One claim often made about Baptists is they’re not keen on family communion. We’re a bit individualistic for the liking of some. But I am very much in favour of family communion.

First, I think it is wonderful when whole families can be included. It is such a lovely thing to be able to partake together with your whole family. Admittedly, we are not prepared to do this until all members of the family have individually professed faith and been baptised into church membership. But it is a thrill when the Lord has been seen to work in a particular family, each has been baptised on profession of faith and can, therefore, both individually and collectively partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Second, I think we are too quick to overlook that communion is a meal for the family of faith. It is not given on ethnic nor genetic grounds, but on the basis of belonging to the visible family of God. Each one who has faith in Christ is included in the New Covenant and those who have been visibly affirmed by the church through baptism as belonging may also visibly affirm their ongoing standing in the covenant in Christ’s blood by joining in communion. Every time we take communion and fence the table appropriately, we are having a family meal. Admittedly, some of our physical progeny may not as yet be included, but that doesn’t change the fact that our spiritual siblings are joining with us in the family meal.

Third, we shouldn’t overlook the stated desire of the church to see all come to a personal faith in Jesus. We long to see whole families saved, baptised, added to our number and welcomed to the table. Whilst we don’t want to automatically welcome those who haven’t professed faith, or who actively eschew faith in Christ – we don’t see that as the biblical pattern, child of believers or not – but we do pray that they will come to faith in Christ in time so that we can welcome them to the table. We do recognise that God often is pleased to work through families and look forward, expectantly, to him doing so. Our hope is that in time, each member of every family with believing parents would come to know Jesus, be baptised and partake of communion with us. This is an active hope and prayer so that we can, indeed, include whole families,