Let the Little Child So Examine Herself
Of Early Communion
What is a pastor to do when one of the baptized faithful asks to receive the Body and Blood of Christ? One who recites the Ten Commandments, Creed, and Lord’s Prayer? One who confesses the sacramental union of Christ in the Supper? One who is ongoingly catechized in the chief parts of the Christian faith, who loves Jesus and rejoices in His Passion, who is regularly in church? One who is not living an immoral or scandalous life, not propounding false doctrine, and not belonging to any other confession or communion than that of our own congregation and fellowship? One who happens to be six years old?
St Paul states, Let a man examine himself then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup (1 Cor 11:28). What does this mean? And what does it look like? Must it be the same in every case? Or is this self-examination unique to each circumstance? Ultimately is self-examination simply an internal matter of the heart and head, or does it require a public confession? Or both? Or neither?
Concerning confession and absolution, the Augsburg Confession states, “Confession has not been abolished in our churches. For it is not customary to administer the body of Christ except to those who have been previously examined and absolved” (AC XXV 1). That the reformers utilized the word “examine” indicates both a correlation to the Corinthians text and an aspect of public, even if individual, examination of the communicant.
Of what does such examination consist? And what are its prerequisites? In short, what is the standard? In previous generations it consisted of thorough instruction in the Catechism beginning in the sixth or seventh grade and concluding with confirmation at the end of the eighth grade. Admittance to the Sacrament of the Altar was reserved for the completion confirmation. In this manner, I believe, the Sacrament was unwittingly held out as a “prize” or a “goal” to be achieved at the end of our work.
This ought not be. Our Lord’s Body and Blood are not a “prize” earned by our work. They are a gift, freely given by Christ Himself, who says, Let the children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God (Mk 10:14). If the kingdom belongs to such as these little ones (in Greek, paidia, “children,” refers to the very young), as our Lord Jesus says, than why are we withholding the gifts of His kingdom from them?
Do not misunderstand me. I am not advocating for infant communion. I do not believe that to be a Scripturally tenable position, nor practically capable. Neither am I suggesting we rid ourselves of confirmation. I am in favor of a standard by which communicants be admitted to the Lord’s Supper. However, I do not believe it should be a man-made standard of grade-level or age; nor “confirmation,” which can mean most anything at any given congregation.
Rather, the real standard, which we do not have to invent, is the one identified by Dr Luther in the preface to the Large Catechism and alluded to by Augsburg Confession XXV: namely, catechesis in the basic texts of the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Our Father, and the evangelical Sacraments. He writes: “This sermon [preface to the Large Catechism] has been designed and undertaken for the instruction of children and the uneducated. Hence from ancient times it has been called, in Greek, a ‘catechism’ – that is, instruction for children. It contains what every Christian should know. Anyone who does not know it should not be numbered among Christians nor admitted to any sacrament” (KW 383, emphasis mine).
Dr Luther then lays out the skeleton of what is necessary to know and confess before admittance to the Lord’s Supper. He goes on to say, “Therefore let all heads of household remember that it is their duty, by God’s injunction and command, to teach their children or have them taught the things they ought to know [i.e. the Six Chief Parts]. Because they have been baptized and received into the people of Christ, they should also enjoy this fellowship of the sacrament [of the Altar] so that they may serve us and be useful. For they must all help us to believe, to love, to pray, and to fight against the devil” (KW 476:87).
Worthy reception to the Sacrament of the Altar is reserved to those who have faith in Christ’s words, Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. That children are not only capable of such faith, but are held up as the epitome, is declared by our Lord Jesus: Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt 18:3). And, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will (Mt 11:25-26).
Holy Scripture and our Lutheran Confessions take for granted that catechesis ought to be occurring in the home, around the dinner table, the bedside, everywhere. Ideally parents and pastors, working together, ought to be teaching these chief parts of the Christian faith and life all the time. The little children ought to be brought to Holy Baptism, and they ought to be hearing the basic Christian catechism before, during, and after the fact, from the womb to the tomb. As soon as they are able, according to the abilities given them by their Creator, they ought to be taught to confess that same faith. This happens in the same manner that children learn to walk and talk – by following the example set for them by their fathers and mothers; mimicking the speech, as it were, of their heavenly Father. This is the way of faith and confession: to say back to God what has been said to us.
