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    The Lord's Supper and Children

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    Don Bryant
    This document discusses guidelines for children participating in communion. It notes that communion is meant for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. While practices differ, baptism should typically precede communion. The document suggests 12 as an appropriate minimum age for participation, though exceptions can be made if a child demonstrates understanding of the importance. It advises parents to carefully consider their child's spiritual maturity and state before each communion.

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    The Lord's Supper and Children

    Uploaded by

    Don Bryant
    145 views3 pages
    This document discusses guidelines for children participating in communion. It notes that communion is meant for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. While practices differ, baptism should typically precede communion. The document suggests 12 as an appropriate minimum age for participation, though exceptions can be made if a child demonstrates understanding of the importance. It advises parents to carefully consider their child's spiritual maturity and state before each communion.

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    This document discusses guidelines for children participating in communion. It notes that communion is meant for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. While practices differ, baptism should typically precede communion. The document suggests 12 as an appropriate minimum age for participation, though exceptions can be made if a child demonstrates understanding of the importance. It advises parents to carefully consider their child's spiritual maturity and state before each communion.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as doc, pdf, or txt
    145 views3 pages

    The Lord's Supper and Children

    Uploaded by

    Don Bryant
    This document discusses guidelines for children participating in communion. It notes that communion is meant for those who have professed faith in Jesus Christ. While practices differ, baptism should typically precede communion. The document suggests 12 as an appropriate minimum age for participation, though exceptions can be made if a child demonstrates understanding of the importance. It advises parents to carefully consider their child's spiritual maturity and state before each communion.

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    CHILDREN AND THE LORD’S SUPPER

    By
    Don Bryant

    Is it appropriate for a child to participate on Communion? This is a recurring


    question Christian parents ask. Since Spring Green Memorial Church is a “free
    church” that practices open communion (communion not restricted to members
    only) answers to this concern are left to the conscience of those who participate
    and those who are responsible to guide them. The practice of parents in this
    matter has differed widely, often to the confusion of children. As a pastor, I
    would like to respond.

    In order to formulate some guidelines, parents should recall some truths about the
    Lord’s Supper:
    1. The church is to practice two ordinances (ceremonies “ordered” by our
    Lord): baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
    2. Baptism is the ceremony of initiation, following salvation. The Lord’s
    Supper is the ceremony of continuation by which the Christian is
    called continually to a reliance upon Christ alone for salvation.
    3. Consequently, the proper order for participation in these ordinances is
    first, baptism, followed by the Lord’s Supper.
    4. From this it is clear that only those who have professed belief and
    personal trust in Jesus Christ for the gift of eternal life are to observe
    the Lord’s Supper. Children are to be guided away from an external
    form of religion and led to the internal realities which the Holy Spirit
    wants to impart.

    5. As to observance of the Lord’s Supper, the Apostle Paul in I Cor. 11


    gives guidelines for proper participation:

    A. As to its design:
    1. It commemorates the death of Christ “do this in
    remembrance of me.”
    2. It represents and certifies our parti-cipation in the body
    and blood of Christ – “this is my body which is for
    you.”
    3. It represents and certifies the union of believers with
    each other. It is a common meal.
    4. It symbolizes our acceptance of the new covenant, as
    ratified by the blood of Christ, to be God’s people, set
    apart for the doing of His will.

    B. As to the conditions for profitable Communion:


    1. Knowledge to discern in the Lord’s Supper the
    body of the Lord ( I Cor. 11:29). In other words, he/she
    must understand that this is not a common meal which
    is for satisfying the body. It is a remembrance of a body
    broken and blood shed by which the soul is saved. In
    other words, participation requires competent
    knowledge of Christ and His gospel.
    2. Faith to feed upon Christ. If there is no reliance
    upon Christ then what is outwardly confessed is not
    inwardly true. Accordingly to Paul, this makes one
    subject to chastisement from God (I Cor. 11:29)
    3. Personal examination (I Cor. 11:28). The Bible
    teaches that carefulness is important to proper
    observance, lest there is actually no personal response
    being made to Christ in our observance to the Supper.

    As these guidelines are understood, a number of conclusions respecting children


    would suggest themselves:
    1. There must be credible evidence of new birth in Christ, both in verbal
    confession and spiritual fruit.
    2. Baptism should precede Communion as a proper order.
    3. The child should evidence that the importance of the event is
    understood. Many Protestant denominations precede the Lord’s Supper
    by catechism so that the Supper is protected from being trivialized and
    abused, and have chosen age 12 as a minimum for participation.
    SGMC has no requirements in these matters, but I would suggest that
    12 is an appropriate age, as well. This is no set rule. But it would be
    good for the parent to carefully look for commanding evidence in
    order to make an exception for the child.
    4. Previous to each Communion parents ought to inquire as to their
    child’s spiritual state. This would cultivate an approach to this
    ordinance which will hopefully yield a meaningful spiritual
    experience.
    5. These reflections could lead some adults to ask whether or not they
    should participate in the Supper at Coastal if they have not been
    baptized. Let me say that the absence of baptism does not invalidate
    the meaning of the Supper when there is present a lively faith in the
    Lord Jesus. To participate is not to be in disobedience to the Lord.
    But should there not be a desire to honor the Lord’s command to
    publicly confess Him in baptism? Why would we obey the Lord in
    one ordinance and not in the other? It is one and the same Lord. Let
    our response to Him be full.

    These perspectives might raise questions that you wish to share with me. Please
    do so. In all things we want to be profitable to your child’s spiritual life. May
    God grant you His wisdom in instruction and care.

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