Closed Communion
Who should be allowed to partake of the Lord’s Table and what role does the church play?
Closed Table
Several weeks ago I received a phone call from a teacher at Bushnell University. He’s teaching an Intro to Christian Doctrine class and wanted to have a panel of different views to discuss the Lord’s Table. So, it seems fitting to capitalize on that preparation to also let you all know our church’s view of the Lord’s Table. It’s a pretty big deal and deserves clarity.
Our church teaches that Christians are nourished by the spiritual benefits of Christ via the Holy Spirit received by faith. This has been the historic Reformed position since Calvin and reflected in the 1689 LBCF (our confession), WCF, Belgic Confession, and Heidelberg Confession.
But, what I want to share here is HOW we participate in the Lord’s Table and how we guard it.
What is open and closed communion?
When you are sitting in a church on communion Sunday, you expect some words to be shared about Christ’s sacrifice and then the elements (grape juice and cracker) are passed around in some sort of dish. At some point, perhaps with instruction perhaps without, you will drink the juice and eat the cracker. If you walked into most Evangelical churches, this would broadly characterize your experience.
But should you be able to just walk into a church and partake of the Lord’s Table? Is it simply a matter of your discretion or is there something bigger going on?
Open Communion is the position that places the authority of admission to the Lord’s Table on the individual. This means that it’s up to you if you partake or not. This can include something called verbal fencing, the instruction from a pastor that might “bar” one from participating, or dissuade them. This can include that communion is only for believers. However, nobody is physically fencing the table.
Closed Communion is the position that places the authority of admission to the Lord’s Table on both the individual and the body to grant access to the Lord’s Table. This means the individual can’t force their way into participation and neither can the body force the individual to participate. What grants access to the Lord’s Table in closed communion is typically membership in right standing at this local church. The responsibility of the individual then is to examine oneself to ensure they partake rightly. While the logistics of this are contextually flexible, it should be done with the oversight of the elders of the church.
These are, broadly, the two ways that the church answers the question who is allowed to participate in the Lord’s table.
Defense of Closed Communion
Let’s be honest. Everything about closed communion attacks our current cultural moment. Our individualism, our subjectivism, our rights! I hear you. Who has the right to forbid me from participating in this deeply personal practice?
1 | Communion is Communal
That probably sounds funny. To put it another way, communion is not simply about you and Jesus. It’s about the local church and Jesus.
“When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat.”
1 Corinthians 11:20
As Paul prepares to level the church in Corinth for fouling up the Lord’s Table so badly, he begins by saying, “Isn’t this why you gather together?” The Lord’s Table is about fellowship with Christ, AND each other.
As Paul so plainly lays out in 1 Corinthians 12:12-27, we are united in Christ to one another. When we come together as the local church in communion we are experiencing that union to each other and to our Lord and Savior. In 1 Corinthians 10:21 Paul also makes it clear that we cannot have communion with demons and the Lord. This excludes non-believers from the Lord’s Table because they have no fellowship with Christ nor His church.
What does this mean? It means that the Lord’s Table is not a matter of personal preference. An individual doesn’t go rogue or intrude somewhere they are uninvited. I can’t walk into someone’s house and invite myself to dinner.
A church is formed by Christ on His Truth. People come together, they agree on sound doctrine, covenant (commit) to one another to fulfill their duties and enjoy the delights of fellowship, and act this out in the Lord’s table. One could not say I belong here (participation in the Lord’s Table) without the consent of the church. When we partake of the Lord’s Table we SEE the church! The body of Christ. We know who we are responsible for. If you are not a member there are two factors at play: 1. The church doesn’t know you 2. You are not covenanted by commission or omission. In both these instances there is not true fellowship and thus no table fellowship.
2 | The Church Must Have Division but not be Divisive
Closed communion feels divisive. Haven’t we been taught since childhood that it is not nice to leave others out? But, God has always been in the business of setting apart. He is holy, He is set apart. He has called a people to be holy, to be His own possession. That means there are people not included.
“for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized.”
1 Corinthians 11:19
Division is necessary, divisiveness is demonic. So how do we determine the difference? It’s here I think Jesus Himself gives us some helpful instruction. In Matthew 16:13-19 Jesus asked Peter who He was. He answered rightly and Jesus commended Him, telling Him that this right confession of the Christ was revealed by the Father and that upon this Jesus would build His church. Then He tells Peter whatever he binds on earth will be bound, and whatever he looses will be loosed. What?!
“If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.”
Matthew 18:17
Later Jesus tells His disciples how to deal with those in the church who live contrary to the confession they made and refuse correction, to seek their restoration through church discipline. Then, He says again, whatever you bind or loose is bound or loosed. So the authority Jesus gave His church was to bring in or put out members of the church. It was to establish a church from a people who rightly confessed and lived according to Jesus Christ. So what does this have to do with the Lord’s Table?
“But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.”
1 Corinthians 5:11
Does Paul mean grabbing a meal at Taco Bell with a brother entrenched in unrepentant sexual immorality? I think so. Does he mean refuse that same brother from the Lord’s Table? Absolutely. Arguing from the greater to the lesser: if he means sharing a casual meal then he must also include sharing a FAR more important meal with them. From greater to lesser: if he means sharing the Lord’s Table, he seems to also mean refusing to engage as friends as if nothing happened. That former brother should be called to repentance that their soul might be saved, not treated as if nothing happened.
Let’s get back to access to the Lord’s Table. We’ve clearly seen that those under church discipline should not be permitted. But, is it fair to prohibit non-members of this church to participate?
