Two different proposals – both seeking to remove the requirement of baptism for those who partake of the Lord’s Supper – will be considered by this summer’s 222nd General Assembly.
The first is a revision of the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Directory of Worship, which is part of the Book of Order. The second is an overture from a presbytery. Both are intended to change the requirements of the Lord’s Supper so that those who are not baptized may participate.
If either is approved, the PCUSA’s constitution will be internally in conflict since the Confessions are clear that when it comes to the Lord’s Supper, only baptized believers are eligible to participate. A few examples include:
The Westminster Confession of Faith, one of the 11 confessions found in the denomination’s Book of Confessions, states in Chapter 39: VII. “Worthy receivers, outwardly partaking of the visible elements, in this sacrament, do then also, inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally and corporally but spiritually, receive and feed upon, Christ crucified, and all benefits of His death: the body and blood of Christ being then, not corporally or carnally, in, with, or under the bread and wine; yet, as really, but spiritually, present to the faith of believers in that ordinance, as the elements themselves are to their outward senses.”
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The Scot’s Confession, in Chapter 23 — To Whom Sacraments Appertain 3.23 — says “… But we hold that the Supper of the Lord is only for those who are of the household of faith and can try and examine themselves both in their faith and their duty to their neighbors. Those who eat and drink at that holy table without faith, or without peace and goodwill to their brethren, eat unworthily. This is the reason why ministers in our Kirk make public and individual examination of those who are to be admitted to the table of the Lord Jesus.”
Question 81 of The Heidelberg Catechism asks “Who should come to the Lord’s table?” The answer: ” A. Those who are displeased with themselves because of their sins, but who nevertheless trust that their sins are pardoned and that their remaining weakness is covered by the suffering and death of Christ, and who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and to lead a better life. Hypocrites and those who are unrepentant, however, eat and drink judgment on themselves.(1 Cor. 10:21; 11:28[–29])
Changes to Directory of Worship
The Presbyterian Mission Agency Board is recommending that the General Assembly approve a revised Directory for Worship. If approved by the General Assembly, a majority of the denomination’s presbyteries would have to vote to ratify the GA’s decision.
The goal of the revision was to make the Directory for Worship more accessible, helpful, shorter, and better organized.
In section “W-3.0409: Theology of the Lord’s Supper,” instead of requiring that those who participate must be baptized, the revised text declares that “All who come to the table are offered the bread and cup. Regardless of their age or understanding. If some of those who come have not yet been baptized, an invitation to baptismal preparation and Baptism should be graciously extended.”
Click on image to enlarge the type.
‘All who seek the presence of Christ’
Business item 14-3 from Southeastern Illinois, seeks to change the requirement found in the Directory of Worship for those who can participate in the Lord’s Supper from “all who have been baptized,” to instead say, “all who seek the presence of Jesus Christ.”
Four presbyteries – Cimarron, Florida, Huntingdon and Palo Duro – have concurred with the overture, which if passed by the General Assembly, would be forwarded to the denomination’s presbyteries for ratification.
Item 14-3 reads:
Shall W-2.4011 be amended as follows: [Text to be deleted is shown with a strike-through; text to be added or inserted is shown as italic.]
“a. The invitation to the Lord’s Supper is extended to all who have been baptized seek the presence of Jesus Christ, remembering that access to the Table is not a right conferred upon the worthy, but a privilege given to the undeserving who come in faith, repentance, and love. In preparing to receive Christ in this Sacrament, the believer is to confess sin and brokenness, to seek reconciliation with God and neighbor, and to trust in Jesus Christ for cleansing and renewal. Even one who doubts or whose trust is wavering may come to the Table in order to be assured of God’s love and grace in Christ Jesus.
“Baptized Children
“b. Baptized cChildren who are being nurtured and instructed in the significance of the invitation to the Table and the meaning of their response are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper, recognizing that their understanding of participation will vary according to their maturity. (W-4.2002)”
While acknowledging the “importance of baptism in the life of a Christian,” Southeastern Illinois Presbytery states in its rationale that according to the current wording in the Directory of Worship, “those who have not yet made the baptismal declaration” are excluded from participating in the Lord’s Supper.
