T
ToddMyers
Guest
I posted this as a reply in the Theology Forum but I thought I'd out it here so we can add any comments from the Lutheran perspective. Merry Christmas all!!!
The reason some Lutherans have closed communion is this. We believe that during communion you do receive the body and the blood of Christ. Christ said this is my body and this is my blood. We just take it at face value that we do receive his body and blood and no we can't explain it in a rational way. Under the elements that look and taste like bread and wine really is the body and blood of Christ. We just want all to know what they are doing and why they are doing it. It is not something to be taken lightly and frivolously. To do so will mean one is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. See 1 Cor 11:27 below.
I suppose if you believe its just a memorial and nothing else I could see why you would let all partake of it. Most of the verses below can be very comforting when read during or right before communion.
27And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matt 26:27-28
23And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Mark 14:23-24
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. Luke 22:19-21.
52The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. John 6:52-56.
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 1 Cor 10:15-17.
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lords death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Cor 11:24-28. English Standard Version
The reason some Lutherans have closed communion is this. We believe that during communion you do receive the body and the blood of Christ. Christ said this is my body and this is my blood. We just take it at face value that we do receive his body and blood and no we can't explain it in a rational way. Under the elements that look and taste like bread and wine really is the body and blood of Christ. We just want all to know what they are doing and why they are doing it. It is not something to be taken lightly and frivolously. To do so will mean one is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. See 1 Cor 11:27 below.
I suppose if you believe its just a memorial and nothing else I could see why you would let all partake of it. Most of the verses below can be very comforting when read during or right before communion.
27And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Matt 26:27-28
23And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Mark 14:23-24
19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. 21 But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. Luke 22:19-21.
52The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" 53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. John 6:52-56.
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 1 Cor 10:15-17.
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lords death until he comes.
27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.
1 Cor 11:24-28. English Standard Version
