Featured Closed communion

Open

 

I went to a particular Lutheran Church a few miles from me that claimed to be conservative and bible driven... but the first thing I noticed was that nobody brought their own personal bibles with them. Next they barred me, a practicing Baptist from communion... apparently I wasn’t doing it properly. Then one of the elders told me to my face that Baptists were heretics. I called the pastor of that church and told him I had decided not to go there anymore & he kinda got upset. He told me that I was in error but with time he would teach me correctly how to interpret the Bible...I declined.

 

There were no Christians before Christ's death and resurrection. His disciples really didn't understand what Christianity was until Pentecost. In fact, there was no Church until Pentecost.

 

I see your point but I think there are too many holes in using the Apostles-only as even a guideline. Many of the things that happened in the early church are not normative for today. The book of Acts is a transitionary book in some aspects. Very few people recommend selling all personal possessions and giving the proceeds to the church. Then there is the whole sign gifts thing, but I digress.

One of the reasons a pastor gave me for practicing closed communion is to prevent unbelievers from partaking, so as not to bring judgment upon themselves. While admirable, it fails to consider that no one possesses perfect knowledge. Unbelievers can be very convincing imposters. I do not get too bent out of shape about the differing Baptist practices on the Lord's Supper because there as so many Baptist flavors to choose from. Not happy with how First Baptist Church practices the Lord's Supper? Go to Main St. Baptist. Personally, I can live with my current church's position because it is faithful to the gospel, which I believe is paramount.

 

Ok, trying to make it a precise, literal model to be followed exactly.

 

Brother, to clarify, the incident may be used by some as proof of closed communion, or as a guideline how it should be carried out -- but my point was only that it is consistent with closed communion (seemingly more so that with open). The case for closed communion must be built on other things. Nevertheless, there probably are some who use the Last Passover/First Lord's Supper as proof.

 

In my opinion that is what you did in post 12.

 

Not making anything up. You brought up who was present.

 

Then how is it a model for closed communion?

 

It was not a church at that point.

 

Can you logically draw from this instance that Jesus would not be willing to serve communion to all believers? This was a particular instance where he had a specific reason to have an intimate moment with the 12.

 

Agreed. Likewise, we can't say that what He did in that one instance is what He would always do.

 

I guess I would have to agree with that.