Four "Looks"

[HAMel]

I Corinthians 11

There are four "looks" when it comes to Communion.

The first "look" is when taking of the bread an wine we look back to that time when Jesus was broken and died on the Cross for us. Praise the Lord!

The second "look" is as we look forward to the future when He will come back for his children and usher in that perfect peace. Praise the Lord!

The third "look" is an inward look in that we must consider whether we are "worthy" to participate. "29, For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

And the final "look" is when we look up to Heaven and see Jesus sitting on the right hand of God thanking Him for what he did for us. We see our Glorious Savior. Amen.

The key word in v 29, to me, is the word "discerning". Translated, discerning means to separate one's self in a hostile spirit, to oppose, strive with dispute, contend, to be at variance with one's self, hesitate, doubt.

To take of the bread and wine without being committed to the Lord Jesus with heart, mind and spirit, makes us unworthy. What say you?

Also, in your church, do you practice open or closed Communion?

At our church we practice open communion as we believe members of the Body of Christ are exactly that, and need not belong to our church specifically.

 

[Tom Butler]

My congregation is "close" but not "closed." That is, open to Baptists, and not closed to non-members.

I have a slightly different take on taking the Lord's Supper "unworthily." To me,this is not related to our worthiness. It's related to the manner in which we observe the Lord's Supper. That was one of Paul's gripes to the church at Corinth--they were taking the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner.

Otherwise, good points, HAMel.

 

[Jim1999]

While, theoretically, I believe in closed communion, I leave the decision to partake up to each individual. My inivtation is: As baptized believers we will partake of the elements of the Supper. Let a man examine himself........"

The Lord's Supper in the Church of England was limited to members. In the Plymouth Brethren, it was closed door to only members. Baptist churches vary from place to place. Hence, my approach, which met with all baptists.

Cheers,

Jim