In the Old Testament circumcision and passover were administered to children of the covenant. Baptism replaced circumcision and the Lord's Supper or Communion replaced passover. Since baptism applies to infants and children of believers, then those baptized children should have a right to the Communion table.They should be allowed to partake of the Lord's Supper regardless of their age or understanding because they are part of the covenant community. They are not in limbo or some neutral zone. They belong to the church family because they have been baptized.
The Catholic church believes in Transubstantiation which means that the bread and wine are literally the body and blood of Jesus. They therefore did not want children to partake of it for fear that they would spill it. The Reformers missed this and did not pick up on it. So, today most Reformed churches keep baptized chidren away from the communion table.
In 1 Corinthians 11:29 Paul spoke of people "not discerning the Lord's body." The word body is not referring to the bread at the Communion table but rather to the body of believers. If the word body refers to the bread then why is there no mention of the wine too? Just a few verses later in chapter 12 Paul uses the word body to denote the church. The context in chapter 11 has nothing to do with infants and small children who do not understand the Lord's Supper. It has everything to do with adults who were disorderly and not being considerate of their fellow believers, the body of the church. They were not discerning the body. Paul, therefore, was not saying that kids cannot eat at the Lord's table, he was condemning the sins of their disruptive parents.
1 Corinthians 11:17-34
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord�s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, �Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.� 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, �This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.�
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord�s death till He comes.
Examine Yourself
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord�s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.
33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come.
Paedocommunion
Read Unconditional Surrender pages 217-223 available at Freebooks
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