The Lord's Supper is a symbol of Christ's sacrifice on the cross, as well as an expression of true Christian fellowship.

Who should participate ?

1. The Lord's Supper is only for those who are regenerate (born again).

We who were "dead in our trespasses and sins" have been made alive in Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:4-5; Col. 2:13). Even though we are undeserving and former enemies of God (Rom. 5:10), He has "made us accepted in the Beloved [Christ]" (Eph. 1:6). God has set us apart as "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people" (1 Peter 2:9; Titus 2:14).

While many non-Christians are our friends, co-workers, neighbors, or even immediate family members—people with whom we associate as part of our daily lives—we may not include them in the Lord's Supper. This is because the Lord's Supper is not merely a symbol, but also an act of the unique fellowship believers share with each other and with Christ in the new covenant (1 Cor. 10:16-17; 2 Cor. 6:14-18). Until our friends and family members experience God's grace as we have, resulting in their repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ, they are not members of the new covenant (Heb. 8:10-11; cf. John 17:3).

2. The Lord's Supper is only for those who have been baptized.

Throughout the book of Acts, baptism is always the first act that follows conversion. The three-thousand at Pentecost, the eunuch in chapter 8, Saul in chapter 9, Cornelius in chapter 10, Lydia and the Philippian jailer in chapter 16—all of these were baptized following conversion. And there is no indication is ever given in the New Testament that a person may share in the fellowship of the Lord's Supper with other Christians, prior to being baptized.

We see this same order in Jesus' final instructions to His disciples: "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all things that I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:19-20). First, we are to make disciples, then baptize the disciples, then teach them to obey Christ in all things, including the regular observance of the Lord's Supper. Peter's strong and direct command in Acts 2:38 ("Repent, and let every one of you be baptized . . .") indicates this same order by not mentioning the Lord's Supper, but rather baptism as the first priority for these new converts (also see Acts 10:47-48).

A person who was "baptized" as an infant, yet who has never voluntarily and consciously followed the clear New Testament instructions and example regarding baptism (immersion in water) as a symbol that follows conversion, has not been baptized. Until he is baptized he may not share in the Lord's Supper.

3. The Lord's Supper is only for those who are members of a true church.

The New Testament does not require that church membership be formal or written down on paper. Every congregation may approach membership, within biblical parameters, as seems best to them. But if a person is to be considered a member of a particular group of Christians who form a particular local church, there must be a mutual understanding that the person is committed to the other members, and they to him, in a meaningful and faithful relationship of edification, submission, and accountability. Simply put, a member of a local church is anyone who is considered inside in a way that he could be put outside if necessary (e.g., because of a single notorious or heinous sin, a lack of repentance regarding any particular sin, or a habitual pattern of unrepentant sin; cf. Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:1-13). A Christian who is not in this sort of accountable relationship with a local church should not take the Lord's Supper. The ordinance is a corporate act of Christian fellowship, not an individual right of practice, and in our view, the essential purity of this act of fellowship can only be adequately guarded through committed accountability to a local church.

4. The Lord's Supper is only for "members in good standing" (meaning those who are faithful in attendance and neither under, nor deserving of church discipline).

Christians are forbidden to have fellowship with anyone who professes to know Christ, yet who lives like an unbeliever (Matt. 18:17; 1 Cor. 5:11). Through biblical church discipline, such a person must be excluded from all forms of Christian fellowship, especially the fellowship of the Lord's Supper.

This last point has been mentioned already, but it is critical and therefore bears repeating. Though the Lord's Supper is a symbol of Christian fellowship, it is not merely a symbol. It is also an act of fellowship. It is, without question, one of our highest expressions of communion with each other and with Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 10:16-17).

In a healthy, biblically sound church, there is a great sense of obligation to be loving toward outsiders while at the same time guarding the fellowship against infiltration by false converts (i.e., unconverted people who are deceived and profess to be Christians, and who often introduce false doctrines and/or immoral practices into an otherwise sound local church). A healthy church, while being appropriately warm and receptive toward any guests who attend, will take reasonable precautions before receiving them as members. Requirements such as membership classes, interviews with church leaders, and/or affirmation by other trusted Christians, enable a church to verify that a prospective member's life and doctrine can reasonably be called "Christian" before including him in the fellowship of the church.

