I don't think your pastor was saying "You have to be a Christian to take the Eucharist" as much as he was saing "You are all welcome here, but we ofcourse prefer that you be exploring discipleship and Christ in some way when you take communion."
And you can't really blame him for prefering that can you? I mean isn't that the primary task of the Church? To make disciples of all people? Of course any pastor, priest, or even church member should hope that all people taking Eucharist are in some way "searching for Christ" The Eucharist is a Sacrament... it IS a means of Grace.
Why other purpose would it serve other than be bread and juice for conversation? The Church isn't a social club... it is a community of worshipers seeking to live in discipleship together.
I don't think, from your account of what happened, he was saying "Only Christians can come up here now." But that he was saying "If you want to take communion, and are not Christian you are more than welcome. WE hope that this sacred momment if fulfilling to you and helps you have an encounter with God, through his son Jesus Christ."
He just might not have been so clear in expressing that. I am sure he would have let you take the Eucharist when you were young and didn't understand the significance of Christ all the time hoping that you were "searching for Christ" while eating the Holy meal.
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Date: 2005-12-04 10:53 am (UTC)And you can't really blame him for prefering that can you? I mean isn't that the primary task of the Church? To make disciples of all people? Of course any pastor, priest, or even church member should hope that all people taking Eucharist are in some way "searching for Christ" The Eucharist is a Sacrament... it IS a means of Grace.
Why other purpose would it serve other than be bread and juice for conversation? The Church isn't a social club... it is a community of worshipers seeking to live in discipleship together.
I don't think, from your account of what happened, he was saying "Only Christians can come up here now." But that he was saying "If you want to take communion, and are not Christian you are more than welcome. WE hope that this sacred momment if fulfilling to you and helps you have an encounter with God, through his son Jesus Christ."
He just might not have been so clear in expressing that. I am sure he would have let you take the Eucharist when you were young and didn't understand the significance of Christ all the time hoping that you were "searching for Christ" while eating the Holy meal.
Peace and love!
Me