Children at Communion
Since Jesus said broke the bread and shared the wine saying ‘Do this in remembrance of me’ a bewildering array of different practices, customs and traditions have developed across the world for services of Holy Communion, Eucharist, Mass or the Lord’s Supper?
Should we use leaven or unleavened bread, a common cup or individual cups, who presides, what clothes should be won, where and how should it be done, who is allowed to receive what… and are children allowed to receive.
We might observe that Jesus could have made his intention much clearer… but in his wisdom chose not to do so.
The present debate began around 1950… when parishes started adopting Holy Communion as the regular pattern for Sunday worship. There have been conferences, reports and trials on welcoming children to Communion and parishes can opt to communicate children.
The question about children receiving isn’t one that some churches ever ask: churches where children have always been admitted to Communion on the same terms as adults.
‘The Last Supper’ was a celebration of the Passover… a celebration in which children would have shared. Exodus 12 says: ‘The whole community of Israel must celebrate it.’ And that those present at the Last Supper would, therefore, have understood the bread and the wine to be for children as well as for adults.
Many churches bless children when they come to the rail… others think it is more inclusive to give children a sweet or a grape… others would ask why? What is it about the bread and wine that makes it suitable for adults but unsuitable for children?
What are the sacraments signs of… belief, belonging or both. Many would say that baptism and Communion go together: baptism is said to be sign of ‘beginning to belong’ and Communion is the sign of ‘being in belonging’.
Whether baptized as an infant or as an adult… there is only one baptism… it isn’t something we do to ourselves… it is a means of grace done for us. If there is no difference… where is the logic in denying family members a share in the family meal? It amounts, some would say, to ex-communication! At the Youth Pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral on Easter Monday children were allowed to receive… what made that day suitable for healing and not others?
Is the desire to include children is merely pandering to social trends… where so many things are now considered family activities? Some would argue that children don’t understand… and there is a caution in 1 Corinthians 11:29 ‘anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.’ Others would ask: who does fully understand.
At infant baptism whose faith is at work: the faith of the infant, parents, god-parents, congregation, priest or Jesus Christ? What is different at Communion?
If children can receive… what is the role of confirmation? It is not a new question! Some would answer that instruction is still required and confirmation can mark the transition from relying on the promises said on your behalf as an infant to affirming the promises for yourself.
Some suggest children should wait until they are able to begin to understand the concept. Others note that conceptual thinking isn’t the same as spiritual development… and that trust develops at a very early age… is any age too early to learn trust at the Lord’s table?
Some would suggest that the ritual is important… that it is like a dinner party with the best china and it’s inappropriate for children to be present. Others would say that attitude is based on the presumption that Communion but it should be more like a Christmas meal… a meal for everyone in the family.
Some say that children joining the service at the Peace haven’t prepared properly for Communion. Others would respond that it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility to think those things could be done in the children’s groups.
It isn’t hard to conceive of complex circumstances: If a Christian family takes their child’s best friend along should the un-baptized best friend be allow to receive?
Who would Jesus welcome to his table? Who will feast at the banquet in heaven?
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