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To: CommerceComet; metmom; boatbums; caww; presently no screen name; redleghunter; ...
I found it odd that 1 Corinthians 11 is cited for support of the elders fencing the table by those who hold to closed communion. Paul chastises the Corinthian Church for creating divisions with the meal that is supposed to build unity. Yet when elders temporarily determine the sheep and the goats, aren't they doing the same thing? I

Yes, but not necessarily contrary to 1Cor. 11, in which the disunity was not ignoring others by eating independently, so that some were full and others satiated, and were thus shaming them that have not,.

And were thus effectually not recognizing/discerning others as being members of the body of Christ for whom Christ died, and whose death got the body is what they were sppsd to be mindful of and showing by taking part in the Lord's communual meal.

Thus the remedy was not a lesson on transubstantiation, but to eat at home if hungry so as to not act out of real hunger, and to tarry for one another. As detailed here more.

If known believers walking in fellowship with Christ and brethren was excluded from the Lord's table then it would be wrong, but if we do not know whether someone is a believer or not, and as it would be wrong to have fellowship with the impenitent disobedient or devils (remember Akin, and Judas), then unless such persons guilt would be upon their own heads, then leadership would be right in restricting it to those whose testimony is known.

But i think to be consistent, if we are to exclude all but those of the local body from the Table of the Lord then we could also exclude members with having any fellowship with anyone from outside, based upon the same principal of separation and precepts commanding it. (1Cor. 6:14-18)

And to me this unreasonable, and upon examination i would say that unless we know a one is an impenitent disobedient soul, and who has not been restored to fellowship with the body he was part of, then we are to allow all to take part in the Lord's table, after teaching them of what i basically said on 1Cor. 11, and warning them one could die for being a hypocrite while presuming to show the Lord's death by how they treat His body.

117 posted on 04/16/2015 4:03:03 PM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: daniel1212
And to me this unreasonable, and upon examination i would say that unless we know a one is an impenitent disobedient soul, and who has not been restored to fellowship with the body he was part of, then we are to allow all to take part in the Lord's table, after teaching them of what i basically said on 1Cor. 11, and warning them one could die for being a hypocrite while presuming to show the Lord's death by how they treat His body.

That would be my position as well. I believe that there are times when someone should be turned away from the Table - public, unrepented sin. Partakers should be warned about the consequences of wrongly taking but ultimately, Paul does call for a man "to examine himself."

While it is clear that Paul tells us of potential serious consequences for improperly taking, I don't believe that the warnings should keep a qualified person away from the Table to be on the safe side. I have a hard time believing that God would punish someone who improperly partook due to an honest mistake. In my mind that seems inconsistent with a Sacrament of grace.

118 posted on 04/16/2015 4:33:59 PM PDT by CommerceComet (Ignore the GOP-e. Cruz to victory in 2016.)
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