“For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”
1 Corinthians 5:12
A church cannot judge outsiders according to the principles applied to Christians. They stand condemned by God’s perfect law, just like we were. Neither does one church have the authority to excommunicate someone covenanted at another church. This means that in order to judge those inside the church we must be able to remove them from the Lord’s Table. That means in order to have access to the meal of union with our Lord and His body, he must be a member where he is seeking participation. If a person is an outsider, either from another church or a non-believer, this church cannot exercise church discipline. That means that we couldn’t obey Holy Scripture to remove them from the Lord’s Table if need be. Therefore, they cannot be allowed access to this church’s communion.
3 | The Church Represents Christ
Finally, we have to understand why we do this. Why is this seemingly rigorous process necessary for the church? Can’t we lay aside all the bureaucracy and stick to Kingdom business?
First, let’s not misunderstand the orderliness of the church with unnecessary red tape (1 Cor. 14:40). Surely this is a reality sometimes, color of the carpets, cup and cracker or prepackaged communion, etc. However, if the church is Christ’s and we believe He has given us marching orders regarding its organization and function to remain faithful to His purposes, then we must be concerned with the polity of the church. Somewhere along the way the Gospel got pitted against anything contentious as though they were enemies. I think we are now seeing the fruit of stripping the church of its biblical organization and focus on sound doctrine. I think in some cases we have lost the Gospel in our attempt to get rid of what we considered “unnecessary fluff or red tape”. A biblical process for guarding the Lord’s Table guards the integrity and purity of the church. It allows the church to exercise its authority given by Christ the King of the church.
Second, the church, the covenanted believers assembled together, have a duty towards each other. If the “each other” is ambiguous then the church is left to fulfill it’s duties in an awkward and usure way. This can lead to people feeling blindsided and others doubting if they should’ve intervened. A visible local church at the Lord’s Table tells everyone present who this church is. It tells them who has authority and what that authority is. It shows who has privileges to enjoy the full delights of belonging to a local church. It carves out a people that confess Christ and enter glad submission to serve and love one another by His standards. The church follows King Jesus’ commands.
Third, if we are a church we are founded on sound doctrine. We can’t be a real church without it. We don’t gather to discuss the migration patterns of mallards in May. That sound doctrine, the faithful interpretation of Holy Scripture, tells us that we are to defend sound doctrine. We are the buttress of Truth (1 Tim. 3:15), Paul wrote to Timothy so they might know how to conduct themselves in the household of God. We are a temple of the Living God put together like a beautiful stonework castle (Eph. 2:20-22). We wouldn’t be much use if every brick came on their own terms, acted according to their own desires, believed whatever tickled their ears, but demanded identification with the people of God. When a “Christian” lives contrary to the Savior they bear the namesake, they bring reproach on Christ. However, a church rightly ordered can clearly and rightly say that this person does not belong to them.
Fourth, the very fact that the church was purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ the God-man demands we treat the matter with a sober reverence. She is the bride of Christ. We want to do all we can to facilitate her purity that she may be built up, mature and presentable when Christ returns for her (Eph. 4:13, 5:25-27). There will no doubt be chaff with the wheat, but the church and the pastors job is to strive for purity in the visible representation of Christ’s power on earth. We cannot tolerate the besmirching of our Savior’s sacrifice because our body is undefined and unruly.
Conclusion
This is a big pill to swallow, but we believe it is an important part of the church conducting herself in a manner obedient to Christ. It facilitates the beauty of true community, true fellowship, that can only be found where heaven has touched earth and the Gospel has radically transformed a people. For more reading on this, check out Membership, what’s the deal?.
Busy Calendar
I want to update you on my calendar, so you can be informed and praying for the church plant team.
4|12 I share at New Hope Creswell (a sister SBC church) about the church plant. I love Pastor Kasey and Josh and look forward to joining their worship and sharing what we’re doing. Pray that God uses this as a chance to edify the church, encourage them in their work, and potentially help provide for our work. We’re always looking for prayer, financial support, and if God so provides, folks who might live in Springfield to consider joining us.
4|16 I join a panel to discuss the Lord’s Table presenting our position. Pray that it’s a productive time and that the beauty of the ordinance shines through on the students there.
4|17-18 Rachel and Linda will be at the NWBC Women’s Summit for a time of equipping and refreshing. Pray they are encouraged and that the Lord nourishes her with that time.
4|21 I will be teaching an evening with the collegiate ministry NCM lead by Warren Davie. The topic is “Why Membership”. I’m am greatly looking forward to it to help give the college students a beatific vision of the church and why we should join ourselves to it.
4|23-25 Rachel will be going to Portland for Simeon Trust again. It’s an invaluable time to be equipped for rightly studying, interpreting, and applying Scripture.
4|27-29 Rachel and I (as well as our pastor Matt and his family) will be going to a church planting retreat. This will be our second year and we’re looking forward to it. Pray it’s restful and encouraging.
Prayer Requests
Continue praying for Russell’s wife Rachel as she’s still suffering with an affliction and waiting for medication to do it’s thing. Additionally, Russell has had some medical issues show up so please pray for wisdom as they investigate the causes.
Continue to pray for Wendy, she has been moved to Junction City. This was sudden and has hampered her ability to get to church. She desperately wants to be with her church on Sundays and we are trying to figure anything out we can to get her here.
Pray for Rachel and I as we have a busy month. Two trips will be just Rachel so I’ll have the kiddos flying solo! We’ll see what kind of trouble we can get it while she’s gone.
Pray for our country. Pray for Iran. Pray for our president. Regardless of your feelings on the current events, we need God’s intervention.
