Westminster Larger Catechism (Q 177) and Arguments Against Paedocommunion

Dear Church Family,

This past Sunday, in our weekly Sunday school lessons in the Westminster Larger Catechism (WLC), we studied and discussed question 177, as well as arguments against the practice of paedocommunion. Here is a brief review.

WLC 177  Wherein do the sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper differ?
A. The sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper differ, in that baptism is to be administered but once, with water, to be a sign and seal of our regeneration and ingrafting into Christ, and that even to infants; whereas the Lord’s supper is to be administered often, in the elements of bread and wine, to represent and exhibit Christ as spiritual nourishment to the soul, and to confirm our continuance and growth in him, and that only to such as are of years and ability to examine themselves.

Questions 176 and 177 of the WLC have to do with the relationship between the two sacraments of baptism and the Lord’s supper. In WLC 176, we learned in what ways these two sacraments agree with one another, their similarities. Here in WLC 177, we learn in what ways these two sacraments differ from one another.

There are four main differences between baptism and the Lord’s supper:

(1) Frequency: Baptism is to be administered once; the Lord’s supper is to be administered often.

(2) Elements: In baptism, the element used is water; in the Lord’s upper, it is bread and wine.

(3) Significance: Baptism symbolizes new birth and thus it is a sign and seal of our regeneration and ingrafting into Christ; the Lord’s supper symbolizes our spiritual growth and thus is represents and exhibits Christ as spiritual nourishment to the soul and confirms our continuance and growth in Him.

(4) Recipients: Baptism is to be administered even to infants; the Lord’s supper is to be given only to those who are of years and ability to examine themselves.

Arguments Against Paedocommunion

This last difference, in which the Lord’s supper is not to be given to infants, has been debated in the church at various times. Some have proposed that admitting infants to the Lord’s supper, otherwise known as paedocommunion, is biblical and ought to be practiced in the church.

About ten years ago, while I was serving on a presbytery committee, I made it known that I believed the practice of paedocommunion to be both erroneous and dangerous. When asked for my reasoning, I went home and wrote a short paper on the topic entitled, “Arguments Against Paedocommunion.” That paper is available online here: https://theaquilareport.com/arguments-against-paedocommunion/.

Conclusion

Sunday school is presently on a break for the holidays and will resume on January 19, 2025. At that time, we will resume our study of the WLC and the topic of prayer. I hope you will join us in the new year in our continuing study of the Westminster Larger Catechism!

The Lord be with you!
Pastor Peter M. Dietsch