Closed Communion: The Whole Body of Christ and the Whole Body of His Teaching

On the night when He was betrayed, on the Eve of Good Friday, our God and Savior Jesus Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper. In his holy meal he gives into the mouths of all his whole body and blood under real bread and wine for the forgiveness of all sins. What a great miracle, to eat and drink the very body and blood of God, to have all sins forgiven!

Before we partake of Holy Communion we examine ourselves (see 1 Cor. 11:28). One of the questions we do want to ask ourselves: Do I know and believe what the Bible and the Catechism teach about this sacrament? If I don’t, I shouldn’t partake of Communion at this time. Another, related question: Do I repent of my sins, after examining myself in light of God’s law, the Ten Commandments? This includes false beliefs about God and his teachings (Second and Third Commandments). If I don’t, then, again, Communion is not for me, because here Christ forgives the sins of the repentant.

These are two of the reasons why we require instruction in the Christian faith prior to admission to the Lord’s body and blood: Baptized Christians need to be taught to examine themselves. To be able to do this, they need to know Christ’s teachings about the Sacrament, but also what he says about God’s law and gospel; about true prayer; about Baptism and Absolution (see the Small Catechism!). The whole body of Christ we receive in Communion corresponds to the whole body of Christ’s teaching we receive in God’s Word. We can’t have the one without the other. – And what we require of our own members we also require of visitors to our church. This is why we normally admit only fellow Missouri Synod Lutherans to our altar if they are confirmed and not under church discipline. For in all other church bodies, even if they bear the name Lutheran, we see with great sadness that the body of Christ’s teaching is mutilated by human ideas. This is also why we don’t partake of Communion at non-LCMS churches.

This is what is called “closed communion.” It is not an LCMS invention. In fact, it has been around for the past 2000 years because it is taught in God’s Word and has been observed by the apostles. Until about 50 years ago, it was the standard practice in almost all church bodies in this country. Yet today, “closed communion” is becoming a minority position. Sadly, we now even see LCMS congregations who practice “open communion.” They open their altars, e.g., to all baptized Christians, and that includes in this country those who deny what Baptism is or what it gives. These congregations thus require less than prior agreement on the whole body of Christ’s teaching that is summarized in the Small Catechism. This is not responsible stewardship of the Supper that is the Lord’s, not the congregation’s.

Obviously, this new idea puts a tremendous strain on the bond of fellowship among us in the LCMS. For, based on unity among us, Synod was formed to provide a joint defense against false teachings and practices. This kind of “lowering of barriers” also doesn’t “grow the church” in a God-pleasing way. For Christ sent his apostles out to “grow the church” by, among other things, teaching everything he commanded them (Matthew 28:19-20). – We look to the Lord of the Church for help. May he mercifully grant us in our time perseverance and faithfulness to his whole body, in Communion and in teaching, as we once again approach that wonder-filled night when He was betrayed for our salvation.