Open vs Closed Communion EXACTLY WHERE IN SCRIPTURE?

[Alan Gross]

from: Exactaly where in the Bible.....

open vs closed communion EXACTLY WHERE IN SCRIPTURE?

EXACTLY WHERE IN SCRIPTURE DOES THE BIBLE GIVE A DEFINITE ANSWER FOR THE FOLLOWING DOCTRINES?

open =

People can take communion that are not saved.
People who are not a member of that local body of believers may be saved, but not have a clean walk with The Lord.
Churches believe closed communion is opposed to unity.
Churches may have 3,000 members where 1,000 attend.
Churches believe it would be passing judgment.
Some churches do not believe that the Lord himself gave closed communion as an ordinance to His local assemblies, only.
They believe it is a 'Christian' ordinance, instead of a 'church' ordinance.
Churches do not practice church discipline.

Do you want scriptures for open communion?

I can recommend "Why Baptists Believe and Practice Closed Communion", by the previous, 52-year, pastor of our church, Al Gormley, with 25 or 30 more scriptures on closed communion, but on open communion, I have nothing and the Bible has nothing (even relevant)
...

closed communion =

Sermon Outlines by Milburn Cockrell

Why Baptists Practice Closed Communion

Acts 2:41, 42; 1 Corinthians 11:2, 28


INTRODUCTION

Baptists have been misunderstood, criticized, and misrepresented more for this practice than for any other. It is, really, restricted observance of the Lord's Supper.

THE BAPTIST POSITION:

"We do not invite unbaptized persons to the Lord's table, and as we do not extend invitations to such persons, we do not accept invitations of unbaptized persons to partake with them"(George W.McDaniel).

I. ALL THE MAJOR DENOMINATIONS TEACH IT!,
i.e., Closed Communion, to one extent or another.

That is what they have said they "teach".

1. Church of England: "No church ever gave the communion to any person before he was baptized; among all the absurdities ever held, none ever held this, that any person should take of the communion before he was baptized" (Dr.William Wall).

2. Presbyterian: "It is certain that so far as our knowledge of primitive antiquity goes, no unbaptized person received the Lord's Supper"(Dr.Doddridge).

3. Congregational: "I agree with the advocates of close communion...that we ought not to commune with those who have not been baptized, and of course are not members, even if we regard them as Christians"(Dr.Griffin).

4. Methodist: "It is but just to remark that in one principle the Baptist and Pedo-Baptist churches agree.They both agree in rejecting from the table of the Lord and in denying the rights of church fellowship to all who have not been baptized"(Dr.Hibbard).

5. Episcopalian: "None could be admitted to holy communion but baptized persons lying under no censure"(Prof. Chettham).

6. Campbellites: "Your third opinion is: Do any of your churches admit unbaptized persons to communion, a practice that is becoming very prevalent in this country? Not so far as is known to me ...But I object to making it a rule, in any case, to receive unimmersed persons to church ordinances"(Alexander Campbell).

II. MISREPRESENTATIONS OF OUR POSITION:

1."Baptists believe that they are the only people who are saved."
Contra. Acts 10:34,35; John 3:16,36;5:24; Acts 16:31; Revalations 22:17.

2."Baptists are bigoted."
Contra Romans 14:5b.

3."Baptists are narrow and divisive."
Contra 1 Corinthians 11:2b; 2 Corinthians 4:13; 1 John 2:19.

"It is submitted that Baptists are not responsible for existing divisions.

"Baptists have adhered to a uniform Scriptural practice.

"The people who deviate from the course of the New Testament are responsible for the divisions"(George W. McDaniel).

Why Baptists Practice Closed Communion

III. BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE.
The Lord's Supper IS RESTRICTED TO :

1. The saved --believers -
-Matthew 26:20;Acts 2:41; no one else could.

2. The baptized
(no New Testament record to the contrary).

A. A Scriptural subject --a born-again person -
-Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; 8:36-38.

B. A Scriptural administrator --a New Testament church -
-Matthew 28:19 ; no man-made society originating later has any authority.

C. A Scriptural mode --immersion -
-Matthew 3:16;Mark 1:5;John 3:23;Acts 8:38,39;Romans 6:4;

Colossians 2:12; sprinkling and pouring are equivalent to no baptism at all!

D. A Scriptural design --to show that the person baptized has already been saved --Matthew 3:15;1 Peter 3:21.

3. Those in church capacity -
-Acts 2:41;1 Corinthians 11:18,20; it is a church ordinance;
man-made substitutes for a church are not even counted.

