A myriad of threats exists to the Lord's Table. Wrong views of Christ's presence in the elements and incorrect views about who can be admitted to the Table are dangerous to every local church. While errant theology on the Table is not always seen as an overt threat to the local church, it can be a subversive threat. Similar to the preceding weeks, this article will give a simple threat assessment instead of a biblical exegesis of the Table.
Why Are Wrong Views a Threat?
Before addressing what the threats are, let's first understand why wrong views of the Table are dangerous. The primary threat is that the elements contain the presence of Christ in some way and, therefore, uniquely sanctifies. Baptists believe that the Table is a memorial or remembrance of the death of Christ. As Baptists, we believe the Table is only sanctifying because it is a remembrance of the gospel. The threat that arises from views that make the Table more than a remembrance is that the elements can sanctify separate from the Word and the Spirit. The further threat, then, is that a Christian’s sanctification would be dependent upon partaking of the Table, something that Scripture never states. The most extreme form of this danger is making one's salvation dependent upon partaking of the Table. Once someone starts to believe that their salvation or sanctification is dependent upon the Table, they've entered into a legalistic mindset. The fact that the Table is purely symbolic and only sanctifying because it reminds the believer of the gospel prevents a legalistic reliance on the Table for salvation or sanctification.
A secondary threat is the openness of the Table. To state it simply, some people are not allowed to the Table. To allow those who Christ has not invited to the Table is defiance toward the Lord of the Table. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11 that those who partake of the Table when they shouldn't have become sick and have even died. Protecting who is permitted at the Table protects the flock from adverse consequences. Assuring that those who partake have judged themselves rightly also ensures that the sanctifying work of the Table in remembrance takes place. Further, inviting people to the Table who the Lord has not invited reconstructs the Table from being a corporate action of a church into an individual action. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11, clearly states that an individualistic mindset while partaking of the Table is harmful to a church.
While more could be expounded on why being wrong in these areas is dangerous, these brief explanations will suffice.
Threat 1: Wrong on the Presence of Christ
Wrong views on the presence of Christ can be divided into two categories: beliefs that the physical body of Christ is somehow present in the elements and beliefs that the spiritual presence of Christ is somehow present in the elements.
Beliefs that the physical body of Christ is present in the elements are commonly called "Real Presence." The most popular view of the real presence theologies is the Catholic belief of transubstantiation. Transubstantiation claims that the bread and the juice miraculously change into the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ when the priest recites the "Institution Narrative" while the elements keep the appearance of the bread and juice. In Catholic theology, the Institution Narrative is the words Jesus spoke when He instituted the Supper.
Transubstantiation asserts that any person who partakes of the Supper, whether with faith or not, partakes of the real presence of Christ. The Catholic Church asserts that taking of the Table or Eucharist, as they call it, is necessary for someone's salvation.
The Lutheran view of "Sacramental Union" is another real presence theology. The sacramental union asserts that upon the Institutional Narrative, the physical body and blood of Christ become present alongside and joined to the physical elements of the bread and juice. Sacramental Union likewise asserts that any person who partakes of the Supper, whether with faith or not, partakes of the real presence of Christ. This view does not assert that it is necessary for salvation but that it does uniquely sanctify.
Differing from the real presence view, the Reformed view of Pneumatic presence is the belief that Christ is spiritually present in the elements but not physically present. A recipient of the Table, through the Holy Spirit, then receives the real presence of Christ. Pneumatic presence asserts that only those who have faith are truly partaking in the Spiritual presence of Christ, not necessarily all people who partake. This view does not assert that it is necessary for salvation but does hold that it is uniquely sanctifying.
Threat 2: Wrong People at the Table
Wrong views on who is invited to the Table can be divided into four categories: all-inclusive, wide-open, open, and unfenced communion.
All-inclusive communion is when everyone, including unbelievers, is invited to partake of the Table. There are no restrictions whatsoever to a person partaking of the Table. The most hardened atheist can partake of the Table. All-inclusive communion is typically practiced by seeker-sensitive churches that want to make someone feel like they belong. All-inclusive is a modern phenomenon and is not readily found before the Church-growth movement.
Wide-open communion is when anyone who has professed faith in Christ is invited to partake of the Table, but that person does not need to be baptized. Wide-open puts one restriction on people, and that is that they simply must be a professing Christian. The person does not need to have ever identified themselves with Christ in baptism. Wide-open is typically practiced by the more conservative end of the church growth movement.
Open communion is when anyone who has any kind of baptism, including pedobaptism, is invited to the Table. Open communion is particularly a distinction among Baptists. Baptists who practice open communion recognize, at least in part, the legitimacy of the baptisms of pedobaptists. Open communion is typically practiced among ecumenical Baptists.
Unfenced communion is when a church holds to a proper view of who is permitted at the Table but never instructs people about who can and can't while partaking. An unfenced Table typically happens when the pastor fails to tell the church that those permitted to the Table must be born-again, biblically baptized, walking in repentance, and in harmony with the other members of the church. An unfenced Table practically leads to the errant views of all-inclusive, wide-open, and open communion.
Protecting the Flock
To protect against both of these threats to the local church, you must first teach what is proper about the Table. When teaching a class on doctrine or partaking of the Table, instruct the people that the Table is sanctifying only in that it reminds us of the gospel. Tell them that if they do not remember the gospel when partaking of the Table, all they have done is eat a strange snack. Then, make the gospel more important than the elements.
Second, fence the Table. Fencing the Table is an older Baptist concept that has been forgotten by many, but it is vitally important. While partaking of the Table, walk people through these questions: Are you saved? Have you been baptized by immersion in a New Testament church? Are you living a life of repentance? Are you in harmony with every other member of this church? Are you a member in right standing of this Baptist church? (If you are close communion, as opposed to closed, you may rephrase the last question to "Are you a member in right standing of a Baptist church?") If the answer is no to any of these questions, request that the person refrain from partaking of the Table until they've resolved that issue. Also, before partaking, allow people time to repent of sin and reconcile with a brother or sister in Christ. A practical way to accomplish this is to fence the Table at the beginning of the service and exhort people to repent of unrepentant sins and to go and reconcile with someone they are not in harmony with, and then partake of the Table at the end of the service.
Lastly, partake of the Table together. The reason for fencing the Table is that everyone seated at the Table matters. Avoid practices where people eat and drink of the bread and juice by themselves. Exhort against people partaking of the Table outside the context of a local church (i.e. wedding, parachurch event, home, etc.). Make it evident that the church together is partaking of the Table and together is declaring the death of Christ until He comes.
Conclusion
Erroneous views on the Table may not be as existential as other falsehoods, but wrong views on the Table can quickly turn a church upside down. Protect the flock by fencing the Lord's Table.
Written by Klayton Carson
The "Threats to the Church" series is also on the Text-Driven Podcast. You can listen to the Text-Driven Podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at www.textdriven.org/podcasts. New episodes are released every Monday, just in time for your morning commute.