In the end I am advocating for more catechesis and instruction, not less. I am becoming convinced that admittance to the Lord’s Table is a matter of pastoral care and concern, done on a case-by-case basis. Obviously a child born into an environment of daily catechesis and prayer in the home, who is faithfully brought to the Lord’s House to be regularly immersed in the preaching of God’s Word is surely of a different case than a child who is rarely exposed to the Word.
In the materials that accompany our hymnal, Lutheran Service Book, there is an order called, “First Communion Prior to Confirmation,” which acknowledges the importance of such a practice within the congregation. These materials state,
This rite is intended to be used to admit to the Lord’s Supper baptized children who have not yet been
confirmed. Candidates for admission to the Lord’s Supper have learned the Ten Commandments, the Creed,
and the Lord’s Prayer. They have received careful instruction in the Gospel and Sacraments. Confessing
their sin and trusting in their Savior, they desire to receive the Lord’s Supper for the forgiveness of sins and
the strengthening of their faith in Christ and their love toward others (Agenda, 25).
A well-catechized child knows what the Lord’s Supper is, and what it is for, and hungers for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation that is offers and bestows. Dr. Luther contends that we need such children to join us in this fellowship for the sake of the Gospel. Not “cute little poopsies,” but courageous young Davids with five smooth stones and hearts of faith in the Lord of hosts, who is more than able to slay an army of Goliaths. We ought not, like King Saul, encumber the little shepherd boy with a grown man’s bulky armor. As though the accumulated burdens and weight of life in this sinful world were better able than Yahweh Sabaoth to defend the lambs and sheep of His pasture.
What is a pastor to do with the little six year-old girl who asked for the Sacrament? Well, she has continued to receive instruction in the Christian faith both at home and at church, from her parents and her pastor. As her pastor, it is my intention to welcome her, along with two men, ages 15 and 86, to receive the Holy Eucharist with the members of St Peter Lutheran Church on Easter Vigil of this year (March 30, 2013; 7p). She will grow and mature in the faith as her catechesis continues throughout her life, pausing to commemorate the sign posts of confirmation and marriage and when she passes from my pastoral care to another man’s, and it will not end until her blessed falling asleep in Christ our Lord Jesus. Such is our Lord’s desire for all His dear ones of any age.
A blessed New Year to you in Christ!
+INJ+
Pastor Mierow
Circumcision and Name of Jesus
Of Early Communion
What is a pastor to do when one of the baptized faithful asks to receive the Body and Blood of Christ? One who recites the Ten Commandments, Creed, and Lord’s Prayer? One who confesses the sacramental union of Christ in the Supper? One who is ongoingly catechized in the chief parts of the Christian faith, who loves Jesus and rejoices in His Passion, who is regularly in church? One who is not living an immoral or scandalous life, not propounding false doctrine, and not belonging to any other confession or communion than that of our own congregation and fellowship? One who happens to be six years old?
St Paul states, Let a man examine himself then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup (1 Cor 11:28). What does this mean? And what does it look like? Must it be the same in every case? Or is this self-examination unique to each circumstance? Ultimately is self-examination simply an internal matter of the heart and head, or does it require a public confession? Or both? Or neither?
Concerning confession and absolution, the Augsburg Confession states, “Confession has not been abolished in our churches. For it is not customary to administer the body of Christ except to those who have been previously examined and absolved” (AC XXV 1). That the reformers utilized the word “examine” indicates both a correlation to the Corinthians text and an aspect of public, even if individual, examination of the communicant.
Of what does such examination consist? And what are its prerequisites? In short, what is the standard? In previous generations it consisted of thorough instruction in the Catechism beginning in the sixth or seventh grade and concluding with confirmation at the end of the eighth grade. Admittance to the Sacrament of the Altar was reserved for the completion confirmation. In this manner, I believe, the Sacrament was unwittingly held out as a “prize” or a “goal” to be achieved at the end of our work.
This ought not be. Our Lord’s Body and Blood are not a “prize” earned by our work. They are a gift, freely given by Christ Himself, who says, Let the children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God (Mk 10:14). If the kingdom belongs to such as these little ones (in Greek, paidia, “children,” refers to the very young), as our Lord Jesus says, than why are we withholding the gifts of His kingdom from them?
Do not misunderstand me. I am not advocating for infant communion. I do not believe that to be a Scripturally tenable position, nor practically capable. Neither am I suggesting we rid ourselves of confirmation. I am in favor of a standard by which communicants be admitted to the Lord’s Supper. However, I do not believe it should be a man-made standard of grade-level or age; nor “confirmation,” which can mean most anything at any given congregation.
