Children and Communion, Part II
This is a continuation of the reflections that were shared last month on sharing the sacrament of Holy Communion with our children. As Lutherans, we not only have the Scriptures as part of our heritage, but also the Lutheran Confessions. However, even before the time of Martin Luther (16th century), there is some history of which to be aware.

The first recorded restrictions on who can participate in Holy Communion are found in the Didache (2nd century), which is one of the earliest records of the practice of the church. Here, it is only said that one must be baptized in order to participate. Although the New Testament says nothing about the age of participants, we do know that entire households were baptized (Acts 16:15, 33; 18:8). As far as we can tell, it is probable that all who were baptized also participated in Communion.

By the third century, writings indicate that the practice of infant Communion (let alone young children!) was firmly established in the church. St. Augustine (4th & 5th centuries) argues for the necessity of infant Communion. By the time Martin Luther comes along, he readily accepts infant Communion, but acknowledges that the practice has fallen into disuse in many places. Although no explanation is given, it is possible that the practice stopped when the wine was withheld from the laity, since infants would only receive a touch of wine on their lips, and not the bread.

Here is part of what Martin Luther writes in the Large Catechism about the participation of young children: "Since they are baptized and received into the Christian Church, they should also enjoy this fellowship of the Sacrament so that they may serve and be useful. For they must all help us to believe, to love, to pray, and to fight the devil." In Luther's Table Talk, there is also a passage where somebody asks him if Communion should be given to children. Luther responds as follows: "When in 1 Corinthians (11:28) Paul said that a man should examine himself, he spoke only of adults because he was speaking about those who were quarreling among themselves. However, he doesn't here forbid that the Sacrament of the altar be given even to children."

"The concern that young children are not able to understand what is happening is not prohibitive. No one understands how the mystery of Christ's presence in the Eucharist takes place. Christ acts. The bread and wine are the means of his presence. Faith, a gift given to the baptized, grasps this." (ELCIC Sacramental Practices Study Guide, 1988, p. 14) As far-fetched as "infant faith" might sound to some of us, Luther found support for this idea in the Scriptures (Luke 1:39-45). Ultimately, the Sacrament is a gift of grace which none of us deserves to receive. Are there really any good reasons for denying this gift to our children? I invite your dialogue on this.

"Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs." (Mark 10:14)

In Christ,
Pastor Lynne Hutchison Moore