Communion Question

[Sparkles]

The last 2 times we had communion at my church 2 different things happened that never had been said before..

1st time the pastor said "if you aren't water baptised you shouldn't take communion"
then the next time the deacon who was standing in for the pastor said
"If you are not saved then you shouldn't take communion." but made no mention of water baptism.

Neither of these 2 statements sat well with me. My feeling is this Jesus called ALL to his supper and there are some saved members of my church who are not yet water baptised and also teens who have accepted the Lord but have not been baptised yet.

I dont really know what to think about the comment to the unsaved.

BTW this is an AOG Church

I am looking for clarification and the Truth.
Thanks in advance

[Tall Timbers]

Jesus told His disciples to do this in memory of Him. I don't know why a non-believer would want to participate in communion...

[Sparkles]

good point on the unsaved. I guess they may be seeking and visiting the church... but what do you think about the baptism?

[icebear]

my sister used to be part of an AoG church, iirr they (at least that group) believe water baptism is necessary for salvation.

[Wishing4]

The building our church is in does not have a baptistry (they've ordered one and waiting to see if the floor will hold it). Those waiting to be baptized are allowed to take communion. They have accepted Jesus as their Savior and are waiting to publicly show it. To me, if you've accepted Jesus you should be free to take communion.

[BelovedChild]

Non believers I would say no.

Unbaptised. Well it is not essential to be baptised to be a Christian, but it is essential for a Christian to be baptised. double speak no.

The thief on the cross was not able to be baptised, During the two thousand years of the church, no doubt many, many believers have died before baptism for many reasons.

However, Jesus said in the great commission, go into the whole world...baptising them...

Jesus also said to John the Baptist that it was right for Him to be baptised.

So unbaptised believers taking communion yes.

PS Baptised is Aussie spelling

[House of Light]

I don't believe that the "unsaved" should ever take communion. To accept communion, you are saying "YES", that you accept the new covenant in Christ. A covenant is a serious binding agreement with the Lord. We are affirming our relationship with Christ...when we take communion. Thats why we are called to examine ourselves first. For someone to say "YES" to a covenant, but not really mean it..its blasphemy and a lie. Why would one want to let this happen in their church?

[IMSAVED]

I also think that if you have asked Jesus Christ into your life you should be able to participate in Communion.I do not see why an unbeliver would even want to take Communion

[mustang]

Jesus told His disciples to do this in memory of Him. I don't know why a non-believer would want to participate in communion...

If they've visited a Church I've known non-believers to take communion. Probably because everyone is doing it. Haven't met one who has been Baptised by choice though.

[Firefly]

I recall years ago as a teen, at a Methodist church, hearing a warning before they served communion, something from scripture (sorry for bad paraphrase) about 'eating and drinking judgement upon yourself' - meaning if you took it in an unworthy manner. I was a rebellious teen, and worried about that passage, but at the same time worried that if I didn't take communion, my parents would know I had been up to no good the night before, out with 'friends'.... so I took communion. Was I saved? I had said the sinner's prayer, but no change of lifestyle had happened. I wonder now if I was saved, either way, I'm sure I brought judgement on myself by my actions.

I have rarely heard a warning when a church is introducing communion these days, and it concerns me that if they don't, the unbelievers will bring judgement against themselves, just taking it because they want to 'fit in', or because they don't want anyone to know that they are not a Christian (not realizing what true Christianity is). Or maybe they think it is a 'work' that will cleanse them and they will be ok with God because of that act.

If there is an unbeliever who hears the warning, and doesn't heed it, that is on his own head. If the church serves it without the warning, I would wonder if those church leaders would be held responsible for leading people astray.

(I asked a Methodist minister about this warning, because that church (I visited) has an 'open table' that they invite all to, inviting all who want to be close to God (or some type of watered down invitation), but not giving a warning - the minister said that it is those who are sinful and in need of Christ's healing that they are trying to draw to come and partake with the church. I dropped the subject, it seemed the phrase 'worthy manner' wasn't meaning the same thing to us. Either that or I was way off base?)

[Batman]

See 1 Corinthians 11:27-29................warnings that should ALWAYS be given prior to communion.

I recall years ago as a teen, at a Methodist church, hearing a warning before they served communion, something from scripture (sorry for bad paraphrase) about 'eating and drinking judgement upon yourself' - meaning if you took it in an unworthy manner. I was a rebellious teen, and worried about that passage, but at the same time worried that if I didn't take communion, my parents would know I had been up to no good the night before, out with 'friends'.... so I took communion. Was I saved? I had said the sinner's prayer, but no change of lifestyle had happened. I wonder now if I was saved, either way, I'm sure I brought judgement on myself by my actions.

I have rarely heard a warning when a church is introducing communion these days, and it concerns me that if they don't, the unbelievers will bring judgement against themselves, just taking it because they want to 'fit in', or because they don't want anyone to know that they are not a Christian (not realizing what true Christianity is). Or maybe they think it is a 'work' that will cleanse them and they will be ok with God because of that act.

If there is an unbeliever who hears the warning, and doesn't heed it, that is on his own head. If the church serves it without the warning, I would wonder if those church leaders would be held responsible for leading people astray.

(I asked a Methodist minister about this warning, because that church (I visited) has an 'open table' that they invite all to, inviting all who want to be close to God (or some type of watered down invitation), but not giving a warning - the minister said that it is those who are sinful and in need of Christ's healing that they are trying to draw to come and partake with the church. I dropped the subject, it seemed the phrase 'worthy manner' wasn't meaning the same thing to us. Either that or I was way off base?)

[Sparkles]

t

See 1 Corinthians 11:27-29................warnings that should ALWAYS be given prior to communion.

Thank you batman.

[Firefly]

See 1 Corinthians 11:27-29................warnings that should ALWAYS be given prior to communion.

Thank you, Batman, yes, that is exactly what I was trying to remember. I think the minister may have read that whole passage, and that was why it bothered me so much! How many churches give this warning nowadays, I wonder?

[Batman]

From 1996 to now I've heard that warning before every communion service (in 2 different Baptist churches). Before 1996 I'm not sure any church that I attended (Presbyterian and Methodist) gave the warning.

[Kliska]

Just as long as the correct interpretation is given. The injunction isn't about sin or being unworthy, it is about partaking in an unworthy manner; that is, without acknowledging or discerning the symbols of the Lord's body and blood. Putting our attention on anything else but Christ as we partake (including ourselves) is a no-no. Our side of things is the have faith in Jesus and His sacrifice, fully aware of the symbolic nature of bread and wine as we partake, for we are showing forth Christ by partaking.

To partake unworthily is to partake drunk, unbelieving, etc... that would show that the person is not discerning (realizing and believing) what the bread and wine represent.