Should infants/toddlers receive Communion?

[Strong in Him]

You missed the point of the question. An infant's brain is still developing and the infant lacks many cognitive abilities.

So? Scientists have discovered a number of things that babies can recognise/understand, they just don't have the ability to communicate it to us.

To say that God gifts infants with the ability to believe and have faith in Jesus implies that God must also miraculously transform these infants brains to have the cognitive faculty to do it - basically eliminating any natural development of such faculties.

To say that babies can't be saved because they can't understand implies that God's salvation is restricted to those who are able - clever enough - to know what is going on, and would seem to restrict the activity of the Spirit. How do you know he can't minister to babies? I've read about people who became Christians when they were children, and children who were healed through prayer; shouldn't they have been?

 

[Ortho_Cat]

Let's not debate the doctrine of the eucharist and the "real presence" in this thread, there are plenty of other threads for that.

 

[cubinity]

Let's not debate the doctrine of the eucharist and the "real presence" in this thread, there are plenty of other threads for that.

Amen!

 

[Jig]

To say that babies can't be saved because they can't understand implies that God's salvation is restricted to those who are able - clever enough - to know what is going on, and would seem to restrict the activity of the Spirit. How do you know he can't minister to babies? I've read about people who became Christians when they were children, and children who were healed through prayer; shouldn't they have been?

Stop putting words in my mouth! I have never said that just because a baby is unable to believe that they will not be saved. I said that they should not take communion since this meal is for those who can reflect on what Jesus did.

 

[cubinity]

Stop putting words in my mouth! I have never said that just because a baby is unable to believe that they will not be saved. I said that they should not take communion since this meal is for those who can reflect on what Jesus did.

But that's just it (I'm with you, btw), for a person that believes it is the ritual that saves them, and not the GOd who loves them, saying that an infant can't fully participate in the ritual is the same as saying they can't be saved. That's the real problem with poor theology, in my opinion.

 

[Thekla]

But that's just it (I'm with you, btw), for a person that believes it is the ritual that saves them, and not the GOd who loves them, saying that an infant can't fully participate in the ritual is the same as saying they can't be saved. That's the real problem with poor theology, in my opinion.

I don't know of any Christian that believes that "ritual saves" !

But the view against infants communing here is tacitly suggesting that faith is associated with intellect - a biological function.

Faith is not dependent on the ephemeral.

 

[Jig]

But that's just it (I'm with you, btw), for a person that believes it is the ritual that saves them, and not the GOd who loves them, saying that an infant can't fully participate in the ritual is the same as saying they can't be saved. That's the real problem with poor theology, in my opinion.

This is true. Their theological position REQUIRES them to FORCE baptism and communion on infants and the mentally challenged.

 

[cubinity]

I don't know of any Christian that believes that "ritual saves" !

Then read post #60. That is what we are dealing with, here.

 

[cubinity]

But the view against infants communing here is tacitly suggesting that faith is associated with intellect - a biological function.

Faith is not dependent on the ephemeral.

I believe I choose to believe what I believe, otherwise, I would just as soon believe something else.

 

[Catherineanne]

In the Anglican Church, the wee little ones who have received Holy Baptism receive a drop of the wine. Since the drop has some of the Host in it (because the Fraction is done above the chalice, allowing such to happen), they receive both Elements.

Although Anglican churches in England may now adopt this practice, it is up to the church itself, through a decision of the Priest and PCC.

Mine has not chosen to do so, as yet.

 

[Catherineanne]

Confirmation - or chrismation, as we call it, from the Greek word for "gift" - is the act of being sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. In the Western churches it has almost taken on a connotation of recognition and coming-of-age, but that's not at all what it's supposed to be (Catholics/Lutherans/Anglicans, feel free to correct me on this). Being united to Christ and being sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit are both quite biblical.

There was a confirmation recently at my church, and it was definitely described as the laying on of hands by the Bishop for the bestowal of the gift of the Holy Spirit. I may have got the words wrong, but basically as you described it.

Most Anglicans now are not confirmed by rote at 11 or 12 years old, but wait until it means something to them, and this is definitely the teaching. Whether we all understand it fully is another matter.

 

[Thekla]

I believe I choose to believe what I believe, otherwise, I would just as soon believe something else.

To purely follow this standard, it seems one should not raise their children "as Christians", but hold their children instead to some neutral secular standard.

 

[cubinity]

To purely follow this standard, it seems one should not raise their children "as Christians", but hold their children instead to some neutral secular standard.

What people should or shouldn't do, I suppose, is entirely up to them. I don't feel comfortable telling others how they should raise their kids, within reason.

 

[Thekla]

Then read post #60. That is what we are dealing with, here.

As something commanded yes, and in this sense: "Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you".

But that is not ritual - which seems in the modern era to have the connotation "ritualistic" (and is thus incorrect).

But again, the supposition here seems to be that the biological function known as intellect is necessary for faith.

Is it ?

 

[Catherineanne]

I don't see why someone would want to put off union with the Holy Spirit. Both Christ and the Holy Spirit draw us up into the life of the Father. Why not have both at the same time?

I believe it is traditional in the Royal Family for babies to be baptised and confirmed at the same time. I don't really know why they get treated differently from the rest of us.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

To purely follow this standard, it seems one should not raise their children "as Christians", but hold their children instead to some neutral secular standard.

What people should or shouldn't do, I suppose, is entirely up to them. I don't feel comfortable telling others how they should raise their kids, within reason.

That would have been a great option for the poll and one reason I didn't vote

Young) Hebrews 6:2 of the teaching of baptisms/baptismwn <909>, of laying on also of hands, of rising again also of the dead, and of judgment age-during,

Blue Letter Bible - Search Results for KJV
"baptisms"
occurs 1 time in 1 verse in the KJV

 

[Strong in Him]

Stop putting words in my mouth! I have never said that just because a baby is unable to believe that they will not be saved.

I didn't say that you did.
I never said that God gives infants the ability to have faith in Jesus.

 

[Jig]

I didn't say that you did.
I never said that God gives infants the ability to have faith in Jesus.

Then you agree with me.

 

[Thekla]

What people should or shouldn't do, I suppose, is entirely up to them. I don't feel comfortable telling others how they should raise their kids, within reason.

Do you comply with your own stated belief and deliberately not expose your children to Christianity, and deliberately not raise them with Christian values ?

 

[cubinity]

Do you comply with your own stated belief and deliberately not expose your children to Christianity, and deliberately not raise them with Christian values ?

What? I never stated that my own belief was to deliberately not expose my children to Christianity nor "Christian values" (whatever those are remains uncertain to me). So, what are you really asking? I honestly can't tell.