I’m honored to be the first of many who will be commenting on your wonderful blog.

You’ve got quite a lot to take in on the eclectic christian! I’ll be back for more gems from your pen (fingertips).

Thanks Mike!

– Steve M.

My first one on my new blog!

I am glad to say that I have been welcomed at the communion table at both Lutheran and Catholic churches. (The Lutheran were both ECLA and Missouri Synod.) So maybe the way that faith is practiced in the trenches is a little different than the party line. (Mixed metaphor there.)

I agree with you that “if we are to err, it should be on the side of God’s grace.”

Blessings on you.

Mike Bell – Eclectic Christian

If I remember correctly, I also took partin that discussion on the I.M.’s site.

Where I worship, we too believe that the Supper is God’s Word of promise being given to us, free of charge.

God’s Word being Jesus Himself.

I have many friends that go to Baptist/Non-Denominational churches where they do participate in the Lord’s Suppper, but they do understand it quite differently.

They believe that it is a rememberance of Christ’s death and that it is a sort of spititual, emotional, experiential partaking of a meal in communion with other believers.

At our church, our pastor always says, “All baptised Christians who believe that Christ is actualy present in the bread and wine are welcome at the altar.

We do beleive that to miss the point of Christ’s actual presence is to miss the whole point of the meal.

Christ gives Himself to us, precisely so we won’t have to conjur up feelings or emotions (many of which can’t be trusted). In this neal is the assurance of our salvation and forgiveness. Otherwise, you need to whip it up yourself with ‘your decision, or your good fruits, or,…whatever.

Wea aren’t so legalistic about the whole thing, though. We figure if we are to err, it should be on the side of God’s grace. So if someone communes with us and he really doesn’t believe that Christ is present but never really communicated that with us…so be it. God will handle everything there. It’s when someone is vocal about it (there non-belief in the real presence) that we cannot tolerate their inclusion in the Supper because their vocal non belief can be toxic to our members and their faith.

Thanks for the opportunity to talk about the Lord’s Supper!

– Steve Martin San Clemente, CA