Paedofaith, Paedobaptism, Paedocommunion
One of my favorite and most passionate issues is the desire for the church to correct its practice to the Old Testament/New Testament/Early Church practice of allowing all members of the covenant community to commune.
At the Eucharist (in the American Prayerbook), we say “The Gifts of God for the People of God. Take them in remembrance that Jesus Christ died for you, and feed on him in you hearts by faith with thanksgiving.”
The Old Testament has hymns (Psalms) written for corporate worship declaring that covenantal babies have faith in the womb. Faith is not an issue of intellect.
And Baptism declares that they are part of the community for whom Jesus Christ died.
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You could read my posts in blogical order by clicking on the archive-category link on the left. Or here you can get the links to the archives in logical order.
Also of note:
Paedocommunion [1] ————————————[*1*] My Paedocommunion Site
Paedocommunion [2] —————————————–[*2*] An Important Essay:
A Catena of Quotes from the Ancients – Tim Gallant
As a Google Doc – easily printable – or – at Original Site
[*3*] Tim Gallant’s www.paedocommunion.com
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Video on Paedofaith:
This 20 Minute video is broken into two parts on YouTube – but a single part version should eventually be out on GoogleVideo.
Download the Study Guide by Clicking Here 
jon sauder said
I will admit up front that i haven’t engulfed myself in the research on the topic of paedocommunion. I will say, however, that i have some very dear friends who are big proponents of the paedo, and the one result that i see in common with many of them is that they are obsessed with ‘family’ and the concept of extreme patriarchy… to the point of (in my opinion) sacrificing the leadership of the church in preference to leadership of the family ‘head’. From what little I have read, i remain undecided. But in my last church, the issue caused a schism that was just shy of what you would call a ‘church split’… complete with hurt feelings and distrust on both sides. When I moved, and left my church in Illinois, I had very wise and very good friends on both sides of the schism.
saintluke said
Jon, thanks for sharing about your experiences.
I must defend that an idea’s biblical merit does not prevent people from immature action based on passion.
In my own case, I went to the other extreme for a long time, and it also could be said to be sinful. I worked SO HARD at deference to my church government that I failed to ever do anything about my convictions. At one point I had been allowed to commune my children, and then later they were barred. I wanted to prove I was not arrogant, so I just said, “for the good of the church,” I would wait it out. It took me two and a half years to decided that I didn’t have the right to restrict my children from the Lord’s table.
I don’t think my church was sinning in holding to their conscience. I don’t think I was sinning in eventually leaving in order not to violate my conscience.
I have still worked hard NOT TO take anyone with me, NOT TO make a complaint that blames the pastors.
Our family’s convictions are important, and so are my brothers and sisters in the Lord.
I hope my counterexample can serve as an indication that the issue doesn’t always cause arrogance.
ANY issue of doctrine can be treated the same way.
Having said that, I do hope that you can feel free to examine the issues of paedocommunion with an open mind to it. In the end, I think the issue is that the Bible DEMANDS it, and that we must not stand in the way.
Blessings to you, my friend.
Luke