4. The sound in doctrine -
-Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:18-20; (Makes inter-denominational communion impossible!); 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

5. The fellowship of pure life and orderly walk --Acts 2:42;1 Corinthians 5:11.


CONCLUSION

"Close communion" is the only consistent, Scriptural position.

When we get to the Lord's table, what blessed communion with Him!
1 Corinthians 10:16.

Have you heeded the Gospel testimony dramatized by the Lord's supper? 1 Corinthians 11:26.

 

[37818]

open =

People can take communion that are not saved.

That is not the open communion where any professing saved persons can participate.

 

[ParticularWife]

I grew up in the OPC. I was no surprised that other churches practice open communion (though I am against it on Scripture grounds) but I found it surprising how much it seems to irritate certain NDs that we don't practice it.

 

[JonC]

That is not the open communion where any professing saved persons can participate.

from: Exactaly where in the Bible.....

open vs closed communion EXACTLY WHERE IN SCRIPTURE?

EXACTLY WHERE IN SCRIPTURE DOES THE BIBLE GIVE A DEFINITE ANSWER FOR THE FOLLOWING DOCTRINES?

open =

People can take communion that are not saved.
People who are not a member of that local body of believers may be saved, but not have a clean walk with The Lord.
Churches believe closed communion is opposed to unity.
Churches may have 3,000 members where 1,000 attend.
Churches believe it would be passing judgment.
Some churches do not believe that the Lord himself gave closed communion as an ordinance to His local assemblies, only.
They believe it is a 'Christian' ordinance, instead of a 'church' ordinance.
Churches do not practice church discipline.

Do you want scriptures for open communion?

I can recommend "Why Baptists Believe and Practice Closed Communion", by the previous, 52-year, pastor of our church, Al Gormley, with 25 or 30 more scriptures on closed communion, but on open communion, I have nothing and the Bible has nothing (even relevant)
...

closed communion =

Sermon Outlines by Milburn Cockrell

Why Baptists Practice Closed Communion

Acts 2:41, 42; 1 Corinthians 11:2, 28


INTRODUCTION

Baptists have been misunderstood, criticized, and misrepresented more for this practice than for any other. It is, really, restricted observance of the Lord's Supper.

THE BAPTIST POSITION:

"We do not invite unbaptized persons to the Lord's table, and as we do not extend invitations to such persons, we do not accept invitations of unbaptized persons to partake with them"(George W.McDaniel).

I. ALL THE MAJOR DENOMINATIONS TEACH IT!,
i.e., Closed Communion, to one extent or another.

That is what they have said they "teach".

1. Church of England: "No church ever gave the communion to any person before he was baptized; among all the absurdities ever held, none ever held this, that any person should take of the communion before he was baptized" (Dr.William Wall).

2. Presbyterian: "It is certain that so far as our knowledge of primitive antiquity goes, no unbaptized person received the Lord's Supper"(Dr.Doddridge).

3. Congregational: "I agree with the advocates of close communion...that we ought not to commune with those who have not been baptized, and of course are not members, even if we regard them as Christians"(Dr.Griffin).

4. Methodist: "It is but just to remark that in one principle the Baptist and Pedo-Baptist churches agree.They both agree in rejecting from the table of the Lord and in denying the rights of church fellowship to all who have not been baptized"(Dr.Hibbard).

5. Episcopalian: "None could be admitted to holy communion but baptized persons lying under no censure"(Prof. Chettham).

6. Campbellites: "Your third opinion is: Do any of your churches admit unbaptized persons to communion, a practice that is becoming very prevalent in this country? Not so far as is known to me ...But I object to making it a rule, in any case, to receive unimmersed persons to church ordinances"(Alexander Campbell).

II. MISREPRESENTATIONS OF OUR POSITION:

1."Baptists believe that they are the only people who are saved."
Contra. Acts 10:34,35; John 3:16,36;5:24; Acts 16:31; Revalations 22:17.

2."Baptists are bigoted."
Contra Romans 14:5b.

3."Baptists are narrow and divisive."
Contra 1 Corinthians 11:2b; 2 Corinthians 4:13; 1 John 2:19.

"It is submitted that Baptists are not responsible for existing divisions.

"Baptists have adhered to a uniform Scriptural practice.

"The people who deviate from the course of the New Testament are responsible for the divisions"(George W. McDaniel).

Why Baptists Practice Closed Communion

III. BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE.
The Lord's Supper IS RESTRICTED TO :

1. The saved --believers -
-Matthew 26:20;Acts 2:41; no one else could.

2. The baptized
(no New Testament record to the contrary).

A. A Scriptural subject --a born-again person -
-Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; 8:36-38.

B. A Scriptural administrator --a New Testament church -
-Matthew 28:19 ; no man-made society originating later has any authority.

