WHO MAY BE ADMITTED TO THE LORD’S SUPPER

By Gary Ray Branscome

In administering the Lord’s Supper, the words, “Let a man examine himself… For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself,” need to be taken very seriously (1Corinthians 11:28-29). Those words tell us that we should never just pass out the bread and wine willy-nilly with no regard for who might partake. Nevertheless, that happens all the time in American churches. Unbaptized children partake because the bread and cup are just passed around without regard for the spiritual state of those who partake. I know of one child who said that he only took the cup because he did not like the bread. And, I know of one case where a Moslem who was visiting the church was allowed to partake. That is totally irresponsible!

Because “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us of all sin,” it is the blood of Jesus Christ and His blood alone that makes us worthy to partake of His Supper. That fact excludes unbelievers, and all who have not publicly accepted Christ by being baptized. At the same time, all who do come should first examine themselves, with a willingness to look at their faults and repent of any wrongdoing. In short, those who come to the Lord’s Supper should come with “a heart that is humbled and sorry for sin” (Psalm 51:17). It is the unrepentant and unbelieving who are unworthy, and the self-righteous [those who think that their works make them worthy] are just as unrepentant as those who defend and excuse their sin.

The words, “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone: if he will hear you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not listen, then take one or two others with you, so that every word may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church: but if he refuses to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen man and a publican,” tell us that any man who will not repent, even after these steps have been followed, should be regarded “as a heathen man” (Matthew 18:15-17). And, “as a heathen man,” he should not partake of the Lord’s Supper.

Here is God’s warning. “Whoever eats the bread, and drinks the cup of the Lord, unworthily, will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, then let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks damnation to himself, not recognizing the Lord’s body. That is why many among you are weak and sickly, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, so that we will not be condemned with the world” (1Corinthians 11:27-32).

In the verses just quoted, the words, “Not recognizing the Lord’s body,” point to those who fail to recognize Christ’s body [His Sacrifice] as the source of forgiveness (1Corinthians 11:29). At the same time, the words, “If we would judge ourselves,” can be explained by Christ’s parable of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:10-14). In that parable, the publican judged himself, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). In contrast, the Pharisee thought that his works made him worthy.

Because the Lord’s Supper is not open to unbelievers, it should never be offered to atheists, those who have not been baptized, the members of pagan religions, cults, and lodges, or those too young to examine themselves.

“In general, it may be said that all baptized Christians who heartily repent of their sins, truly believe in Jesus Christ, regard the ordinance of Holy Communion as Christ instituted it, are open to Christian instruction on every point of doctrine and life, are able to examine themselves, lead a Christian life, and purpose to amend their lives by the aid of the Holy Spirit should be admitted to the Lord's Table.” (“Christian Dogmatics,” by John Theodore Mueller, page 539.)