The gathering of the local church at the Lord’s Table is a necessary component in the vitality and health of the church as a body. At the table the congregation celebrates and remembers the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and his triumphant resurrection. The Lord’s Supper is a kind of proclamation: “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11:26). When Christians participate in the Lord’s Supper there is a clear sign of their unity with one another. Paul says, “Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread” (1 Cor. 10:17).
There are clear differences and debates over some aspects of the Lord’s Supper that vary from church to church. However, most evangelicals would agree that only those who believe in Christ and have a personal relationship with him through salvation are able to participate in the Lord’s Supper. It is very clear in Scripture that the Supper is not a “converting ordinance”. Secondly, the Apostle Paul warns of those who eat and drink unworthily face severe consequences: “For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died” (1 Cor. 11:29-30). Thirdly, there is a need of personal self-examination when coming to the Lord ’s Table: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a man examine himself, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For any one who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself” (1 Cor. 11:27-29).
In the institution of the Lord’s Supper it should be made abundantly clear by the elders or pastor that all born-again believers are welcome to participate at the table but there are some requirements to which must be adhered. These requirements would be known as fencing the table. In other words, the pastor verbally fences the table before its administration so that all in attendance may be aware of the extent of the invitation to participate. First the fence, as already stated, should keep out those who are unbelievers and have never been converted. The Lord’s Supper is to administered only to those individuals who have a clear profession of salvation and have been Scripturally baptized as a believer.
Secondly, the fence should keep out those members of the congregation that are currently under church discipline or living in unrepentant sin. Unrepentant sin should not be tolerated when individuals are invited to the table and should be addressed beforehand by the pastor or council of elders. Understanding it is impossible to know all situations and circumstances, especially of the lives of those normally not part of your congregation, lay leaders must recognize much of the responsibility of whether or not to partake of the supper is left up the conscience and heart of the individual.
Across the Southern Baptist Convention each church, in its own autonomy, practices open, closed, and close communion. Having seen all three of these practiced in various services, I have concluded that the practice of close communion is the most Scriptural and most celebratory in remembrance of the cross and resurrection of our Lord. Close communion does not welcome all; in the aspect of all religions, backgrounds, or current lifestyle. Nor does close communion restrict the table only to the individual member of one particular church. It does, however, reflect the unity of the body of Christ across congregational, and in many cases, denominational lines as the church gathers to reflect on Christ as we participate in the Supper. Close communion fences the table in such a way that is Scriptural and necessary in order not to partake in an “unworthy” manner.
The Lord’s Supper is a solemn gathering of the wider body of Christ for the celebration of the greatest act of love and grace in the history of the universe. As the church comes to the Lord’s Table may we look forward to the time when we shall all be gathered at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb in God’s eternal kingdom. As the church comes to the Lord’s Table may we come worthy to partake because of the sacrifice of Christ. As the church comes to the Lord’s Table may we unify for the goal of reaching out to spread the gospel of the cross.
Filed under: Doctrine, Lord's Supper, The Church
