Should church restrict Lord's Supper to official membership? (Christ, Bible, verses)
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I'm not Lutheran but the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod and Evangelical Lutheran Synod are very similar in the practice of close communion. Normally the churches in the WELS and Missouri Synod ask visitors to speak to the pastor before coming to their altar.
Close communion has been the historic and biblical practice of the Christian Church.
Lutheran denominations that hold to the practice of close communion do so because God's Word teaches that, as far as humanly possible, those receiving the Sacrament do so to their benefit and not their harm (1 Corinthians 11:27-30), and that the oneness that is expressed in receiving the Sacrament is genuine and not contrived (1 Corinthians 10:17).
We see church membership as a way in which Christians acknowledge Jesus before others (Matthew 10:32) and publicly indicate their unity in faith and doctrine with fellow believers.
The notion of a church restricting communion to only church members smacks of the worst in selfishness, religiosity, and worldly politics. Saying it is utterly shameful would be an understatement.
Communion is to be sacred offering between God and us; not between people (separating themselves into groups, the elite and those on the outside). Jesus never had that concept, never would have promoted it, and would have called out such worldliness, probably along the lines of the corruption of the Temple. We have no way of knowing whether someone fits our definition and personal little laws about who is fit, and therefore, God doesn't want us to "go there" and take that faulty step into playing God.
If anyone runs into that, there would be no better reason to leave the premises, and "shake the dust of their shoes" in unwelcome disgust.
Last edited by Thoreau424; 12-04-2017 at 03:00 PM..
Is baptism required before a person can receive communion?
If so, there will be plenty of towels or robes by the hot tub.
One can be a Christian without being baptized with water. All Christians are baptized with the Holy Spirit when they believe the gospel of their salvation(Eph 1:13) before any water is used on them.
We just celebrated it Sunday. The pastor began with asking that those that don't know Jesus, or those that have never trusted in him to just let the bread and cup pass by. Anyone that knows Christ is welcome to participate in our church -- it's up to them to make that judgment.
Should church restrict Lord's Supper to official membership?
Of course not. There can be no excuse for preventing ANYONE from remembering Christ's loving sacrifice to our ancestors' brutality to save us all from permanent separation from God. It is what He wanted us to do to remember Him.
Of course not. There can be no excuse for preventing ANYONE from remembering Christ's loving sacrifice to our ancestors' brutality to save us all from permanent separation from God. It is what He wanted us to do to remember Him.
Even if they don't actually believe in Christ? And that he made a loving sacrifice?
It’s "an expression of remembrance" for a loved one.
Again....if said person remembering Jesus doesn't actually believe in or love him.....should he/she be allowed to participate?
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Should church restrict Lord's Supper to official membership?
