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Bible Questions and Spiritual Discussion
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Closed Communion Table
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I know there's a lot of variations among denominations regarding communion. But I've always wondered why there's a strong emphasis for the communion table to only be open to Believers in good standing.
In the reading today out of Matthew, first we see Judas taking a bribe. Next we see Judas joining the other disciples with Jesus at Passover table. Then Jesus lets it be known to everyone that He knows somebody is going to betray Him and that person is in the room! There is no hiding from God! Not only that but Jesus confronts the betrayer, Judas! After that, there seems to be no indication that Judas leaves the table or that Jesus tells him that he can join the rest of the disciples. Instead, Jesus includes all the disciples at the table and they all participate in the Lord's supper.
So why is it that our traditions have a strong emphasis on excluding those who are not in a right relationship with Christ? Is it a time of reflection, confession and repentance for those who partake? YES! But is it time to exclude those who need Christ the most? I don't think so.
One thing I have noticed when a pastor leads the Lord's supper is that the story Judas is left out. I think it's a very important part. Maybe even an equally important aspect of this account is that Peter has high expectations of himself, but Jesus knows Peter's failure will soon come too. Perhaps those of us who partake in the Lord's supper without the posture of humility and Grace should be just as excluded as those that don't believe at all! We can't hide anything from God.
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Craig from Illinois 02/09/2011 08:44 |
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GodB4Me
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02/09/2011 10:29 |
Wow Craig what a great observation... never thought of it that way..
I remember in my parochial school days the story of the nicely dressed person coming up to the front of the church to display himself in all self righteousness and the sad poorly dressed individual staying at the back feeling unworthy because of the way his was dressed and didn't have allot to put into the collection plate, and Jesus saying the it will be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven... that has always resonated with me, that STlLL, after hearing that story over and over again, that there are still ones who are "flashy" coming up to the alter to display there "good works" and "offerings"... when Jesus said that we shouldn't let our left hand know what our right hand is doing, if it is doing charity work... I believe that is just another form of MAN interjecting "his" own ideology so that there can be a goal attained. Example: "If that person got recognized for his good deeds maybe if I do a good deed maybe, I will get a pat on the back too."
And the same can be true about communion, mans interpretations have lead to people feeling unworthy to participate in the greatest gift Jesus gave us, communion...
Just the mere fact that Jesus surrounded himself with the sick, the poor, the sinful, and the lonely should be the only evidence we as believers see that they are the ones who warrant the partaking of the bread and the wine just as much as we believers do..
I don’t know but you have made a wonderful point of discussion here today, thanks.
Your friend in Christ;
Lisa
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John T
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02/09/2011 19:15 |
Very interesting. I remember reading something in the bible about people being sick or in poor health due to coming to communion not in a right state with God. I don't know where this was from though. I've thought about that at times since and I think it's a good point of self reflection -- have I forgiven others or should I first go to a brother? etc. Good discussion!
Be Blessed,
John
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Claire Stanniland
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02/09/2011 19:45 |
You're right, John - that comes in 1 Corinthians 11. Especially verse 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 of the Lord. However, that fits with what everyone is saying, that we should eat and drink in an attitude of humility. I like what happens in the church I go to - whether it is right for someone to take Communion is not for other people to judge but is between that individual and God.
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Spiritual Warrior
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02/10/2011 01:12 |
I suppose the fact that the Judas story is left out of preparation for communion and all the other confession stuff comes as a preparation makes us in awe of the power of communion to unite us as one body. I feel scared and inspired all at once at communion. I might even go so far as to say slightly overpowered by the amazingness of it all. This feeling makes me want to be right with Jesus before I go up to take the communion. When I came back to church after a long time away, I sweated over the decision about whether to take communion because I didn't feel good enough.
Yesterday I rushed in to church at the very last minute in my sports clothes (I am a fitness instructor) because the reading made me want to take communion and we have a little service at our local church on a Weds. I felt really embarrassed that I was dressed so inappropriately but I also just felt so compelled to get there on time (only just). Reading this has made me realise that it is entirely irrelevant what I was wearing and how silly it is to be embarrassed by this! As you say, God was more interested in where my heart was at!
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Craig from Illinois
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02/14/2011 13:16 |
I watched the Four Winds Mission service again yesterday. Brian mentioned something after the Eucharist that caught my attention and maybe explained the simple truth.
He said "we just 'communed' with other Believers from around the world by eating the bread and drinking the wine".
So I think I missed this point in my original post. The point of "communing" with Jesus and with other Believers is pretty much impossible if we are not Believers in Jesus. Sometimes I get lost in the details and miss the simple truth.
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