Children and the Lord's Supper

“The present and persistent debate within the Reformed community over paedocommunion, as the editors of this volume note, presents both challenge and opportunity. It is a challenge because long held convictions are called into question, and the bases for making this challenge are fundamentally exegetical and theological. It is an opportunity because we are called back to the foundations of our confessions and traditions, to examine the Scriptures afresh, to insure that we handle accurately the word of truth, and shepherd the flock of the Lord as we should. These essays meet the challenge at the high level it demands and deserves, so that those who dig into this debate will find themselves renewed in both faith and practice.”

“Pastors and elders are shepherds of the hearts and souls of their people. Parents are shepherds of the hearts and souls of their children. All shepherds have a significant stake in this consideration of whether covenant children should participate in the Lord’s Supper prior to making their own public profession of faith. Are shepherds hurting the children by keeping them from coming to Christ if they keep them from participating in the Supper or are they helping and protecting the children by pointing them to Christ before they participate in the Supper? I believe the latter and I am grateful for this careful Biblical consideration of the issue.”

“For those who believe that the children of believers are covenanted members of the church, and eligible to be baptized, the issue of children’s participation in the Lord’s Supper can be a difficult one. If they may be admitted to one ordinance, why not to the other? This timely and useful book not only answers that question definitively and persuasively, it also explores much more besides: the relationship between Passover and Lord’s Supper, the theological, confessional and liturgical implications of the sacraments, and the place of children in the covenant of grace. This is a careful guide around a difficult subject, full of pastoral insight and biblical teaching.”