The presbytery says that it believes that few congregations “actually follow the Book of Order in this regard. Holy Communion is routinely open to all who profess faith in Jesus Christ, with no mention of having to have been baptized. We feel strongly that the Book of Order should be changed in the above ways so that we can walk arm-in-arm with all of our seeking brothers and sisters as we go forward to receive this holy sacrament.”
In its comment on the overture, the Presbyterian Mission Agency Board mentioned the proposed revision of the Directory of Worship, and recommended that instead of voting “yes” or “no” on it, the General Assembly instead answer the overture by the action it takes on the revision.
The General Assembly will be held June 18-24 in Portland, Ore.
For more information on the Reformed understanding of the Lord’s Supper, see:
Calvin’s Doctrine of the Lord’s Supper
A Spiritual Banquet: John Calvin on the Lord’s Supper
Basics of the Reformed Faith: The Lord’s Supper
The Westminster Confession of Faith (29)
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We feel strongly that the Book of Order should be changed in the above ways so that we can walk arm-in-arm with all of our “seeking brothers and sisters” as we go forward to receive this holy sacrament.”
The word “seeking” kind of jumps out at you, which the persons “seeking” tells me they have yet to find their faith in Christ, so I guess we let them come to the Lords table to try it out, see if they like the grape juice and the taste of the bread.
You can already tell this GA is going to make the last one look like a Billy Graham crusade.
Make the PC(USA) Great Again!
When I used the term “post-Christian” to describe the PCUSA the operative term is post. As in past, gone, no longer pertaining. Much like the definition of marriage, the entity chooses the Hugo Chavez or Castro brothers methodology of governance, if you do not like the rules as given, either ignore them or change them to fit your mood or the color of your drapes.
As marriage and/or sexuality becomes non-factors in the entity so does any concept of sacramental integrity. As far as any supposed confessional conflict, you think the same folks that brought you managerial incompetence to the PMA/OGA care one wit about such things. But such is the PCUSA, its every person for themselves and you make it up as you go along.
Enjoy Portland
In my 28 years in the PC(USA) I never once saw a table actually fenced in real life (an Elder or Minister keeping someone from partaking), regardless of the theological position (i.e.- “conservative” or “liberal”) of the local church, especially in the sense “fencing” meant in the historical Presbyterian way.
This change in wording seems unnecessary.
The table is pretty much already unfenced. Anything goes. It is not required that you meet beforehand with the elders or pastors to be examined as to your understanding of what the Lord’s Supper means. The phrase used now is “This table is open to all members in good standing of any Christian church”. The people in the pews, especially visitors do not know what that mean. All kinds folks are going up to take communion that have no knowledge of what it means. The current practice as it is, is unacceptable in that is does not ensure that those taking communion understand what it means. Making it looser still is completely unacceptable.
In general, it seems to be self-policed, especially as in most (though not all) Presbyterian services, the plates with the elements are passed around. In our church, the question came up with regards to an elder caught in adultery, but he left the services before communion was served, though he may have stayed for the entire sermon (I wasn’t watching that closely). That’s my experience in my EPC congregation and in my travels to other churches that I visit.
“Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.” (I Cor. 11.27-32)
EPC Book of Worship §3-2:
“The Sacrament of Baptism: Baptism is a sacrament of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ. By the act of baptism, a person becomes a part of the visible Church, for it is a sign and a seal of the Covenant of Grace for believers and their children. As a sign it proclaims God’s forgiveness and our redemption in Jesus Christ. As a seal, God marks us as adopted children of our heavenly Father. It indicates our engrafting into Christ, our rebirth, the remission of sins, and our ability by the power of the Spirit to walk in newness of life. The sacrament is to be continued by God’s people until the end of the world.
“A. Candidates for baptism: Those eligible to receive this sacrament are those who have professed their faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and have promised to be obedient to Him, along with the infants of one or both believing parents. Also, those who have legal responsibility for an infant have the right to present the child for baptism. …
“C. Effectiveness of baptism: God’s grace and salvation are not inseparably connected to this sacrament. Some who are baptized will be lost and some not baptized will be saved. Nevertheless, it is a great sin to make light of or to neglect this sacrament. A great benefit is lost when baptism is neglected, for God promises to bless His people through this sacrament. The effectiveness of baptism is not tied to the moment it is administered, yet God who keeps His promises confers His grace according to His own will and in His appointed time.”
