As you raise your children in a congregation that communes baptized children from their early days, you ought to be aware of a few things. Your kids are growing up in a setting where this is normal. This position is, admittedly, a bit in the minority when it comes to broader scope of the Christian landscape.
This being the case, we ought to make sure we understand, from Scripture, why we believe our baptized children should come along to this table. Simultaneously, we ought not give our opponents ammo for discrediting our position by falling into the very pitfalls which they warn us of. It does no good to tout how important it is to view our children as members of the covenant and then have them grow into damnable fools, heretics, and scallawags.
Scripture tells us that Israel’s feasts were familial & didactic. At Passover, a child of the family was tasked with asking the question “What do you mean by this service (Ex. 12:26)?” The early church is described as breaking the bread together in households (Acts 2:46, 20:7). To exclude children would be to break with Scriptural precedent. Scripture doesn’t withhold the Supper from any except for the lazy man who won’t provide for his family or the excommunicated.
The simple theological argument is this. If you place the sign of covenant inclusion upon them, why withhold the sign of covenant partaking from them? All who belong to Christ, should receive Christ.
Now for the warning. This meal is a blessing. But blessings received in unbelief turn into curses. Bread received without evangelical faith becomes stone. Wine received without true trust in God’s promises becomes cyanide. The Almighty Christ offers Himself to you here. So young & old, parents & children, saints one & all: trust that all You need is all that Christ is.
So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…
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