Communion with kids

[TrueAndMagneticNorth]

Hi all,

Would be interested to hear perspectives on this. It's not necessarily the biggest issue in the world, but is nonetheless relevant.

I have been trying earnestly to raise my 3-year daughter in every area of the faith, including encouraging her to partake in communion, and explaining to her what it is all about.

In the church I normally take her, it is encouraged. I visited another church with her recently, and was politely told that she is too young to understand what it's all about.

I was a little bit surprised, but could understand the perspective. Now, after having read what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11: 27-30, I can see that we are warned not to particpate in this ceremony without having seriously thought about why we are doing it. This would appear to support what I was told at the church I visited.

Yet, any parent would well know that kids are highly perceptible and might well understand a lot of things a lot better than us adults might realize. In a nutshell, I tend to think she should wait til she's older before she does it, but I just don't know.

As a side issue, I've been pretty weak in The Lord of late, not doing anything especially bad, but letting the worries of the world dominate my thoughts and time, and setting aside very little time to read the bible, go to church or talk with Him. Does this mean I should wait until this phase is over before taking communion again?

Would it be respectful to say to God, 'Lord, I haven't been living life in a worthy enough manner lately to honour You by taking communion. I must make changes and get on the right track before I do this' (?)

In a nutshell, I don't know. I've been far too blase about it, it seems, in light of those strong verses from Corinthians that deal with this directly.

Would God take it as a mark of respect that I refrain from taking communion for a while, because I am not worthy, or not yet ready to take it in a worthy manner?

So many questions, applicable to both myself and my daughter, and how we take communion.

Any responses and insights would be appreciated. God bless.

[Timothy]

Hi, TrueAndMagneticNorth

I believe, Communion, is a time of reconciliation.
The point of Communion is to communicate with God.
We confess our sins, in Spirit, as we pray before we partake of the Body and Blood.
We let God know that we recognise that we are unworthy, and ask to be healed.
Then, when we partake of His Body and His Blood, we are demonstating our Faith
in God, that through His son, Christ Jesus, whose body and blood was shed for us,
we are healed.

When is there a better time to to partake in Communion than when one is feeling
distant from God, as it is a time of reconciliation.

Sometimes one might "go to" Communion cause its just a part of the mass.
When done for that reason we miss out on the spiritual connection with, God,
and thus the healing. The prayers before partaking of His Body and Blood
reveals much. The question is, What is it revealing to God?

When one can answer that question, at any numbered of years of ones life,
then they demonstrate an understanding and are ready.

[Christnundrconstruxn]

AMEN Tim, I could not agree or say anything more
May God bless you both
Cuc

[Ruthk34]

This reminded me of the first time my oldest wanted to participate in communion. I was happy she wanted to participate. She ate the bread no problem but when the Pastor spoke of the "juice" representing the blood of Christ her eyes got real round and she refused to drink it. Afterwords I asked her why she wouldn't drink it and I found out that she thought it was REAL BLOOD. I started to laugh but stopped myself because I realised that she didn't understand so I knew I had to take time to explain it to her and that it was only juice like fruit punch and the relief on her face was precious.