Many who practice closed communion base their view on a misunderstanding of Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 11:27, where he says, "Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord." They argue that since communion is serious, the church must not permit anyone to partake who might be unworthy, lest they bring condemnation upon themselves and the church be complicit in their sin.
However, the Greek word anaxios, translated "unworthily," means "in an improper manner." It refers not to one's moral condition, but to the manner of participation. Modern translations such as the ASV, ESV, and RSV render the phrase as "in an unworthy manner," clarifying Paul's intent. His warning was not against unworthy persons, but against taking the Lord's Supper improperly. In Corinth, believers were turning the sacred meal into a common feast, showing irreverence, division, and selfishness. They failed to approach the supper with faith and gratitude for Christ's sacrifice. Paul's rebuke, therefore, concerned how they observed the ordinance, not who was allowed to participate.
None of us are truly worthy to eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ. If worthiness were required, none of us could partake. Paul's instruction, instead, focuses on self-examination and reverence. Yet even today, some Christians wrongly refrain from communion when feeling spiritually low, believing they are unworthy. Ironically, this disobedience to Christ's command, "this do in remembrance of me," only compounds their sense of guilt.
Historically, many churches of Christ in Great Britain practiced closed communion during the 19th century, later adopting open communion where each believer examined themselves. In Scotland, some Calvinist congregations went further, literally fencing the table and issuing communion tokens only to approved members who passed doctrinal examinations. Elders distributed these tokens beforehand, and only those deemed in good standing could partake. While rare today, remnants of this practice still exist in a few churches.
The chief problem with closed communion is clear: it places the authority of judgment in human hands. Certain members presume to decide who is worthy instead of allowing each believer to examine himself, as commanded in 1 Corinthians 11:28. Self-examination, as Burton Coffman explains, is like testing metals, to ensure sincerity and reverence, not perfection. No Christian should treat the Lord's Supper casually, for it is the central ordinance of Christianity and carries eternal significance.
Finally, the communion table is not our table, but the Lord's. The bread and cup rest upon His table, and only He can read the heart. Though no one is worthy of Christ's sacrifice, we are invited to partake as redeemed people, taking advantage of the grace offered through His Body and Blood. When we observe the Supper properly, we strengthen our faith, edify one another, and glorify God, the ultimate purpose of all worship. For He alone, with the Lamb who was slain, is truly worthy (Revelation 5:12-13).
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