C. A Scriptural mode --immersion -
-Matthew 3:16;Mark 1:5;John 3:23;Acts 8:38,39;Romans 6:4;

Colossians 2:12; sprinkling and pouring are equivalent to no baptism at all!

D. A Scriptural design --to show that the person baptized has already been saved --Matthew 3:15;1 Peter 3:21.

3. Those in church capacity -
-Acts 2:41;1 Corinthians 11:18,20; it is a church ordinance;
man-made substitutes for a church are not even counted.

4. The sound in doctrine -
-Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:18-20; (Makes inter-denominational communion impossible!); 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

5. The fellowship of pure life and orderly walk --Acts 2:42;1 Corinthians 5:11.


CONCLUSION

"Close communion" is the only consistent, Scriptural position.

When we get to the Lord's table, what blessed communion with Him!
1 Corinthians 10:16.

Have you heeded the Gospel testimony dramatized by the Lord's supper? 1 Corinthians 11:26.

The OP is incorrect on one point.

"Open Communion" is communion to those professing to be saved regardless of denomination 9r church membership.

"Closed Communion" is communion to those of a specific congregation or denominations.

Neither is open to unsaved persons.


The criteria is whether one must examine their own heart or meet a congregational text prior to observing the Supper and includes how responsibility falls upon those observing unworthily.

Closed Communion views the Church as responsible for the state of the observer. This is the historical tradition for most. The Church decides who receives and who is excluded from the Eucharist (Catholic), or Communion (Presbyterian, Lutheran). The criteria is not the salvation of those seeking communion but the authority of the Church offering communion.

Open Communion is offered to all believers. The criteria is salvation, but the responsibility is on the one partaking rather than the organization offering. If unbelieving or not in a right standing with God the one partaking does so to h8s or her own detriment.


Open Communion is biblical as the only biblical test is self-examination and biblically is not withheld, although it is accompanied by a warning.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

If you are not a member of the church, I don’t think you should participate.

 

[Silverhair]

If you are not a member of the church, I don’t think you should participate.

The church is the body of Christ. A particular denomination or gathering within that denomination is made up of the church.

1Co_10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?

1Co_12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Eph_4:12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

The only reason that I can think of for why a Christian congregation would exclude another Christian from taking communion would be Exclusivism.

 

[JD731]

Can you imagine how many during the first century took communion with other believers in churches that they were not members of? Paul said let's go to the churches and see how they do. Luke traveled with him and Silas and Timothy and others and I am sure they did not join the fellowship as permanent members in order to take communion with them, And what about our board missionary to Japan, @John of Japan. He probably had a sending church that ordained him into the ministry but one would think he took communion with believers in Japan. Maybe he will help us with this question.

Our Baptist church practices open and closed communion. It is open to born again Christians and closed to those who are not. The judgement of ones own heart is personal between the individual and our Lord.

 

[John of Japan]

Can you imagine how many during the first century took communion with other believers in churches that they were not members of? Paul said let's go to the churches and see how they do. Luke traveled with him and Silas and Timothy and others and I am sure they did not join the fellowship as permanent members in order to take communion with them, And what about our board missionary to Japan, @John of Japan. He probably had a sending church that ordained him into the ministry but one would think he took communion with believers in Japan. Maybe he will help us with this question.

Our Baptist church practices open and closed communion. It is open to born again Christians and closed to those who are not. The judgement of ones own heart is personal between the individual and our Lord.

The typical stance of my group of Baptists is close communion, sharing the table with anyone who had been immersed and was of like faith and practice. That was pretty much what we did in Japan. Now, if one believes that the one taking communion must be a member of that church, you have a church polity problem on the mission field: Is the missionary a member of the church he is planting, the sending church, or both? I'll let you chew on that one.

 

[JD731]

The typical stance of my group of Baptists is close communion, sharing the table with anyone who had been immersed and was of like faith and practice. That was pretty much what we did in Japan. Now, if one believes that the one taking communion must be a member of that church, you have a church polity problem on the mission field: Is the missionary a member of the church he is planting, the sending church, or both? I'll let you chew on that one.

It seems like a common sense issue rather than a doctrinal issue to me. There is only one church body and all saved people are in it, no?

 

[JesusFan]

from: Exactaly where in the Bible.....

open vs closed communion EXACTLY WHERE IN SCRIPTURE?

