Our Peruvian brothers and sisters have the same Communion practice found in our confessional Lutheran congregations, often called Close Communion. That expresses an emphasis on the agreement in doctrine our celebration of the sacrament demonstrates. Those who commune together are to be close to one another in their understanding of Christian doctrine, and in their faith in Jesus Christ, and in their confession of that faith. That’s why I appreciate the term used in Peru to express this concept: Communio intimo (intimate Communion).
Think of how Communio intimo describes what happens before our altars:
- The body and blood of Jesus Christ are intimately connected with the earthly elements of bread and wine in what theologians call the “sacramental union”
- Also we Christians and our Savior are intimately together when He gives each of us personally His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins
- And we sinners/saints who kneel together side-by-side are intimately united in fellowship as we receive the Sacrament.
We celebrate fellowship in the Lord’s Supper. Members in our mission fields do, too!
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf (I Corinthians 10).
(The ELS relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Peru is conducted by the South America Committee of the Board for World Outreach.)
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Steve Petersenwww.worldmissionsouvenirs.com