Protecting the membership of a local church from harmful influences is not merely a technical requirement. Its essential and practical purpose is to keep Christian fellowship pure and undefiled. To be a member of a local church, after all, is not merely to have your name on a church roll. It is to be "in fellowship" with the other members. In this sense, membership and fellowship are identical. We do not see how we can rightfully claim to be guarding our membership biblically if we then unreservedly allow just anyone to participate with us in such a meaningful act of fellowship. And since we are repeatedly commanded in the New Testament to protect the membership of the church from the two enemies of false teaching and sinful behavior, we also recognize our biblical obligation to guard the fellowship of the Lord's Supper from the same two enemies.

Given the necessity of guarding the fellowship of our local church, who may participate with Christ Fellowship in the fellowship of the Lord's Supper?

Biblically, the circle of our communion experience must be the same as the circle of our mutual accountability (cf. 1 Cor. 5, esp. vv. 11-13). Our practice in observing the Lord's Supper, therefore, is to include those who have been received into the circle of authority and responsibility of our local church concerning church discipline—in other words, those who are members of our church.

We do allow for some exceptions. For example, we recognize that in the New Testament, Christian workers traveled extensively and visited other local churches in their travels. We do not believe these known and trusted workers (i.e., Paul, Timothy, etc.) were excluded from the Lord's Supper because they were not members of the church they were visiting. Therefore, we will permit visiting pastors, missionaries, and other Christian workers who are traveling as a part of their labors for Christ and are temporarily unable to participate with their own local church, to share the Lord's Supper with us. This assumes, of course, that we know them well enough to be assured that they are qualified in regard to membership with their own local church in the above four ways.

We may also, in unusual cases, permit guests to participate who are absent from their home church for extended periods of time due to temporary work assignments or other unavoidable circumstances (e.g., college students who are home for the summer and away from the church where they are members). This category would not include those who are on vacations or other short-term and/or voluntary absences from their home church. In cases of involuntary and relatively long-term absences (as described above), we would permit a person to participate if he were to arrange for communication between a pastor of his home church and one of our pastors so that the above qualifications could be confirmed. With the guest's pastor's commendation and approval, the guest must agree to be in submission to our structure of authority and discipline as long as he is away from home and participating with us. Such a person would be seen as a "temporary member" of Christ Fellowship.

We believe Paul's commendation of Phoebe to the church at Rome was an example of the above (cf. Rom. 16:1-2). Phoebe, who was well-known to Paul, was a member of the church at Cenchrea. She had traveled to Rome, possibly to deliver Paul's letter along with other business. Paul instructed that church to "receive her in the Lord." This would seem to mean including her in their fellowship, which would have certainly included her participation in the Lord's Supper.

We wish to cause no offense for other Christians who visit our church yet must refrain from participating in the Lord's Supper with us. We are not implying that those who do not participate are not true Christians. We hope all who are present, even those who do not participate in taking the elements, will find this time a meaningful experience of worship.

If a guest is seeking a church home, we invite him to pursue membership with Christ Fellowship. Our membership process is not complicated. Assuming there are no important reasons for delaying membership, within a three or four weeks (or even less in some cases) the guest could be one of our members, sharing the Lord's Supper with us as one who is subject to our structure of accountability. Those who visit but are not seeking membership with Christ Fellowship should continue regularly participating in the Lord's Supper with their own local church.

Note: Some will point to 1 Corinthians 11:28 ("a man must examine himself") as Paul's indication that the individual has the right to decide whether or not he is entitled to participate in the Lord's Supper. But the context in which this statement was made leads us to conclude that Paul was not elevating individual rights above the church's obligation to guard its fellowship. He was telling those who were already accepted members of the church at Corinth—that is, those who were already accountable to that local church—to examine themselves before participation. The passage speaks of the necessity of thoughtful and sober participation, not open and unguarded participation.

If you have questions or comments about our convictions regarding the Lord's Supper, please speak with one of our elders, or visit our web site to read our responses to frequently asked questions.

Contact information:
Christ Fellowship of Kansas City
201 Main, Suite #3
Parkville (Kansas City), MO 64152
www.ChristFellowshipKC.org