Subject: Who can give communion as per the Bible? |
Bible Note: Dear STA, I think I understand. That is a somewhat different question. Redemptive history is all about what the Lord God has done. He has made dead men living (Ephesians 2:1) and brought estranged men together (Ephesians 2:15), building them together as a temple, made without hands, of which they are living stones, with Christ as the corner stone (Ephesians 2:20). This isn't a matter of man's doing, but entirely a matter of God's doing. Communion is, as the very word implies, something that we do in participation with one another. We are the church -- the called out ones. When we take communion, we are submitting to our Lord in obedience in His presence, the presence of the church, and even in the presence of the world. It is a picture of the gospel. God takes His pictures very seriously – see 1 Corinthians 11. That would be sufficient reason enough for us to be very careful. However, another good reason is that the purity of the church is something that we and our leadership have responsibility. Therefore, we use various means to maintain this purity in honor to our Lord; and in showing mercy to the uninformed or unrepentant. This is one of the most important purposes for church discipline. Consequently, the churches who properly understand these things will make every effort to insure that their people are members in good standing of the church. Things like excommunication have at its root a restorative objective. In addition, the churches also make an effort to instruct the ignorant with essential doctrines. This is done formally through catechism, or less formerly through some kind of new-believers classes. If you administer communion to yourself, you would be obviating these purposes, and contravening the picture of the gospel, and walking in disobedience to the purposes of our Lord in establishing the ordinances. I would be less than loving and compassionate for you in your plight if I failed to warn you away from this course of action. Instead, I commend to you three possible choices. Consider them prayerfully. 1. Be baptized, catechized, etc. in the church in which you attend. 2. Find another church in which to follow through with baptism and instruction. 3. If you have already been baptized, attend a communion service at a church that practices open communion (i.e., one that will open the communion table to you under your current circumstances). 4. Simply do not take communion at all, in preference to a failure of omission, rather than an sinful act of commission. In the mean time, we in the forum will be praying for you. In Him, Doc |