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More Thoughts on Open/Closed Communion

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Dr. Bob, Jan 22, 2003.

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  1. Ruth

    Ruth Member
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    My church (which is a small conservative Southern Baptist church) practices open communion. All who are in attendance are invited to partake in the Lord's Supper if they are born again Christians. I particularly like the way our pastor handles it; we have this remembrance after our regular morning service. Before we start, he reads I Corinthians 11:23-29, and invites all believers who feel that they are properly prepared to join us in this.

    This remembrance was enjoined upon all those who had been redeemed by Christ; not those of any particular sect. I know that there are those on this board who are most certainly more educated than I in Biblical scholarship, but it is very plain to me that the Bible clearly says ALL who attended the church were invited to participate, if they felt worthy of the honor. Are we not guilty of legalism by saying they must be members of that church, or even that they must be Baptist, to participate when they have chosen to attend the church and take part in the worship?

    Ruth
     
    #21 Ruth, Jan 23, 2003
  2. Bro. James Reed

    Bro. James Reed New Member

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    Bro. Glen...what about me????? :(

    Am I welcome at the table?

    I feel all alone.

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Seriously though, if you ever come to Houston, please be sure to pay us a visit. Communion on 1st Sunday in April & October. [​IMG]
     
    #22 Bro. James Reed, Jan 23, 2003
  3. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Free church at which I preach believes in open communion. Anybody who calls themselves a Christian can join. Makes me sick.

    What "Lord's body" is he talking about, if not that local body of Christ, His church? Paul has used that phrase extensively in both Corinthian epistles and when singular, refers to the local church there.

    Ex: "What? know ye not that your bodies are . . " (your is plural and bodies is plural = talking about each person's body)

    "What? know ye not that your body is . . " (your is plural and body is singular = talking about the local body of the believers, local church)

    I practice "CLOSE" Communion. I emphasize the need to not just be called a Christian, but one who is</font>
    • (1) truly regenerate;</font>
    • (2) walking in obedience; i.e. baptized by immersion after salvation;</font>
    • (3) right with God; i.e. sin confessed and walking by faith</font>
    • (4) right with fellow man; i.e. no interpersonal sin to break fellowship within the church body</font>
    IF you fulfill that, then you are invited to join our Church Body. So we are not closed to only members, but pretty narrow. We are defending the purity of the ritual in the Lord's Body.
     
    #23 Dr. Bob, Jan 24, 2003
  4. Daniel David

    Daniel David New Member

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    This is exactly what I believe. This is how I personally understand "open communion".
    The primitives go wrong by their understanding of the local church.

    [ January 26, 2003, 10:41 PM: Message edited by: Dr. Bob Griffin ]
     
    #24 Daniel David, Jan 24, 2003
  5. Bro. James Reed

    Bro. James Reed New Member

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    What are you talking about? :confused:

    I am Primitive Baptist and every PB church that I know of practices close communion. i.e. communion with all members of like faith and order; not just the local church.
     
    #25 Bro. James Reed, Jan 26, 2003
  6. Jim1999

    Jim1999 <img src =/Jim1999.jpg>

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    Only one of my churches invited my Anglican wife to partake of the Lord's Supper. The deacons made a special invite to her. I never excluded her in word or discussion at home, but always made the invitation clear in church that the Lord's supper was for baptized believers.

    I might catch her looking the other way this summer in the swimming pool and dunk her.....just kidding,,,she is as firm about her Anglican baptism as I am of immersion.

    Cheers,

    Jim
     
    #26 Jim1999, Jan 26, 2003
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