In the words of Martin Luther in the Small Catechism, Communion is “the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ Himself.”

Communion is one of several sacraments (sacred acts) instituted by our Lord Jesus Christ wherein a promise of forgiveness of sins is joined to a physical element (bread and wine in this case). Jesus instituted Holy Communion (also called the Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, etc.) so that by it He might strengthen our faith and give us forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation (Matthew 26:26-27; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; John 6:54-58).

Luther writes in the Small Catechism that “Fasting and bodily preparation are, indeed, fine outward training. But a person is truly worthy and well prepared who has faith in these words, ‘Given … and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.’ But anyone who does not believe these words, or doubts, is unworthy and unfit. For the words ‘for you’ require hearts that truly believe.”

In other words, as the Scriptures teach and the early church believed, we hold that this meal is not a mere symbol, metaphor, or remembrance, but that Jesus is truly present and gives us Himself in, with, and under the bread and wine. Our Lord invites to His table those who trust His words, have been baptized in the name of the Trinity, repent of all sin, and forgive and love others as He has first forgiven and loved us.

Before receiving this gift, Scripture tells us to “examine” ourselves so that we may receive it to our benefit (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). What does this examination include? First, Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:29 that communion entails properly “discerning the body [of Christ].” This means a person ought to agree with Jesus’ statement that His body and blood are truly present in, with, and under the bread and wine. Accordingly, this meal is not a metaphor, symbol, or mere remembrance. We are to believe Jesus’ words that these gifts are “given for you” and “poured out for you” (Luke 22:19-20).

When Paul speaks of discerning the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:29), He is referring not just to our Lord Jesus, but also to the way in which we are joined through this meal to the church, which the New Testament frequently refers to as the body of Christ. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10:16-17, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.”

In other words, Jesus gives us Holy Communion as a means of binding all who participate together in a unified confession of faith. Those who hold different beliefs are not to bring those beliefs to the altar by participating in the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 10:18-22). For this reason, communion is shared among those who believe, teach, and confess the same doctrine. By communing, an individual is stating by their actions that they agree with all that a congregation teaches and believes, and that they are placing themselves under the church’s spiritual care. That’s a big commitment, and one we don’t feel is fair to ask of you before you know what we believe. Moreover, in an age where differences are often swept under the rug, we desire more than superficial unity, and so we believe that it’s worth taking the time to talk together.

Lastly, communion is a bit like taking medicine. While medicines like insulin or statins are meant to heal, when taken under the wrong conditions they can be harmful. Likewise, Scripture says that communing in an inappropriate manner can result in a person’s harm and judgment (1 Corinthians 11:27-30), so a person should partake in communion only after proper instruction from that church body. Both for the sake of those communing and for our spiritual leaders who will have to give an account for their care of souls (Hebrews 13:17), the last thing we want is for anyone to receive the Lord’s Supper to their harm.

Therefore, if you are a guest at St. Luke who wishes to commune, please speak with Pastor Kyle, David Nelson, our Director of Discipleship, or one of the elders prior to the service. Instruction on communion and on our confession of faith is open to all, and can be arranged by speaking with Pastor Kyle. We do earnestly desire to have everyone join us at this sacred meal, but ask for your patience and understanding as we also try to remain faithful to Scripture’s teaching. If you are not communing but wish to receive a blessing, please cross your arms over your chest when you approach the altar during communion to signal that to us.