Should infants/toddlers receive Communion?

Should infants/toddlers receieve Communion?

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Feb 3, 2011
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So then, let's use the same line of thinking. Now this definitely sounds like a mandate to me. In fact, it is even in the imperative. Repent and be baptized. So then, how is a baby, and infant, able to repent? Turn from their ways? Can you explain to me how a infant, is able to repent? If you cannot, then tell me why you embrace infant baptism, which "apparently" contradicts this biblical "mandate" above?

Good questions. NT baptism is believers baptism. Other verses say the same thing. Circumcision from the OT, for the Israelites to practice, was used as the basis for infant baptism in NT christendom. And though infants are not mentioned in the verses which speak of ones household being baptized, they are also used to defend the practice.

This is one issue that was part of the protestant, reformation movement, though not by all that were involved. One would also condemn the children and infants who were not baptized, or partaking communion. That also raises other issues too. God is just, fair, sovereign, and fully capable of judging these little ones, and also those severely handicapped, or one in a jungle out somewhere and who never heard the Gospel to obey, as mentioned in another thread. ALL of them are in HIS hands, anyhow. Hosanna, and Hallelujah.
 
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Strong in Him

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Then you agree with me.

Sorry I missed this.
I don't think I do, but I'm losing the plot. lol

I'll try and clarify what I believe - for myself as well as anyone else.
Do I believe young children should have the opportunity to receive communion? Yes. As a Methodist I believe that Jesus died for everyone; all are sinners, all need a Saviour, all CAN be saved (but not all will be), so all should have the opportunity to receive his body and blood as a reminder of what he did for them.
I still remember how, as a Brownie, I knelt at the communion rail, held my hands out - copying Brown Owl - and had them pushed down below the rail. I don't remember feeling especially sad about it, but the memory is still there - and I had been going to Sunday school for about 5 years at that point, so I had at least some knowledge and understanding of who Jesus was. A child who is brought up in a Christian family, which may have family prayers, read Bible stories, say grace at meals, talk about the Lord etc and not limit "religion" to one day a week, should certainly be able to share in the service of Holy communion.
The child won't understand, believe or know everything, but then, how many adults do? It's possible that a child who has been going to church for only a few years actually has a deeper relationship with God, and greater ability to trust him that some adults who have occupied the same pew in church for years.

The Last Supper was the last meal that Jesus shared with his friends before he died. Did they know everything that was going on - about salvation, atonement etc? I think not. Did that, and the knowledge of what they would do - i.e fall asleep, deny, betray and desert him - prevent Jesus from celebrating the Jewish Passover with his friends? No.
On a very simple level, can a child understand the concept of having a very good friend and wanting to have a meal with them? Yes. And as I don't believe that we have to have a certain IQ or level of intelligence before we can be blessed by God and receive from him; what's the problem?

Would I give communion (if I were able to) to a baby?
No, actually. Not because of age, or lack of belief, understanding, knowledge or self examination, but for practical reasons; how would you do it? Soak the bread in the wine? Put the wine in a bottle or dip a dummy into it? Could they eat bread? Is it right to give wine to a baby - even if it is non alcoholic? I don't like the taste of the wine when I take it at an Anglican church, how would a baby react? Scream? Cry? Be sick?

So a child of maybe less than 6 months old - as my nephews were - probably not; a toddler, probably. Though it's hard to generalise.
 
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bbbbbbb

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Their capability to examine themselves is commensurate with their ability to be factious and schismatic. Paul's whole point in chapter 11 is unity, which is fulfilled in the Eucharist.

Thus, if I understand you, the less mental ability (i.e. self-examination) by the participant, the better? That assuredly makes Paul's clarion call to self-examination oxymoronic, at best.
 
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Yes.
But does a newborn need to examine its life to see where, and how, it has sinned against God, when it has no concept of either?

The answer to your question is; it can't.
It can't, a) because it doesn't now God and has no concept, or knowledge, of having sinned against him, (because it hasn't); and b) because it lacks the tools to be able to analyse, discern, confess and receive forgiveness.

But like I said; were the disciples any better at the Last Supper? Did Jesus tell them they could only share his last meal if they had done this? And how many of them knew and understood what the crucifxion and atonement were all about? If they had, wouldn't they have been expecting the resurrection?

Does my pet cat, Oscar, need to examine its life to see where, and how, it has sinned against God, when it has no concept of either? It can't. Does that mean, then, the I should feed it bread and wine at church?
 
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Whose doing the thrusting? Sounds ill conceived the way its written.

