There’s a way of restricting the Supper so as to drain it of its meaning; similarly there’s a way of broadening it that renders it so thin that it might as well not be there. Some restrict the Supper just to members of the local body who’ve passed a strict gauntlet of catechism questions without stammering once. Some, aiming for inclusivity, distribute the “Supper” to all manner of unrepentant heathens, and “why stop there,” the recently ordained non-binary, lesbian Episcopalian reasons, her 13 feral cats deserve means of grace as well.
We welcome all baptized believers to join us at the Lord’s table. This isn’t because we have a low view of the sacredness of the Supper, but because we have a high view. While we believe that formal membership with a local body is necessary for the care of souls, the roster of our membership is neither the limit of or identical with the roster of all of God’s elect saints.
The boundary line of a church’s membership rolls tells us which souls God will call the elders of that local body to give an account for on the Last Day (Heb. 13:17). The boundary for who might partake of the Supper stretches from sea to sea, from continent to continent, and from generation to generation. The doorway for partaking of the Supper is that of holy baptism, and all who’ve passed through that door are most welcome here.
The question isn’t, “Are you a member of this local body?” Rather, the question is, “Are you baptized into Christ?” If you are baptized, then come. If you are Christ’s, then come. If you’re born of God, then come. If you have looked to Him in evangelical faith, yet you are just a visitor with us this morning, then come. Here is the communion of the saints.
So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…
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