Christian Message Boards: Church question

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Posted by oneinchrist (Member # 6532) on :

I have a question about "communion service" at church. Please understand me that I am not about miniscule, petty little details that dont matter.............but...........I am wondering what some of you think about everyone in church partaking. The reason why I ask the question is because I noticed that our pastors seem that they do not want to offend anyone in church so they just allow the elements to be passed to everyone. I am sure that there are unconverted people who show up at service. Should they be partaking also?, or should the pastors be making any sort of statement about unconverted letting the tray pass you by.

If Paul warns against believers partaking in an unworthily manner, how much more unbelievers partaking at all?

Am I blowing something out of proportion here? or are there serious implications for allowing this sort of pattern to go on in church?

I understand that many churches have left the old ways of requiring classes, etc before communion.................but are many of the new contemporary churches going off too far in another
direction?

What do you think?

With love in Jesus, Daniel

Posted by Betty Louise (Member # 7175) on :

I believe that the Pastor should make it clean that communion should only be taken by Christians and that the Bible even makes it clear that we should pray and make confess our sins before taken Communion. This said, I believe the Communion should be passed from person to person with each person deciding on their own if they should partake.
Only God knows the heart but like you I believe Communion is a serious manner and should be taken in reverend manner without people talking and children playing. I do not believe classes should be required but the Pastor should make it clear that their are consequences in taking of the communion, when our hearts are not right with God.
betty

Posted by Betty Louise (Member # 7175) on :

Institution of the Lord’s Supper
(Matt. 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:14–23 )
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; [fn2] this is My body which is broken [fn3] for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Examine Yourself
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood [fn4] of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner [fn5] eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s [fn6] body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

Posted by oneinchrist (Member # 6532) on :

Thank you for your response Betty.

What does your pastor say to prevent non-Christians from partaking?

With love in Jesus, Daniel

Posted by Betty Louise (Member # 7175) on :

Your welcome. He says that any Christian is welcome to take of Communion. He also reads those verses above about how dangerous it is to partake if your heart is not right with God.
betty

Posted by oneinchrist (Member # 6532) on :

Thank you Betty. That does sound(to me) to be a non-offensive way to say something that should be said prior to passing the trays.

Like I said, our pastors do not make that distinction and it troubles my spirit. I would need to have a good understanding of the implications of such a neglect to be able to approach the pastors with conviction.

Anyone have any suggestions?

With love in Jesus, Daniel

Posted by Aaron (Member # 3761) on :

There are three assumptions you made out in front of your question that need attention: 1) The church can include non-believers and believers alike. 2) A shepherd (the meaning of 'pastor') may not know his sheep. 3) The way communion is administered in your church is the way it was administered in the early church.

In my brief assessment there are more serious matters to attend to than who does or does not get the bread or wine.

Aaron

Posted by thefixer (Member # 8837) on :

Dear brother daniel,
I concur with brother Aaron. There appears to be a deeper issue than that of communion. One that you, as a follower of Jesus, must bring to the attention of your pastors. The act of communion is the outward expression and acceptance of the covenant that Jesus gave to us, His disciples. It is and should always be a serious matter to partake of the 'flesh and blood' of Jesus.
May the Lord give you His guidance and wisdom in this and all maters.
Your brother in Christ, LeRoy (thefixer).

Posted by oneinchrist (Member # 6532) on :

Hello Aaron,

You said:

There are three assumptions you made out in front of your question that need attention: 1) The church can include non-believers and believers alike. 2) A shepherd (the meaning of 'pastor') may not know his sheep. 3) The way communion is administered in your church is the way it was administered in the early church.

In my brief assessment there are more serious matters to attend to than who does or does not get the bread or wine.

My response:
1)I do not believe that "the Church"(spiritually) can include believers and non-believers, but I do believe that church institutions do allow non-believers to come in

2)I do not assume that the shepard does not know his sheep. I just assume the reality that there are unconverted who occasionally attend.

3)I do not assume that the way communion is admistered in my church is the way that the early church carried it out.

I agree that there are more serious matters to attend to. But I would not agree that that should mean to imply that it does not matter how communion is carried out.

Do you believe that the Pastor should make any sort of statement that would signify that partaking is strictly for those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior?

or

...........Do you think it is ok to allow non-believers to partake as an "evangelistic tool?"

With love in Jesus, Daniel

Posted by Aaron (Member # 3761) on :

I understand what you are saying, Daniel. What I see is that the taking of communion is a secondary issue compared to the other issues I noticed. I have to ask, do you ever consider how it is that YOU can see such things clearly and the leadership cannot? Of course taking communion is not an evangelistic tool! But what does it say of the pastor who uses it as such? Of course a pastor should know his sheep! But what does it say about the pastor who does not?

These matters point to a systemic problem that cannot be cured. And just so I am clear, I believe God has no interest in clearing up these matters as well. He has given us enough time to repent. Now, the call is to come out of such places.

In Christ,
Aaron

Posted by Caretaker (Member # 36) on :

Some denominations practice closed communion, that is only for members.

Some practice close communion which is announced during Sunday morning service and the members take the day to rededicate themselves and open their hearts more to Christ through prayer. The Lord's Table is then prepared for the evening service which is primarily members.

Other churches have communion on a regular basis, such as the UMC which offers communion the first Sunday of the month. The decision to receive is left between the individual and God.

I have participated in each, and my personal preference is the close as it brings more emphasis upon the need to get right with God and to kneel at the alter and search out our hearts. The evening service is a very sanctified time of true reverence in the remembering Him in the bread and wine.

Posted by oneinchrist (Member # 6532) on :

Hi Caretaker,
I was just recently reading up on the difference between "open" and "closed" communion and some of the debate over them. I noticed that neither "open" nor "closed" communion is meant for unbelievers.

There are some who are misunderstanding the angle that I am coming at from this issue. I am not saying that I think that pastors should be "policing" who is and isnt taking communion. I am simply saying that I think that there should be some sort of polite non-offensive statement made that would let everyone know that partaking is only for those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior. This would prevent the possibility of treating communion as a common thing.........

Wouldnt leaders be treating it as a common thing if they just let everyone partake?? (believers and unbelievers indiscriminately) Dont you think??

I would think that Pastors (of fairly large churches) would realize that they are going to have some unconverted guests on any given Sunday. They cant possibly assume that they(all unbelievers) are all going to receive Jesus when they come . They may not be the rebel type, but they may be the "Im not really ready for this" type.

With love in Jesus, Daniel

Posted by Caretaker (Member # 36) on :

God bless you Daniel;

I sure appreciate your perspective, and I have no experience with Communion in the large churches. The largest I ever received in had about 300 in the congregation.

Like I said my personal preference is the "close" communion, where the pastor brings the communion teaching at the morning service, and the congregation spends the day with the Lord preparing their hearts to receive at the evening service.

The pastor has to teach that it is only for Believers, and not to be taken lightly or unworthily.