Outer Rim Territories

Why I Won't Wait

This is from a pastor struggling with our confirmation/first communion practice in LC-MS. I have blogged about this many times previous. (Outer Rim Territories » Paedocommunion and Confirmation: Theology and Practice for Today’s Lutheran and Baptism>Confirmation>Holy Communion) My concern has not been so veiled either. It's heartbreaking every time I see a child (my own as well) come to the altar and receive a blessing. When they try to grab it out of my hands, the reality of the meal lands home.

Why I Won't Wait the LCMS has been officially talking about earlier communion (that is, earlier than the Enlightenment aberration and abuse of only communing adults, i.e., post-pubescent, i.e., not before the age of 14 or 15 as currently practiced in the LCMS) for over 40 years. Ft. Wayne needs Redeemer to push the envelope. We cannot just keep talking about this. I found out yesterday that several local leading congregations in confessional Lutheranism aren't actually doing anything to either 1) celebrate communion weekly or 2) to commune children. Really. They are doing nothing. The elders aren't studying it, there are no newsletter articles about it, there is no talk, etc. I don't know what directions their pastors and leaders are trying to take them. Perhaps there is something more important than this. I can imagine such things, but it is hard for me to imagine it in these conservative, confessional congregations. In any case, if we waited for a synodical mandate so that we could all do it together, it would never happen. So, also, we could get a synodical mandate that would appoint hymns for each Sunday, etc. I don't know of any pastors who would embrace such unity. But ultimately the question is: do I continue to deny children the Body and Blood of Jesus because it offends the uncatechized minds of locals LCMS members? No. These children need what Christ has given, what He wants them to have. The uncatechized minds of the local Missourians need to be offended. They need to face the reality, and the "confessionals" need to actually do something. The unity they desire isn't found by weakening our doctrine and practice, but by actually practicing our doctrine. All of us live with weak practice while catechizing and growing. Ignorance is a sort of excuse. But laziness and resistance to any learning or growth is sinful. If you are trying to move your congregation, good for you. You are in my prayers. If you don't care, if you just want the status quo, you are also in my prayers, but it is with a different request.