In Matthew 11:25, Jesus prays to the Father saying, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.” Some commentators will interpret this verse to mean that the Father reveals himself to those with simple faith, childlike faith, but I think we also need to take this verse literally. Literally speaking, the Father was revealing himself to children and Jesus was drawing children to himself, and the children believed and loved him.
Something I have observed about many Christian communities and churches is that they value having childlike faith, but children do not play a central role in their community. There may be children programs and special activities for children, but the adults in the community are not really learning from the children as they participate in the community. Something I have learned during our time with ArmonÃa is that children should have this more central role, especially since they are exemplary in the faith. Do you live in such a community or go to such a church? If so, how does your community or church give children a central role and treat them as unique and special members of the covenant community? In addition, should this emphasis on little children lead us to welcome them to particpate with the community of Christ in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, as with everything else?
Posted by Stephen Jones on July 2, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Dear Wes,
You raise a good question here. Like the eastern church our church–covenantal-reformed–practices communion with infants from when they can eat and drink and on up the age ladder. Anyone baptized joins the feast and we do it every Sunday. I can tell you what a great joy it is! We don’t wait for any sort of exam but trust that baptized children are part of God’s covenant community and that includes sharing the feast, the Lord’s Supper. Also, the children and adults aren’t separated out from each other but everyone participates together in both the Lord’s Service and in Sunday school. Once we visited a church in which children, though baptized, were denied the Table–fenced out. A one-year-old bellowed mightily when she saw what was happening; “out of the mouths of babes and sucklings”! She may not have had the words for it but she was able to express that Jesus wanted her to come unto him. That meant, among other things, that she and Jesus could eat together.
Steve Jones
Posted by Wes on July 2, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Thanks for your interaction, Steve. I am glad to hear that you and your church find joy in having children participate fully in the Lord’s Supper. I have not made up my mind on this issue, but I can see the power and poignancy of the position. Are there other ways in which your church gives a central role to children? I would love to hear some other ideas.