C. M. Sheffield
Puritan Board Graduate
Hey Pastor,
Do you make a distinction between closed and close communion? For example, if there is a visiting Baptist, would you allow them to partake?
No. Some say "closed" and others say "close." But they are synonymous. Historically, closed communion means limiting the ordinance to the membership and to those visiting from churches of like faith and order (i.e. Baptist). A small number of Baptists in history have advocated a form of closed communion in which only the members of that local congregation are welcomed to participate. However, I do not see any biblical rationale for this. So if a Baptist brother was visiting from a sister church, he would be welcomed to the Table (respectively).
---------- Post added at 12:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:47 PM ----------
Not at all. At this point, I'm only concerned with those who were sprinkled as infants and have yet to receive believer's baptism. You (and Ligon Duncan ) would be welcomed to the Table, and into membership (respectively).
Does Mark Dever know about this?
I think he may