Rather, the real standard, which we do not have to invent, is the one identified by Dr Luther in the preface to the Large Catechism and alluded to by Augsburg Confession XXV: namely, catechesis in the basic texts of the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Our Father, and the evangelical Sacraments. He writes: “This sermon [preface to the Large Catechism] has been designed and undertaken for the instruction of children and the uneducated. Hence from ancient times it has been called, in Greek, a ‘catechism’ – that is, instruction for children. It contains what every Christian should know. Anyone who does not know it should not be numbered among Christians nor admitted to any sacrament” (KW 383, emphasis mine).
Dr Luther then lays out the skeleton of what is necessary to know and confess before admittance to the Lord’s Supper. He goes on to say, “Therefore let all heads of household remember that it is their duty, by God’s injunction and command, to teach their children or have them taught the things they ought to know [i.e. the Six Chief Parts]. Because they have been baptized and received into the people of Christ, they should also enjoy this fellowship of the sacrament [of the Altar] so that they may serve us and be useful. For they must all help us to believe, to love, to pray, and to fight against the devil” (KW 476:87).
Worthy reception to the Sacrament of the Altar is reserved to those who have faith in Christ’s words, Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. That children are not only capable of such faith, but are held up as the epitome, is declared by our Lord Jesus: Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt 18:3). And, I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will (Mt 11:25-26).
Holy Scripture and our Lutheran Confessions take for granted that catechesis ought to be occurring in the home, around the dinner table, the bedside, everywhere. Ideally parents and pastors, working together, ought to be teaching these chief parts of the Christian faith and life all the time. The little children ought to be brought to Holy Baptism, and they ought to be hearing the basic Christian catechism before, during, and after the fact, from the womb to the tomb. As soon as they are able, according to the abilities given them by their Creator, they ought to be taught to confess that same faith. This happens in the same manner that children learn to walk and talk – by following the example set for them by their fathers and mothers; mimicking the speech, as it were, of their heavenly Father. This is the way of faith and confession: to say back to God what has been said to us.
In the end I am advocating for more catechesis and instruction, not less. I am becoming convinced that admittance to the Lord’s Table is a matter of pastoral care and concern, done on a case-by-case basis. Obviously a child born into an environment of daily catechesis and prayer in the home, who is faithfully brought to the Lord’s House to be regularly immersed in the preaching of God’s Word is surely of a different case than a child who is rarely exposed to the Word.
In the materials that accompany our hymnal, Lutheran Service Book, there is an order called, “First Communion Prior to Confirmation,” which acknowledges the importance of such a practice within the congregation. These materials state,
This rite is intended to be used to admit to the Lord’s Supper baptized children who have not yet been
confirmed. Candidates for admission to the Lord’s Supper have learned the Ten Commandments, the Creed,
and the Lord’s Prayer. They have received careful instruction in the Gospel and Sacraments. Confessing
their sin and trusting in their Savior, they desire to receive the Lord’s Supper for the forgiveness of sins and
the strengthening of their faith in Christ and their love toward others (Agenda, 25).
A well-catechized child knows what the Lord’s Supper is, and what it is for, and hungers for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation that is offers and bestows. Dr. Luther contends that we need such children to join us in this fellowship for the sake of the Gospel. Not “cute little poopsies,” but courageous young Davids with five smooth stones and hearts of faith in the Lord of hosts, who is more than able to slay an army of Goliaths. We ought not, like King Saul, encumber the little shepherd boy with a grown man’s bulky armor. As though the accumulated burdens and weight of life in this sinful world were better able than Yahweh Sabaoth to defend the lambs and sheep of His pasture.
What is a pastor to do with the little six year-old girl who asked for the Sacrament? Well, she has continued to receive instruction in the Christian faith both at home and at church, from her parents and her pastor. As her pastor, it is my intention to welcome her, along with two men, ages 15 and 86, to receive the Holy Eucharist with the members of St Peter Lutheran Church on Easter Vigil of this year (March 30, 2013; 7p). She will grow and mature in the faith as her catechesis continues throughout her life, pausing to commemorate the sign posts of confirmation and marriage and when she passes from my pastoral care to another man’s, and it will not end until her blessed falling asleep in Christ our Lord Jesus. Such is our Lord’s desire for all His dear ones of any age.
A blessed New Year to you in Christ!
+INJ+
Pastor Mierow
Circumcision and Name of Jesus
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