How often to have the Lord's supper.

twin.spin

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The Lord's Supper is administered as part of the Divine Service as the Confessions teach. Why have private administrations when it can be done during the Divine Service?

There is no reason why not during the service unless I would being told that it was not right to do so... then out of faith I would continue to have a bi-weekly.
1 Corinthians 4:6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.
I would have to be shown from where it is written that God specifically says that it is not right for a church to have bi-weekly.
 
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DaRev

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There is no reason why not during the service unless I would being told that it was not right to do so... then out of faith I would continue to have a bi-weekly.
1 Corinthians 4:6 Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other.
I would have to be shown from where it is written that God specifically says that it is not right for a church to have bi-weekly.

The Scriptures teach that the Apostle's "broke bread" (direct reference to the Lord's Supper) on the first day of each week. Our Confessions teach that we celebrate the Lord's Supper on "every Lord's Day and on the other festivals" for those who wish to receive it. Confessional Lutherans subscribe to the Confessions because they are thoroughly Scriptural. The Scriptures teach weekly communion, the Confessions teach weekly communion, and for a Confessional Lutheran congregation to not administer the Sacrament weekly for those who wish to receive it is not right, according to the Scriptures and Confessions.

The reason that some congregations do not celebrate the sacrament weekly is because of the infiltration of Reformed teaching into the Lutheran Church over the years. It's the same reason why many clergy no longer wear the traditional vestments or why grape juice is used instead of wine, etc.
 
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twin.spin

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The Scriptures teach that the Apostle's "broke bread" (direct reference to the Lord's Supper) on the first day of each week. Our Confessions teach that we celebrate the Lord's Supper on "every Lord's Day and on the other festivals" for those who wish to receive it. Confessional Lutherans subscribe to the Confessions because they are thoroughly Scriptural. The Scriptures teach weekly communion, the Confessions teach weekly communion, and for a Confessional Lutheran congregation to not administer the Sacrament weekly for those who wish to receive it is not right, according to the Scriptures and Confessions.

The reason that some congregations do not celebrate the sacrament weekly is because of the infiltration of Reformed teaching into the Lutheran Church over the years. It's the same reason why many clergy no longer wear the traditional vestments or why grape juice is used instead of wine, etc.

Yes scriptures say they did every time and if a church wants to fine. However nowhere do we read that it was done weekly because God specifically commanded them to do so, nor that by not doing so was an act of denying others their rights.

Until I'm shown that God specifically states otherwise, holding a position that bi-weekly is " it's not right to deny it to those who desire it weekly is in violation of “Do not go beyond what is written.”.

That is the greater infiltration to be wary of ... which I would say is the true reason why many clergy no longer wear the traditional vestments or why grape juice is used instead of wine.
 
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cerette

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That sort of makes sense but it also sort of seems like a cowards way out. Wouldn't it be more beneficial to explain to the guest why we don't practice open communion? Yes some will find it offensive but it has to do with honesty.


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I agree with you, I didn't like that explanation. (It wasn't my congregation, but a friend of mine's) It is what it is, and with a good explanation most visitors can handle it. (Only once have I witnessed a visitor getting so upset she stormed out the door and then returned just to yell at the congregation.)
 
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illudium_phosdex

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The church my husband and I attend has three services and communion is offered at all three each week. We like that.

Only a little over a month and our membership classes and our daughter's confirmation classes begin.
 
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DaRev

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Until I'm shown that God specifically states otherwise, holding a position that bi-weekly is " it's not right to deny it to those who desire it weekly is in violation of “Do not go beyond what is written.”.

In the LCMS we believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, without error, and the source and norm of all teaching in the Church. God is the Author of the Scriptures. We also fully subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions because they are thoroughly Scriptural (quia subscription). And as I stated in an earlier post, the Scriptures teach and the Confessions support communion weekly. So administering the sacrament each Lord's Day is in accord with "what is written". Your argument is straw.
 
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twin.spin

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In the LCMS we believe that the Bible is God's inspired word, without error, and the source and norm of all teaching in the Church. God is the Author of the Scriptures. We also fully subscribe to the Lutheran Confessions because they are thoroughly Scriptural (quia subscription). And as I stated in an earlier post, the Scriptures teach and the Confessions support communion weekly. So administering the sacrament each Lord's Day is in accord with "what is written". Your argument is straw.

So my argument is straw.

Well ... I finally had to settle this to see for myself to see just whose position is straw.
I called the [FONT=&quot]LCMS Church Information Center[/FONT] today 7/31/13 and was sent this reply in an e-mail:
(the bold is mine)
from: Pogue, Joan (Joan.Pogue@lcms.org)
11:27 AM
Hello,
Thank you for calling.

We have received inquiries similar to yours in the past and have filed one of the responses from our Commission on Theology and Church Relations staff. It is pasted here for your review:

The Synod has adopted resolutions in recent years that encourage every Sunday communion and the frequent celebration of the Lord's Supper. It has stopped short of requiring its pastors and congregations to observe "every Sunday" or "every service" communion, however, or of making some "church rule" about the frequency of communion, simply because it is not possible to do this on the basis of Scripture.

