Unbelievers and communion

[tjhawks1]

Two of my christian friends were just married on Friday. The bride's father is a homosexual. During the ceremony the wedding party and the parents all celebrated communion. The bride's father is the only one that I knew was not a professing christian. Just curious if some have thoughts on this. If you need more detail, I can provide more. I'd love to here your opinions on this.

[Believer1997]

This is such a special and sacred sacrament - In my own opinion - I do not think one who is not a follower of Jesus should have partaken of the communion. I am Protestant and I was taught as a child that your heart should be repentant and you should have nothing that you haven't asked God's forgiveness for before you accept this very special sacrament. There have been times in my life where I knew I wasn't "right" with God and I didn't feel able to celebrate communion. After, I had prayed and made my peace with the Lord, I was ready the next time. Maybe I'm wrong - I'm wrong a lot... but to me it's the most beautiful sacrament and it reminds me of the gift that Christ gave us. I do not take it lightly. Blessings.

[OneLight]

I have always held this scripture as a measuring stick for communion.

1 Corinthians 11:27-32 (New King James Version)

Examine Yourself

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord

[Guest]

....is the only one that I knew was not a professing christian....

Many Profess But Won't

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Titus 1:16

But Some Will Flee

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2 Timothy 2:20

Professing

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:9-10

Jesus Is LORD

And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:11

Glory!

[Hunterpoet]

Do this is remembrance of me. Luke22:19, 1Co11:24, 1Co11:25

The sacrament of communion is a very good moment for one to reflect on ones life and commitments. I'm certain there were other " sinners" present who took part, you just happen to be aware of one of this person's sin's.

Did you partake of the supper, and at the time, were you sinless?? This is not meant to single you out, but to emphasize a point.

Now is a perfect time to pray that God's Grace will descend upon this man so that his eyes may be opened.

[Shiloh62]

Two of my christian friends were just married on Friday. The bride's father is a homosexual. During the ceremony the wedding party and the parents all celebrated communion. The bride's father is the only one that I knew was not a professing christian. Just curious if some have thoughts on this. If you need more detail, I can provide more. I'd love to here your opinions on this.

They are not allowed to partake.

[Smalcald]

No one should be overtly denied in that we don't know what people really believe or not.

However all should be made clearly aware prior to the serving of communion of the danger to themselves and the disprect they show toward Christ and Christians by taking communion when they don't believe the same things as the congregation does about doctrine or that they simply have no concept of what communion even is or that they are in open rebellion against Christ and are unrepentent about that.

Our congregation handles that by saying prior to the service that anyone wishing to take communion who is not a member of our congregation should speak to the minister prior to taking communion. However if they don't do that, they still would not be turned away.

An unbeliever should obviosly not take communion.

[yesult]

I think it was completly inappropriate. Communion is a really serious thing. That doesn't mean we have to get legalistic about it - but we're not supposed to be ignoring scripture either.

And why were they taking it at a wedding anyway? To me that seems pretty inappropriate as well.

Communion is a sacred institution that celebrates our forgiveness of sin through a very real, and horrible sacrafice. To take it inappropriately is to drink judgement on yourself. If you read the whole passage in corinthians it mentions the fact that inappropriatly taking communion was the reason that some believers in the corinthian church were sick and others had already died in the congregation.

That's how serious this issue is.

I believe that God is a God of grace, but in my opinion that was way over the line.

[Openly Curious]

Hi all,

It is very plain in the scripture that those whom does not know the sacredness of what communion is all about should not partake of the holy communion and those within the church should search their hearts to see if all is well with Lord and if they do not have a clear conscience with God then they should not partake of the holy communion. This communion is for those in whom know the spiritual relevance of Christ body given to us by the blood that was shed on the cross. (Being the wine) Christ was the sacrifice for our sins he was that bread from heaven in which that bread one can eat and shall never hunger again one can drink and never thirst again.

Now that's the word for believers and unbelievers it was because of sin in ones life that brought on the sicknesses that was written as they had know regards for the Lord and his body and because they have not their sins under the blood they are not partakers of the family of God. And this is also true of sinners who have not made things right with the Lord.

OC

[georgedrw81]

The important part is that the two friends that married and took communion.Many take communion because it is proper thing to do

or to show their holiness but inside their heart they are not.

We can only forgive them and pray that when they do take the communion that they will take God and Jesus into their lifes.

Thank you God and Jesus for loving us