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.
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...
Unfortunately, however sincere you may be and how much you say you wish to be united with other Christians, the method you describe is at best faulty and certainly very presumptive on your part.
ReplyDeleteTo start with a practical matter, no one is going to baby-sit you to prevent you from receiving. To do so would create a distraction to other Communicants as well as giving you what might be a pretext to complain, however lacking in merits. No sir, your act is your responsibility, solely.
Secondly, any organization has the right to make reasonable rules about what people can and cannot do in the course of its services. If I attend as a guest common courtesy and manners dictate that I follow established custom and practice. I don’t start singing “Kumbaya” when others are singing the announced hymn, I don’t tell the minister which text from which he should preach, and I certainly don’t direct who will or will not receive communion.
Conversely, if you start your own congregation, you are free to make whatever rules you want, assuming you can find people who will accept your leadership. If I come and attend your service, I daresay you would find it outrageous were I to inform you that I will participate on my terms, regardless of anything you may say.
More importantly, to receive Communion is a public declaration the Communicant makes that he or she is in fact in Communion with that Church and all that implies: accepting her doctrine, obeying her moral teaching, acknowledging her authority, and so forth. Obviously then, one should not in good conscience present oneself as being in communion with a body with which he or she has serious disagreement. To do so would be an act of enormous ignorance or monstrous duplicity. Therefore, to prevent others from receiving under those conditions is an act of charity, not of exclusion or denial.
In the Catholic Church the Communicant is presented the Host with the challenge "The Body of Christ," meaning that Christ is really truly and substantially present, Body Blood, Soul and Divinity, under the appearance of bread and wine. The Communicant responds by saying, "Amen"; that is, "so be it" or "so it is". By his "amen" and act of receiving, the Communicant takes the responsibility for his or her worthiness to receive, according to the standards established by the Church. The Orthodox Churches also believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Contrary to your declaration, this really is what St Paul is speaking to in 1 Cor 11, and so the Catholic Church has consistently held. You also should consult John 6, where rather than making His doctrine more palatable, Christ asks the Apostles if they also wish to leave. This is the only event of large numbers of disciples leaving His fellowship recorded in the Gospels, and as the perfect Teacher, Christ could not let them go under a faulty understanding, so they knew what He meant. They would not have done so for mere bread and wine, for a symbol.
So if you present yourself at a Catholic Church and say “Amen” while you believe it is only bread and wine, and nevertheless receive, you are in effect lying, both to the Minister of Holy Communion and to Christ. Thus it is entirely reasonable and charitable for the Church to try to prevent you from committing that sacrilege and sin.
Before you howl in protest, read the Early Church Fathers, all of whom attest to what the Church has consistently taught. It was the Protestant Revolt that introduced new meanings and new practices, so the Catholic Church has never acted to exclude anyone; those who protested her doctrine excluded themselves. You are simply an heir to this longstanding error, and to argue otherwise is to miss the historical point.
I agree with you that the High Priestly Prayer of Our Blessed Lord in John 17 commands our unity. Therefore, I challenge you to seriously investigate the claims of the Church, and come home.
God Bless!