EXACTLY WHERE IN SCRIPTURE DOES THE BIBLE GIVE A DEFINITE ANSWER FOR THE FOLLOWING DOCTRINES?

open =

People can take communion that are not saved.
People who are not a member of that local body of believers may be saved, but not have a clean walk with The Lord.
Churches believe closed communion is opposed to unity.
Churches may have 3,000 members where 1,000 attend.
Churches believe it would be passing judgment.
Some churches do not believe that the Lord himself gave closed communion as an ordinance to His local assemblies, only.
They believe it is a 'Christian' ordinance, instead of a 'church' ordinance.
Churches do not practice church discipline.

Do you want scriptures for open communion?

I can recommend "Why Baptists Believe and Practice Closed Communion", by the previous, 52-year, pastor of our church, Al Gormley, with 25 or 30 more scriptures on closed communion, but on open communion, I have nothing and the Bible has nothing (even relevant)
...

closed communion =

Sermon Outlines by Milburn Cockrell

Why Baptists Practice Closed Communion

Acts 2:41, 42; 1 Corinthians 11:2, 28


INTRODUCTION

Baptists have been misunderstood, criticized, and misrepresented more for this practice than for any other. It is, really, restricted observance of the Lord's Supper.

THE BAPTIST POSITION:

"We do not invite unbaptized persons to the Lord's table, and as we do not extend invitations to such persons, we do not accept invitations of unbaptized persons to partake with them"(George W.McDaniel).

I. ALL THE MAJOR DENOMINATIONS TEACH IT!,
i.e., Closed Communion, to one extent or another.

That is what they have said they "teach".

1. Church of England: "No church ever gave the communion to any person before he was baptized; among all the absurdities ever held, none ever held this, that any person should take of the communion before he was baptized" (Dr.William Wall).

2. Presbyterian: "It is certain that so far as our knowledge of primitive antiquity goes, no unbaptized person received the Lord's Supper"(Dr.Doddridge).

3. Congregational: "I agree with the advocates of close communion...that we ought not to commune with those who have not been baptized, and of course are not members, even if we regard them as Christians"(Dr.Griffin).

4. Methodist: "It is but just to remark that in one principle the Baptist and Pedo-Baptist churches agree.They both agree in rejecting from the table of the Lord and in denying the rights of church fellowship to all who have not been baptized"(Dr.Hibbard).

5. Episcopalian: "None could be admitted to holy communion but baptized persons lying under no censure"(Prof. Chettham).

6. Campbellites: "Your third opinion is: Do any of your churches admit unbaptized persons to communion, a practice that is becoming very prevalent in this country? Not so far as is known to me ...But I object to making it a rule, in any case, to receive unimmersed persons to church ordinances"(Alexander Campbell).

II. MISREPRESENTATIONS OF OUR POSITION:

1."Baptists believe that they are the only people who are saved."
Contra. Acts 10:34,35; John 3:16,36;5:24; Acts 16:31; Revalations 22:17.

2."Baptists are bigoted."
Contra Romans 14:5b.

3."Baptists are narrow and divisive."
Contra 1 Corinthians 11:2b; 2 Corinthians 4:13; 1 John 2:19.

"It is submitted that Baptists are not responsible for existing divisions.

"Baptists have adhered to a uniform Scriptural practice.

"The people who deviate from the course of the New Testament are responsible for the divisions"(George W. McDaniel).

Why Baptists Practice Closed Communion

III. BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE.
The Lord's Supper IS RESTRICTED TO :

1. The saved --believers -
-Matthew 26:20;Acts 2:41; no one else could.

2. The baptized
(no New Testament record to the contrary).

A. A Scriptural subject --a born-again person -
-Matthew 28:19; Acts 2:41; 8:36-38.

B. A Scriptural administrator --a New Testament church -
-Matthew 28:19 ; no man-made society originating later has any authority.

C. A Scriptural mode --immersion -
-Matthew 3:16;Mark 1:5;John 3:23;Acts 8:38,39;Romans 6:4;

Colossians 2:12; sprinkling and pouring are equivalent to no baptism at all!

D. A Scriptural design --to show that the person baptized has already been saved --Matthew 3:15;1 Peter 3:21.

3. Those in church capacity -
-Acts 2:41;1 Corinthians 11:18,20; it is a church ordinance;
man-made substitutes for a church are not even counted.

4. The sound in doctrine -
-Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 11:18-20; (Makes inter-denominational communion impossible!); 2 Thessalonians 3:16.

5. The fellowship of pure life and orderly walk --Acts 2:42;1 Corinthians 5:11.


CONCLUSION

"Close communion" is the only consistent, Scriptural position.

When we get to the Lord's table, what blessed communion with Him!
1 Corinthians 10:16.

Have you heeded the Gospel testimony dramatized by the Lord's supper? 1 Corinthians 11:26.

Bible teaching would be any saved person who is not walking in known sin without any repentance can partake