Pastor, I Have a Question November-December 2017

QUESTION: I have moved into an assisted living facility. Every week, some local Christian group conducts services. Many serve Communion, but it seems strange and different from what we do. Should I participate?
ANSWER: St. Paul wrote, For we, being many, are one bread and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread (I Corinthians 10:17). In the book of Acts (2:42), we read, They continued steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread and in prayers.  When we partake of the Holy Supper, we unite ourselves in fellowship with those with whom we commune.
Jesus added many blessings to the Holy Sacrament. Along with bread and wine, Jesus also gives us His true body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins as He says in the words of consecration. In the Small Catechism, Dr. Luther explained, “The benefit which we receive from such eating and drinking is shown us by these words: ‘Given and shed for you for the remission of sins;’ namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also life and salvation.”
The Holy Supper is also Holy Communion. Communion means a joining together. The community of Christ joins together to partake of this blessed meal, and when we partake of the Supper, we make a confession of our faith. We will need to know the confession of those offering the Sacrament to see whether or not their confession is true to the Holy Scripture. God would have us join together only with those who continue “steadfastly in the Apostle’s doctrine and fellowship and breaking of bread and in prayers.” God would have us commune only at that place in which the Sacrament is administered properly, that place where we have made our confession of faith.
The various Christian denominations may or may not let the teaching of the Gospel dominate their preaching and doctrine. Christian denominations do not agree on what is happening in the Holy Supper. This is why the ceremony of those who are serving Communion at your facility seems strange and different. It is unlikely they are serving the Supper as instituted by the Lord, as we serve the Supper.
It is not God-pleasing to confess teachings that are false. God would have us keep our preaching, teaching and practice as pure as we are able. We join with fellow believers as one communion of believers in the unity of our faith. This is a public confession of our faith. We need to know the confession of those with whom we commune before we commune with them.
Generally speaking, we acknowledge the unity of faith by our fellowship with those churches and denominations with whom we are one in confession. In this country, we are in fellowship with the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod as well as the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Worldwide, we are in fellowship with the churches of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC). We can be confident that the congregations of our fellowship teach the same things we believe and administer the Holy Sacraments as the Lord instituted them.
We will avoid communing at those altars of congregations or gatherings outside our fellowship. If you are not able to go to church, let your own pastor bring you the Holy Supper.
Rev. Charles Keeler
Resurrection Lutheran Church
Winter Haven, FL
cjohnk@aol.com