Posted: 6/27/2010 12:15:41 AM EDT
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The other thread had me wondering but really went off subject dealing with what I wanted to know.
I'm a Methodist and we have an open communion in our church. That is, anyone is welcome to break bread. I had a Catholic friend there that Sunday who had never been to a Methodist church service. He was very surprised that we allow everyone to practice communion. I've even seen Baptists churches restrict others from communion. Thing is, I don't understand how a church can call the Lords table "their table" and deny other Christians communion. Am I wrong for thinking this? |
| One issue that some churches fuss about is that the local church cannot know if the visitor is a "true" believer. Some churches require a letter from a know congregation to introduce the visitor and then communion is OK. It gets at the point of who is responsible for the conduct of the communion table, the congregation or the individual. |
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We can safeguard the table in the same way as we safeguard the pulpit. Would your congregation allow anyone, without knowledge of that person's faith, step up and give a sermon? My guess is probably not.
I'm off ot on my way to church, but not all christians unfortunately see communion as the same thing. One of the elements of the Lord's Supper is fellowship; it is a public statement of "this is what we believe TOGETHER." For us to do this, we need to know that what we do believe is truly what we believe together. There's a lot more that this... more to follow. |
| I think Communion is a sacred ritual and is not to be taken lightly, there are conditions given in the Bible on who and how it should be taken. I understand why Catholics exclude others but dont agree with it. on the other hand I have been to other churches that do not give it the respect it should have. IMHO |