Who Can Take Communion?
Question 9007
When the bread and cup are passed at the Lord’s Supper, a question naturally arises: who may participate? Is it for everyone present? Only church members? What about visitors? What about children? These are practical questions that churches must answer, and Scripture provides guidance for us.
For Believers Only
The most fundamental principle is that the Lord’s Supper is for believers. It was instituted by Jesus with His disciples, those who had followed Him and believed in Him. Paul’s instructions in 1 Corinthians assume that those partaking are believers. The Supper is a remembrance of what Christ has done for us, a proclamation of His death, and a communion with His body. None of this makes sense for someone who has not trusted in Christ.
Unbelievers have nothing to remember. They have not experienced the salvation that Christ’s death provides. They have nothing to proclaim, for they do not believe the gospel. They have no communion with Christ or with His body, for they are outside the faith. To partake of the Lord’s Supper without faith in Christ is to go through an empty ritual that has no meaning.
Worse than empty, it may be dangerous. Paul warns, “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27). To partake unworthily is to treat the sacrifice of Christ with contempt. It is to handle holy things in an unholy way.
Therefore, when we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we should make clear that this is a meal for those who have trusted in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. We are not trying to exclude people from Christ but to be faithful to what Christ Himself instituted. The invitation to the gospel is wide open, but the table is for those who have responded to that invitation.
Self-Examination Required
Paul instructs, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). Before partaking, believers should examine themselves. This examination is not about whether we are “good enough” in some absolute sense, for none of us would ever qualify on that basis. Rather, it is about our present relationship with the Lord and with our fellow believers.
Am I holding onto unconfessed sin? Am I nursing a grudge against a brother or sister? Am I living in a way that dishonours Christ? If so, I need to deal with these things before I partake. “Anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Corinthians 11:29). The phrase “discerning the body” likely refers both to recognising the significance of Christ’s body given for us and to respecting the body of Christ, the Church, by living in proper fellowship with other believers.
This self-examination is not meant to paralyse us with guilt or to suggest that only perfect people can take communion. The table is for sinners saved by grace, not for sinless saints. But it is for repentant sinners, those who acknowledge their failings and come to Christ afresh for cleansing. 1 John 1:9 reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Come to the table confessed and cleansed.
In Good Standing with the Church
The Lord’s Supper is a corporate act of the body of Christ. It expresses our unity and fellowship with one another. For this reason, most churches require that those who partake be in good standing with the church. This does not mean perfection but means that the person has not been placed under church discipline for unrepentant sin.
Jesus taught a process of church discipline in Matthew 18:15-17. If a believer sins and refuses to repent after repeated appeals, eventually the church must treat them “as a Gentile and a tax collector,” that is, as someone outside the fellowship. Paul instructed the Corinthians to remove the unrepentant man from their midst: “Purge the evil person from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:13). Such a person should not partake of the Lord’s Supper, for they have cut themselves off from the fellowship of the body.
When someone is under discipline, the loving goal is restoration. But until repentance comes, they cannot participate in the family meal. This is both a consequence of their sin and a goad toward repentance.
What About Children?
Can children take communion? This depends on whether they have genuinely believed in Christ. Age itself is not the determining factor; faith is. A young child who truly understands the gospel and has trusted in Jesus is welcome at the table. A teenager who has grown up in the church but never personally believed should not partake.
Parents and pastors should work together to discern when a child is ready. It is not simply about reaching a certain age or completing a class. It is about genuine faith and understanding. Can the child articulate what Christ has done? Do they show evidence of the Holy Spirit’s work in their life? Have they been baptised as a believer?
Some churches require baptism before communion, reasoning that baptism is the initiatory ordinance into the church and the Supper is the ongoing ordinance for the church. This order makes sense, though churches may differ on how strictly they apply it.
What About Visitors?
When visitors are present at the Lord’s Supper, how should we handle their participation? This question relates to the broader issue of “open” versus “closed” communion, which we will address in a subsequent question. But the basic principle remains: the Supper is for believers. A visitor who is a genuine believer in Christ, whether or not they are a member of that particular church, is partaking in remembrance of the same Lord and sharing in the same body.
Before the elements are distributed, it is wise to explain what the Lord’s Supper is and for whom it is intended. We might say something like, “This table is for all who have trusted in Jesus as their Saviour and Lord. If you have not yet put your faith in Christ, we would encourage you simply to observe and to consider the gospel that this meal proclaims. If you are a believer in Jesus, you are welcome to partake with us.”
We should not interrogate visitors or demand proof of their faith. We trust them to heed the exhortation to examine themselves. But we should be clear about the meaning and the requirements so that people can make an informed decision.
Conclusion
Who can take communion? Believers in Jesus who have examined themselves, confessed any known sin, and are in fellowship with the body of Christ. The table is not for the perfect but for the forgiven. It is not for those who think they have no need of a Saviour but for those who know their desperate need and have found all they need in Christ. If you are such a person, come freely and remember what your Saviour has done for you. If you are not yet a believer, the invitation to come to Christ is open, but first come to Him in faith before you come to His table.
“Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” 1 Corinthians 11:28
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