Why you'll have to refuse me communion...

I know the rules.  Believe me, I do.  I was raised in Landmark Missionary Baptist churches...we didn't evaluate your baptism, or what kind of church you belonged to...we had a truly closed communion table.  If you weren't a member of THAT particular local congregation, you didn't take the Lord's Supper.  Growing up, I would've NEVER expected to take communion even at my brother's church...and I laid hands on my brother to ordain him as a deacon.

The discussion of "open table" versus "closed table" versus "close table" or everything in-between is so over for me.  I believe in the open table, because I honestly cannot reconcile anything else with the gospel of Christ who served even Judas at the table.  Yes, I'm aware of the arguments against that too...I preached them, remember?  They are without much merit in my book.  But this isn't really about books or bibles for me.  This is about people and tables and about whose guests we are when we come to "The Lord's Table."

I am a Christian.  One who understands all the nuance and doctrine around why certain churches don't allow people to take communion.  I know that I can't in some churches because I'm queer.  In others because I cuss.  Some because of what clothes I'm wearing.  In the Roman Catholic church, I supposedly can't take it because I've not been confirmed as a Roman Catholic.  The explanation is always something like "well, we believe in transubstantiation and we don't want anyone to take the host that doesn't believe in the literal presence of Christ."  Which, of course, would effectually cut out a great many Catholics who DO take the Eucharist each Sunday, since most of them usually look confused when I explain what it is that their church actually teaches about the Real Presence.

Sometimes coming to Christ's table and saying you belong there is an act of subversion...it subverts the Empire that seeks to consolidate power at the expense of God's people.  As a Christian, I am not trying to be rude or disrespectful.  I am not trying to mock your beliefs or disregard them.  Rather, I am, faithfully, quietly, and without fanfare, simply saying "This is wrong.  God is right."  Like the early Apostles told to stop preaching about Jesus, I ask "should we obey man rather than God?"  So I can't.  I don't make a big deal about it.  If I thought an individual with whom I have a relationship could be offended or misunderstand my participation in the holy meal, I would talk to them...I would consider the impact of my actions...and I would proceed as faithfully and as lovingly as I could.  And even then, I might do as I always have done and am committed to keep doing...go forward, and put out my hands in humble supplication for what we say is Christ for us, with us, and in us.

If I go and you say no, ok.  But you WILL have to tell me no.  You can refuse me communion...it's your church's right and the clergy person's right ("right" is certainly a loaded term in Christianity).  But you'll have to do it.  Don't expect me to refuse MYSELF communion!  You'll have to actually live out what you think is most important...because I'll be there in front of you with my hands extended and waiting.  But why would I simply refuse communion?  It makes no sense to me.

If you don't think that the bread and wine are really part of communion with God, then stop calling it communion.  And if you refuse me communion, that's fine...but you'll have to do it, because you NEED the spiritual exercise of asking yourself why you would deny ANYONE who says "I want communion."  Aren't you really just saying "no matter how much you want to commune with God, you can't...because _________."  Ok, you may believe that...but you'll have to be the one to say it by telling me no.

If it isn't a blessing for me because I'm denied the blessing, then stop calling it Eucharist (literally "bless").

If it's your church's own supper, then just don't call it the Lord's Supper anymore.

If it isn't an "outward sign of an inward grace" that I can testify to, then stop calling it a sacrament.

If you think there are people outside your church who are united with Christ but can't receive bread and wine in YOUR church, then just stop lying and saying "the body of Christ."  You don't discern the body...and Paul says that you eat and drink damnation to yourself (yes, THAT is what that scripture is ACTUALLY about...your church and how it cuts people out of communion, not "sinners" at the table).

Just call it..."Member Snacks"  That makes for a good bulletin heading...