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| Q: | A friend of mine views Communion as being separate from church fellowship. She states that Communion is "for all believers," which I cannot disagree with. Her issue lies in the WELS practice of closed Communion. I understand not participating in Communion with those church bodies and churches we are not in fellowship with, but my friend gets bothered and even insulted that this sacrament which is intended for all believers is refused in our church to her and other believers in Christ. I need more than the 1 Cor 11:27-29 in Biblical backing to our practice, and I'm having a tough time finding it. I just feel that that passage doesn't really hit at the issue of refusing Communion to a believer specifically. I think a bigger question I have is, how does Communion specifically tie into fellowship? I've always taken it for granted that Communion and fellowship go hand in hand. | ||||||
| A: | The Lord's Supper is linked to church fellowship principles the same way that every other expression of the Christian faith is linked to it. This is simply one example, though a notable and often very emotionally charged example, of joint expressions of unity in the Christian faith. So whether we speak of joint preaching, joint teaching, joint mission work, joint prayer, or joint sharing in Communion, etc., church fellowship principles apply. All Bible passages that call for unity in the confession of the Christian faith and for a zero tolerance of error apply to joint Communion. Romans 16:17, Titus 3:10, and 2 John 10-11 are sample verses that apply. But do not be satisfied with the citing of a few "proof passages" with your friend. As you describe her, she had fallen prey to false ecumenical assumptions and is leading with her emotions. She needs help and clarifications. Undertake a more thorough or broad-based study of fellowship and allow Scripture in greater fullness to give its balanced testimony--to reinforce what may be good about your friend's thinking (e.g., God desires all Christians to enjoy Communion) and to work repentance in all her bad thinking (e.g., we may enjoy Communion at the expense of divine truth and ignore the danger to souls that error brings). Ask your pastor for recommended materials and recommendations of books you may obtain for this. Resist the urge to take shortcuts. In your study look in particular to the so-called "unit concept" that we believe and teach. This states that all doctrines of Scripture are to be treated as a unit when considering the confessional basis of unity that God desires among us. This also states that all joint expressions of our Christian faith--including joint Communion--require true unity rather than a toleration of impenitence or knowing toleration of any error. | ||||||
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