Here is the picture. Toddley Tinks is happily napping in his carseat in church after having had a nice, filling meal. Suddenly, Tinks is pulled out and carried away, only to have a bit of bread with some wine stuck into his mouth. Tinks has already determined that he is not hungry and has now had his nap disrupted. His kindly parents have determined that he needs the Eucharist and wants it. He did not ask for it nor do anything to indicate the slightest desire for it.
 
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cubinity

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And if the baby decides either that it is not hungry or that it prefers Mommy's milk to this weird stuff being put into its mouth, what shall we conclude?

The question doesn't entirely compute.
What shall we conclude about what?
What weird stuff is anyone trying to put in babies' mouths?
If a baby has a mother's milk to drink, why would you give it food that could feed someone who doesn't have such an awesome resource?
 
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bbbbbbb

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Nope, but they aren't fit for communion because they haven't put on Christ through baptism. We don't believe babies are inherently guilty of sin at birth or guilty of "original sin" as you might call it.

So, babies that have not been baptized cannot take communion why? Why do babies need to "put on Christ" if, in fact, they are all equally alike in the sight of God? What makes a baptized baby superior to an unbaptized baby?
 
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The question doesn't entirely compute.
What shall we conclude about what?
What weird stuff is anyone trying to put in babies' mouths?
If a baby has a mother's milk to drink, why would you give it food that could feed someone who doesn't have such an awesome resource?

I certainly would not. That is but one sensible reason for not giving the Eucharist to well-fed babies.
 
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cubinity

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I certainly would not. That is but one sensible reason for not giving the Eucharist to well-fed babies.

As a reason, it also applies as one sensible reason for not giving the Eucharist to well-fed adults. Which, I think, is the point of 1 Cor. 11.
 
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Fotina

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heb 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

:D

Psalm 22:9-10
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother's breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God. :amen:
 
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Ortho_Cat

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Makes me think of Psalm 51:5
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Not the most accurate translation i've found. Rather:

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. (NASB)
 
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Ortho_Cat

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So, babies that have not been baptized cannot take communion why? Why do babies need to "put on Christ" if, in fact, they are all equally alike in the sight of God? What makes a baptized baby superior to an unbaptized baby?

Unbaptized do not partake of communion. Only those who have been baptized and incorporated into the body of Christ may partake thereof.
 
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Fotina

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If not, let's try this again:


Here's the verse:


"A person must EXAMINE himself and THEN eat the bread and drink from the cup"


Here's the question:


H
ow, exactly, does a baby do that?


If you would, answer it - not with question(s), not with excuses, not with disagreements with Paul, but answer it - if you so choose, if you can.





.



Okay. I think I've got it. I AM disappointed and sad. And I think, unfortunately, the Western church is right on this one as much as I didn't want it to be.






.[/quote]

Here's the answer Paul gives (by divine inspiration):


"Let each person examine himself and then eat of the bread and drink of the cup." "Person" here is antropoi, the most all-inclusive term for homo sapiens.








Then perhaps there are two options:

1. You disregard what God clearly says in Scripture.

2. You conclude a baby can't do as is required - and thus isn't to participate.

It seems the EO has chosen #1.



.

The Church at Corinth still exists to this day. St Paul taught them directly. It is Orthodox and they continue the original, ancient practice of infant communion. Your practice/interpretation began 15 centuries late. Who is disregarding Scripture?


"Interior Orthodox Church Apostle Paul Corinth Greece"

12778335.jpg
 
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Thekla

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And if the baby decides either that it is not hungry or that it prefers Mommy's milk to this weird stuff being put into its mouth, what shall we conclude?
As I stated earlier, my infant son certainly did not.

And when those in Corinth completely miss the ithos of the Christian faith ( Paul's admonishments indicate they did), you just let them go on as they are ?

Or do you, as Paul does, point them back to a better way or to the Way ?
 
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Thekla

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Makes me think of Psalm 51:5
Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Actually, that translation is off (but I've posted that before).

The Psalmist is not talking about the sinfulness of the one born, but that he was born into a sinful world/state - a fallen world.

This is the Greek of the LXX, and per the footnote in the Masoretic Tanach/OT tr. by Rabbis (as Hebrew I know not even a little) also what the Hebrew says. We are prone to sin because of the condition/s we are born into. Not we are sinful at birth.
 
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Fotina

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I certainly would not. That is but one sensible reason for not giving the Eucharist to well-fed babies.

Can't believe this needs to be said, but the Holy Eucharist, the Medicine of Immortality, is spiritual nourishment, not physical.

But, though someone may think they are well-fed and nourished, they may be near starvation and spiritual death, far from Life.
 
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