The Bible does not specifically mandate "every service" observance of the Lord's Supper, and the LCMS believes that it would be wrong to "legislate" in this (or any area) where Scripture itself does not do so.
Individual congregations and pastors are certainly free, however, to celebrate the Lord's Supper as frequently as they wish to do so. If you have strong feelings in this regard, therefore, I would urge you to speak with your pastor and congregational leaders.


Now for the benefit of the hard of readers:
It [LCMS] has stopped short of requiring its pastors and congregations to observe "every Sunday" or "every service" communion, however, or of making some "church rule" about the frequency of communion, simply because it is not possible to do this on the basis of Scripture.

The Bible does not specifically mandate "every service" observance of the Lord's Supper, and the LCMS believes that it would be wrong to "legislate" in this (or any area) where Scripture itself does not do so.


 
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DaRev

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The facts are very clear. In the Scriptures, the Apostle's gathered for prayer and breaking of bread on the first day of the week. Jesus Himself teaches to receive the Sacrament often. While there is no specific command that it must be administered every Sunday, it is clear from Scripture that the Apostle's administered it every Sunday. The Confessions teach that, as Confessional Lutherans, we administer the Lord's Supper every Sunday for those who wish to partake. Anyone who can read English can plainly see that. (I don't need to be childish and post it in large type.)

If you want to be technical, there is also no specific command to baptize infants, although the Scriptures clearly teach that infants are to be baptized. But I guess you can't accept that teaching either because it isn't spelled out in the Bible, and infant baptism goes "beyond what is written".

:doh:
 
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twin.spin

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nobody Is Saying It Is To Be Legislated - In Fact We Said Quite The Opposite.

Offer It Every Sunday And Those Who Do Not Wish To Partake do Not Have To Partake.

why Is This So Hard For You To Understand????
Not surprising ... instead of actually reading what DaRev is saying what supposedly Scriptures read, you instead focus on the word "legislated".
.. , and for a Confessional Lutheran congregation to not administer the Sacrament weekly for those who wish to receive it is not right, according to the Scriptures and Confessions.
That is simply not so .. Scriptures do not teach or support what DaRev is implying merely because of the mentioning of the early Christian practice ... and you 'all know it.

The fact they went weekly was an adiaphora, nowhere does Scriptures teach or imply that by not observing weekly is something unscriptural and\or a denial of someone's rights... or that it's part of the Lutheran Confessions.
 
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PreachersWife2004

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modhat_zps8c58b46d.png


MOD HAT ON

Stop with the insults. Address the topic, not the posters commenting on the topic.

MOD HAT OFF

 
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twin.spin

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That sort of makes sense but it also sort of seems like a cowards way out. Wouldn't it be more beneficial to explain to the guest why we don't practice open communion? Yes some will find it offensive but it has to do with honesty.


Communion itself isn't adiaphora which is why we don't practice open communion. If you just mean how often, technically I do believe the LCMS's official position is to have it every week just many churches don't adhere to it. The marriage thing was just an analogy I wasn't saying only married people can have it.

My mother was confirmed LCMS. At that time in the 1930's, it was practiced and taught by LCMS pastors that one should take communion once every three months because of Luther's statement of one isn't a christian if he doesn't partake of it at least once in every three months.

That statement by Luther was not influenced by the infiltration of Reformed theology which many generational of LCMS pastors and members followed.
 
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HermanNeutics13

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My mother was confirmed LCMS. At that time in the 1930's, it was practiced and taught by LCMS pastors that one should take communion once every three months because of Luther's statement of one isn't a christian if he doesn't partake of it at least once in every three months.

That statement by Luther was not influenced by the infiltration of Reformed theology which many generational of LCMS pastors and members followed.


How was your mother confirmed in the LCMS? Not confirming women IS specifically in our doctrine. As for what Luther says I believe that was what he said was the minimum, he wasn't saying it was ideal.
 
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alexnbethmom

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How was your mother confirmed in the LCMS? Not confirming women IS specifically in our doctrine. As for what Luther says I believe that was what he said was the minimum, he wasn't saying it was ideal.

um, no disrespect meant, but what are you talking about? of course we confirm women. we don't *ordain* women, but of course we confirm them - how else would women be able to take communion?
 
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HermanNeutics13

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um, no disrespect meant, but what are you talking about? of course we confirm women. we don't *ordain* women, but of course we confirm them - how else would women be able to take communion?

Oh how stupid of me. I don't know why I read ordain into that.
 
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DaRev

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My mother was confirmed LCMS. At that time in the 1930's, it was practiced and taught by LCMS pastors that one should take communion once every three months because of Luther's statement of one isn't a christian if he doesn't partake of it at least once in every three months.


Which is contrary to the Confessions:

Apologia XXIV-
"At the outset we must again make the preliminary statement that we do not abolish the Mass, but religiously maintain and defend it. For among us masses are celebrated every Lord's Day and on the other festivals, in which the Sacrament is offered to those who wish to use it, after they have been examined and absolved. And the usual public ceremonies are observed, the series of lessons, of prayers, vestments, and other like things."
 
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