subject, and was asked to argue in favour of the following motion:-

“We believe that it is right and proper for children who are baptised members of the church to be admitted to Holy Communion prior to their confirmation but following suitable preparation and instruction.”

Here’s my argument.  (Please bear in mind that the debate took place within an Anglican context).

Age of Admission to the Lord’s Supper

This is a summary of an article by Roger T. Beckwith in Westminster Theological Journal.

This is an issue which has been widely discussed in recent years.  The WCC Faith & Order Commission of 1971 supported the admission of baptised infants or children to the Lord’s Supper.

Baptism

Baptism is one of those areas of Christian doctrine and practice where sincere believers can differ.  Baptists will not agree with everything that follows, but I hope we won’t fall out about it.

The Lord’s Supper

1 Cor 11:23-26 – ‘For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,  and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.’

We have here one of the most provocative, puzzling, and powerful passages in the whole of Scripture.  Provocative: Christian men and women have been imprisoned, whipped, pilloried, tortured, and burned alive because of their opinions about what some of this teaching actually means, especially the words, ‘This is my body’.  Puzzling: the apostle tells his readers in Corinth that their own unworthy attitude towards the Lord’s Supper is actually causing illness and even death among some of their number.  Powerful: this teaching about the Lord’s Supper takes us to the very heart of Christian faith, experience, and worship.  It makes us look back, and remember what Jesus has achieved for us on the cross.  It makes us look up, and contemplate our blessed Saviour and to deepen our relationship with him.  It makes us look around, and strengthen our ties of fellowship with our fellow Christians.  It makes us look inwards, and purify our hearts before God.  It makes us look ahead, and anticipate the future glory which is promised to all who are God’s children through faith in his Son.