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Demetrios The Greek
12th May 2005, 11:21 PM
Hi there,

I will be attending a Lutheran Church this weekend. Does the Lutheran church have open or closed communion? :confused:
Music4Hym777
12th May 2005, 11:24 PM
It is almost definately closed communion
Demetrios The Greek
12th May 2005, 11:46 PM
Thanks!!!
Music4Hym777
12th May 2005, 11:53 PM
Thanks!!!

Your welcome...at first I wasn't sure because it depends on synod.
Willy
13th May 2005, 08:30 AM
It is generally the policy of the LCMS that outsiders are not welcome at the table. That's not true for all Lutherans. In ELCA churches this is definitely not the case. "All are welcome, friend and stranger at the banquet of the Savior." It's a gospel value for many of us. So we hope you know that not all Lutherans are alike. Frankly, not all LCMS Lutherans follow the party line. It depends a lot on the pastor and/or the congregation,
SPALATIN
13th May 2005, 09:03 AM
Hi there,

I will be attending a Lutheran Church this weekend. Does the Lutheran church have open or closed communion? :confused:

These days it is hard to determine if the average LCMS church will have Open communion or close communion. I don't say closed any more because many of them will not call it "closed" anymore. Best to check with the Pastor before church to determine their practice. You might even find that there is no communion on that particular day and won't even have to worry about it.

Seeing that you are Roman Catholic, if you abide by the RCC view of Transubstantiation, it might be wise to abstain from it because of your own views on the Real Presence which don't coincide with the Lutheran view of Real Presence.
ChiRho
13th May 2005, 09:07 AM
It is generally the policy of the LCMS that outsiders are not welcome at the table. In ELCA churches this is definitely not the case. "All are welcome, friend and stranger at the banquet of the Savior." It's a gospel value for many of us. So we hope you know that not all Lutherans are alike. Frankly, not all LCMS Lutherans follow the party line. It depends a lot on the pastor and/or the congregation

Not all Lutherans are alike. Some are name only.




,
SPALATIN
13th May 2005, 09:15 AM
It is generally the policy of the LCMS that outsiders are not welcome at the table. That's not true for all Lutherans. In ELCA churches this is definitely not the case. "All are welcome, friend and stranger at the banquet of the Savior." It's a gospel value for many of us. So we hope you know that not all Lutherans are alike. Frankly, not all LCMS Lutherans follow the party line. It depends a lot on the pastor and/or the congregation,

If I am understanding Willy correctly (and I think that I am here...) The ELCA holds to a common agreement that all who were Baptized and have the faith that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins are allowed to come to the Eucharist.

We in the LCMS hold not only to common agreement, but to doctrinal agreement as well. So if you go to an LCMS church and want to take communion you should agree on the Real Presence of Christ in the elements after consecration and agree with doctrinal statements as well.

As I stated though not all LCMS churches are the same anymore and some have a more liberal understanding than others. So either ask an elder or the Pastor what their policy is and please abide by it while you are visiting.
revjpw
13th May 2005, 09:18 AM
It is generally the policy of the LCMS that outsiders are not welcome at the table. That's not true for all Lutherans. In ELCA churches this is definitely not the case. "All are welcome, friend and stranger at the banquet of the Savior." It's a gospel value for many of us. So we hope you know that not all Lutherans are alike. Frankly, not all LCMS Lutherans follow the party line. It depends a lot on the pastor and/or the congregation,

It is the policy of the LCMS to adhere to the Scriptural teaching of 1 Corinthians 11 where it states that if the Sacrament is received unworthily or is not recognized then the recipient is committing a sin. We in the LCMS take very seriously the spiritual well-being of those who approach the altar. We do not want people to committ a sin or receive the Sacrament to their judgement, but to be able to receive the Body and Blood of Christ to their benefit, to receive the Grace of God offered through the Sacrament to those who are worthy and prepared.

Like it says above, not all "Lutherans" are alike. Some simply don't care about one's spiritual well-being.
:sigh:
Willy
13th May 2005, 09:20 AM
Smile.
SPALATIN
13th May 2005, 10:10 AM
It is the policy of the LCMS to adhere to the Scriptural teaching of 1 Corinthians 11 where it states that if the Sacrament is received unworthily or is not recognized then the recipient is committing a sin. We in the LCMS take very seriously the spiritual well-being of those who approach the altar. We do not want people to committ a sin or receive the Sacrament to their judgement, but to be able to receive the Body and Blood of Christ to their benefit, to receive the Grace of God offered through the Sacrament to those who are worthy and prepared.

Like it says above, not all "Lutherans" are alike. Some simply don't care about one's spiritual well-being.
:sigh:

I can definitely say that this is one policy that is broken constantly and consistently on a daily basis in the LCMS. Mainly because no one in the synod wants to be an enforcer or be enforced upon.
ChiRho
13th May 2005, 10:21 AM
Smile.


ChiRho buzzes in...

"What would be the facial expression of Satan, when the ungodly masquerade as Christians, Alex?"


Alex responds, "Correct for $1000!"
Willy
13th May 2005, 01:51 PM
Thanks, Chi Ro. Now I've not only been called "apostate," a "murderer," one who "is outside the will of God," and one "who puts himself above the truth." I now am Satan. The anti-Christ should be next. What fun it is to be a part of the gracious Lutheran forum! Smile.
revjpw
13th May 2005, 02:58 PM
The anti-Christ should be next.


Ah... you beat us to it! ;)
ByzantineDixie
13th May 2005, 07:41 PM
I can definitely say that this is one policy that is broken constantly and consistently on a daily basis in the LCMS. Mainly because no one in the synod wants to be an enforcer or be enforced upon.

Daily??? Not daily, Scott. Remember, we are talking about the LCMS...so mostly this is just happening on first and third Sundays. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_102.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm825YYUS)
SPALATIN
14th May 2005, 12:20 AM
Daily??? Not daily, Scott. Remember, we are talking about the LCMS...so mostly this is just happening on first and third Sundays. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_6_102.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxdm825YYUS)

What I meant was that the synod is not even enforcing this policy at all. BTW Rose, the church I attend has it every Sunday. :amen:
ByzantineDixie
14th May 2005, 01:09 AM
What I meant was that the synod is not even enforcing this policy at all. BTW Rose, the church I attend has it every Sunday. :amen:

I know what you meant...it was another poor attempt at humor. I am quite the cynic tonight.
ByzantineDixie
14th May 2005, 01:15 AM
ChiRho buzzes in...

"What would be the facial expression of Satan, when the ungodly masquerade as Christians, Alex?"


Alex responds, "Correct for $1000!"

Oh ya...this was absolutely hysterical. I'd rep you for this but I haven't been repping enough lately so I can't. Would someone please take care of ChiRho for me in this? Thanks
Rechtgläubig
14th May 2005, 02:17 AM
Done. :D
Jim47
14th May 2005, 08:33 AM
I know what you meant...it was another poor attempt at humor. I am quite the cynic tonight.


Humor doesn't come easy at 2 O'clock in the morning Rose, at least not for me. Now Recht on the other hand is just getting woke up about that time. ;)