§3-3: “The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper: The Lord’s Supper was instituted by Jesus on the night of His betrayal. It is to be celebrated until the end of the world as a perpetual remembrance of what He did for mankind on the cross. The Lord’s Supper is a seal of all those benefits of Calvary for believers, and signifies their spiritual growth and nourishment. It is a bond and pledge of the communion of believers with Jesus Christ and with each other as parts of the church. …
“D. The significance of the sacrament: Worthy receivers by faith spiritually receive Christ crucified into their hearts and receive the benefits of His death on their behalf. In that sense, the sacrament conveys what it signifies when it is received by faith. Those who unworthily receive the sacrament do not receive what is signified. Rather, they are guilty of the body and blood of Jesus and condemn themselves. For this reason, the Church Session should be careful to refuse the Lord’s Supper to those who are ignorant of its meaning or who are ungodly. …
“I. Invitation to partake: The Minister shall invite to partake all true believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, including those from other congregations that are a part of the true Church. All should be reminded of the need to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord, to repent of sin, and to covenant once more to live as followers of Jesus. Those who are ignorant in their knowledge of Christ or who are living ungodly and unrepentant lives should be warned of the serious consequences for those who unworthily partake. Baptized children may be admitted to the Lord’s table provided they have appeared before the Church Session and professed their faith in a manner acceptable to the Church Session. At its discretion, the Church Session may admit such persons to full membership.”
The Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter :29:
“8. Although ignorant and wicked men may partake of the physical substances in this sacrament, they do not receive what is signified by them. However, by their unworthy coming to the Lord’s table they are guilty of his body and blood and bring judgment upon themselves. Therefore, just as the ignorant and ungodly are not fit to enjoy communion with Christ, neither are they worthy to come to the Lord’s table, and, as long as they remain ignorant and ungodly, they cannot and must not be allowed to partake of the holy mystery of communion without committing a great sin against Christ.”
Most grievous in this proposed rewording of the PC(USA)’s Directory for Worship is this: “All who come to the table are offered the bread and cup, regardless of their…understanding.” Although there are differing interpretations of the presence of the Lord in the elements by Lutherans, Calvinists, and Zwinglians, it would be a grave sin for any church to knowingly offer the elements to those who do not appreciate, or worse, do not believe, the significance of the bread and the wine representing the body and the blood of Christ crucified on behalf of the elect.
Although there is no express command in Scripture or the Westminster Confession or Catechisms, it should be understood that we are all commanded to “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” (Acts 2.38) Baptism marks those who are in the covenant of redemption—those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ, together with their underage children. If you are a believer, then you should be baptized; if you are not a believer, baptized or otherwise, then you should not be partaking of the Lord’s Supper. Consequently, only those who are baptized, but not necessarily all who are baptized, should partake of the Lord’s Supper. Revising the Directory for Worship to offer the Lord’s Supper to “those who have not yet made the baptismal declaration” is to knowingly offer the Lord’s Supper to those who have not publicly identified with Christ, that is, to those outside the covenant of redemption. And if those “who eat and drink without discerning the body eat and drink judgment on (themselves)”, how much more severely will the Lord judge those who knowingly let them do this, “knowing that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (Jas. 3.1)?
“What difference, at this point, does it make?”
“…caught in adultery…” is the key phrase.
The liberal movement is destroying the PCUSA systematically and intrusively. We must decide if the PCUSA will lead our society morally or will mimic it and change to reflect society’s values. If the latter, then we should determine where we want to transition, study our confessions and root beliefs, and change everything all at one time so we can avoid conflicts between practice and fundamental beliefs. It is stupid to make a change in one place and then rule that it is OK even though it is in conflict with other root documents and faith statements. The last GA in particular did this in a very stupid way when approving Same sex marriage. Lets just step up to the plate and create a firm basis for what we want to believe instead of creating chaos and divisive uncertaintity.
Just wow. Where to start? At some point, you have to draw a line, folks. You’re better off at a football game where at least the goal line has objective meaning.