You will notice that these three points of examination correspond exactly to the three parts of the Heidelberg Catechism, namely, the three parts of knowledge necessary to enjoy our only comfort in life and death. The knowledge of true faith, therefore, has to precede access to the Lord's table.
These things having been said, we ought to emphasize, however, the importance of preparing our children for confession of faith. That is not something to be postponed. One will mature sooner than another. But when children have been instructed in the faith for several years, it is not out of line to expect many of them to confess their faith by the time they are sixteen or seventeen, in some instances even younger, and certainly by the time they are able to make important decisions in life.
The Protestant Reformed Churches have not been influenced by the mystical pietism that gave rise to the Netherlands Reformed congregations, where young people were taught that they had to tell their conversion story before being admitted to the Lord's table, and that this was not possible when they were young. For that reason many waited till late in life to confess their faith or did not dare to do so at all. Others took the position that confessing faith simply meant confessing historical faith, which somehow (in gross error) granted the right to have their children baptized, but not to partake of the Lord's Supper.
In the Protestant Reformed Churches it seems that there are other factors causing a postponement of confession of faith, and that in certain areas or congregations rather than others. But those factors must be addressed. We must stress to our children that it is a great privilege to be born as a child of the covenant and raised under the instruction of God's Word. And it is a great privilege and calling to confess our faith, in order that we may also proclaim Christ's death and resurrection as part of His bride at the communion table.
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