Who May Take Communion?

This is a most important question given the importance of this ordinance/sacrament.
There is a spectrum of responses (Baptist context):

Close Communion	Closed Communion	Open Communion	Universal Communion
This is when only members of a church participate, regardless if another believer is visiting.	This is when only those believers baptized by immersion are permitted to the table.	This is when any believer is welcomed to the table, even if they have not yet been baptized by immersion.	This—very unorthodox—is when anyone is invited to the table, even unbelievers. It is seen as a converting ordinance.

What does God’s word say?
Acts 2 is helpful. Peter preached the Gospel (Acts 2:38- repent and be baptized…). A great number responded and believed (Acts 2:41a-So those who received his word). Those who believed were baptized by immersion (Acts 2:41b) and consequently joined the church as members (Acts 2:41c- and there were added). Baptism is the Christian rite whereby someone visibly becomes a Christian member of the Church. Subsequently, baptized believers of the Jerusalem church partook of the Lord’s Supper, or Communion (Acts 2:42- They devoted themselves…to the breaking of bread). The meaning of the ordinance is connected with its order. The rite of entry is a prerequisite for the rite of participation. This is why our Statement of Faith says “in the following order.”

Being a baptized member is part of what it means in 1 Cor 11: 27- in an unworthy manner. Participating would be doing something reserved for believers who have been baptized and are in fellowship with the church. We wait until we’ve been baptized and then partake.

Yet there is still another layer of examination that would fall under ‘an unworthy manner’:

1. Unforgiveness with your brother or sister. Mt 5:23–24 says, “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”
2. Unconfessed personal sin (not the public kind that could be addressed). 1 Jn 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Why does it matter?
When communion is observed, we are not only remembering and communing with one another, Christ is present with us spiritually. While a joyful time (1 Cor 11:24) it is a solemn time.

Paul tells us to partake in “an unworthy manner” will make us “guilty” and so we should “examine” ourselves lest we bring “judgement” upon ourselves, including ill health (1 Cor 11:27–31). Jesus died for sin, therefore sinning while partaking invokes judgement.

Paul deals with a number of other practical matters in 1 Cor 11. Here are some others.

We observe the Lord’s supper the 1st Lord’s Day morning and the 3rd Lord’s Day evening; all members are encouraged to attend (indeed should attend whenever the ordinances are observed).
The Lord’s Supper is done together (“I commend to you…when you come together” [plural], 1 Cor 11:17). If we are ill/housebound and cannot attend the officers of the church delight to bring the Lord’s supper to homes and hospitals.

Sometimes, sadly, the elders may withhold communion from someone if they are under discipline (but haven’t been removed from the church). This is a sorrowful thing, for they are then cut off from experiencing the blessing of Christ.

Some churches ‘fence’ the table, doing something so that only those who they believe make partake actually do. We do something different. I clearly say who we believe it is for and then leave it to the persons conscience before the Lord. If they drink unworthily, they have chosen to drink judgement. We fence the table through words.
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Thus, who may take communion?:
To summarize:

• A believer in the Gospel;
• Who has been baptized by immersion;
• And who is a member in good standing of their church (not perfect, but persevering in the faith toward the goal, i.e. is demonstrating the fruit of faith); and
• Who has no unrepented sin.