Bill+
My first, light-hearted response was unworthy of your question. So I answer
again.
Having had the privilege of worshipping and communing at Peter Manto+'s
church, where paedocommunion was practiced. I can say with conviction that I
believe the children who communed there did so with more understanding and
reverence than would be likely in our congregation--had we any children.
I say this because of the deep understanding of Peter's congregation. We,
on the other hand, still have too much of the old Episcopalian thinking:
About junior-high age children are confirmed, then they begin to take
communion--that is how it works--period. Put even more irreverently: Here I
come, ready or not! I have been confirmed.
I have been taught communion as you state it, Bill+. I agree with this in
theory, and that is how I practice it. But it in no way guarantees
receiving worthily. Though none of the children at Peter's church were
mentally retarded, it reminds me of an incident from my Missouri Synod
Lutheran days. A 20+ year-old young lady with Down's Syndrome from a devout
family worshipped faithfully every Sunday with her family. She asked the
pastor to be confirmed, because she wanted to receive communion. She was
able to articulate a simple but sincere faith. He repeatedly refused and
gave as his reason that she could not sufficiently understand. Therefore
she could not receive worthily.
There was no question in my mind that she would have come to the altar with
a purer heart than most, if not all, of the rest of us. Would Jesus have
refused her--I think not. (And please don't confuse this with the claim of
homosexuals that Jesus would not turn them away; it is not the same issue,
for by that they mean welcoming their life-style.)
It would be wonderful (or maybe it wouldn't, for us mortals) to be able to
see into the heart of each who comes to communion to know whether he or she
is worthy. But since we can't, one way to try to avoid unworthy reception
is to require instruction and confirmation as a prerequisite. Another is to
build such a community of faith that even the young have a personal
relationship with our Lord. Such truly 'discern'.
I will not change my practice, for that is not APA practice, but I have no
problem with those who permit paedocommunion when they see evidence of
faith--that child-like faith that Jesus desires from all of us.
A change of heart often comes before full understanding. And as important
as understanding is, I believe the change of heart is more important.
John+
----- Original Message -----
From: "William H. Perkins, Jr.+" <wperkin2@...>
To: <faithandlife@...>
Sent: Thursday, August 21, 2003 9:51 PM
Subject: [FaithandLife] interesting link
Hi Guy's+:
Came across this interesting link.
http://www.paedocommunion.com/churches/
To the REC's out there, I would like to ask if this is a mistaken reference
to the REC or do you believe in paedocommunion? To the APA guys what is
your view on paedocommunion?
To get the discussion going, I will say I do not believe it is right due to
St. Paul's comments 1Cor:11:29: For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. a
person has to be old enough to "discern" and I agree with the traditional
view of having them wait for confirmation. I understand RC first communion,
Greek orthodox practice and of course ECUSA.
Interested in your comments,
Bill+