Repsonding to a Comment on "Big Table"

The following is a comment on the previous post. That's one of the great things about blogs - they can actually serve as a forum for conversation and exchange of ideas if we want them to...
Anonymous said...
If we're not in charge of the guest list, why do we as a congregation and denomination make a concerted effort to keep baptized Christians away from the table? If Communion is a gift, why do we make children 'earn' it by attending classes and acquiring a level of understanding not required of baptism?To be consistent with our theology, it seems we should commune everyone the day they are baptized, regardless of age. It is, after all, a sacrament requiring no mental assent, no 'right beliefs'. The standard eight year gap between baptism and first communion indicates either hypocrisy on our part or a weakness in our theology.
I assume since the author of the above post said "we as a congregation" that s/he is a member of Shepherd of the Valley. If that's true, then I hope that s/he will call me so we can talk some more about this. I'm not entirely sure what is meant by a "concerted effort" to keep baptized people away from the table, unless the reference is strictly in reference to age.
It's true, we do have the practice of a "minimum age" for receiving Holy Communion at SOV, as do many Lutheran and other congregations. And for the most part, it's an arbitrary age. Fifty years ago, many people received Communion for the first time upon their Confirmation. Twenty-some years ago I received Communion for the first time in the 4th grade. At SOV, it's 2nd graders.
So the question is, why the gap?
It's not necessary, or even helpful, theologically, for there to be a gap between Baptism and Communion. In fact, Orthodox Christians give newly baptized infants Communion immediately following their Baptism. I think that's a great idea, though most Lutherans I've told that over the years seem a little freaked out by it.
I think the "gap" comes from devoted Christians reading Scripture with a particular slant, wanting to take the Sacrament of Holy Communion seriously, wanting people to have some understanding of what it means, and thus wanting to offer some kind of education about it, so that it's not taken lightly. Understandable, but not always the most helpful.
So, here it is: personally, I would love to commune infants upon their baptism and then every toddler who sees that mommy is getting something to eat and puts a hand out to get some, too.
After all, it's an age-appropriate understanding for a very young child to want to participate just because the rest of his family is communing.
Perhaps it's time for us to examine the Communion practices of our congregation. I hope the author of the comment referred to above will be the first to volunteer for the study.