When should children be baptized and/or allowed to take the Lord’s Supper?

Response

While some churches have requirements for children to attend Bible classes to receive instruction in doctrine and the significance of the ordinances before participating, many others do not. Regardless of the situation, it is advisable for parents to guide and prepare their children for baptism and communion. Ultimately, the responsibility of teaching children about God’s ways falls on the parents, with the church available for support.

Before partaking in communion, the primary requirement for all children (as well as adults) is that they have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior. Although some children make this decision of salvation at a young age, baptism and participation in the Lord’s Supper should not be rushed. As a child grows in faith and demonstrates genuine rebirth, the parents should discern when the child is ready to comprehend and engage in communion. The spiritual maturity of one child may differ from another, even within the same family.

In numerous churches, when a child’s parents inform the pastor of the child’s desire for baptism, the pastor meets with the child to assess readiness. This is a prudent and beneficial practice. It is crucial for a child to grasp that neither baptism nor communion brings salvation, but they are acts of obedience and remembrance of Jesus’ sacrifice for us in securing our salvation “And he took bread, and gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me.'”, (Luke 22:19).