Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!decwrl!shelby!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: geoff@pmafire.UUCP (Geoff Allen) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: open communion Message-ID: Date: 9 Feb 90 06:45:37 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: WINCO Computer Engineering, INEL, Idaho Lines: 41 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu Our friendly neighborhood moderator speculates on reasons for closed communion. Specifically, One: >... to make sure that the people participating >think they're doing the same thing that the church doing it thinks it >is doing. Two: >... for purposes of church discipline. >... 1 Cor 11:27 suggests that we have a responsibility to make >sure that people partake of communion in a worthy manner. This can of >course be implemented by cautioning people solemnly and leaving it >between them and God, This is how it is done at my church. The pastor gives a `mini-sermon' on the purpose and nature of the communion. He explains that your heart must be right with God before taking it, lest you ``eat and drink judgement upon yourself'' (paraphrase of I Cor. 11:29). The prerequisites basically boil down to two: 1) you are trusting in Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection for salvation; and 2) you have no known, unconfessed sin in your heart. Then a few minutes are given for private prayer before the bread and the cup are passed. I imagine that the assumption is that only you know your relationship with God, so you are the only one qualified to judge whether you should take communion. On the subject of discipline, I imagine that if there were someone who was under discipline at the time that person would be denied communion, but I'm not sure on this one. Just providing another data point, Geoff -- Geoff Allen \ Since we live by the Spirit, {uunet|bigtex}!pmafire!geoff \ let us keep in step with the Spirit. ucdavis!egg-id!pmafire!geoff \ -- Gal. 5:25 (NIV)