I remember asking my pastor in college about why the church didn't allow communion to be taken apart from the leadership of the elders. This was while I was seeing many of my friends drawn to the idea of "house churches" and taking communion on your own.
Though he was Baptist, my pastor gave a great explanation that these ordinances (sacraments) should be observed in the context of the church - not just among individual members. I can look back and see how this instruction steered me away from the erroneous messages of the house church movement.
Thank you for this. Just one question to clarify. Do you only allow the membership of your church to participate in communion, regardless of who the visitor is and who may know them?
I remember asking my pastor in college about why the church didn't allow communion to be taken apart from the leadership of the elders. This was while I was seeing many of my friends drawn to the idea of "house churches" and taking communion on your own.
Though he was Baptist, my pastor gave a great explanation that these ordinances (sacraments) should be observed in the context of the church - not just among individual members. I can look back and see how this instruction steered me away from the erroneous messages of the house church movement.
Thank you for this. Just one question to clarify. Do you only allow the membership of your church to participate in communion, regardless of who the visitor is and who may know them?
We have open communion that is fenced with a few words.