Should communion be open or closed?

Answer

The distinction between “open” and “closed” communion lies in a church’s perspective on the purpose of communion and the authority of the church. Churches that practice “open” communion welcome all professing believers in Christ to participate in observing the ordinance. On the other hand, churches that practice “closed” communion restrict participation in the Lord’s Supper to their own local congregation—only official members in good standing are permitted to partake. Some churches follow a third approach known as “close” communion, where members from other churches within the same denomination are allowed to share in communion with the local church.

The Bible’s guidance on the Lord’s Supper can be found in 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 and advocates for inclusive participation among believers. All individuals who are genuine believers in God through personal faith in Jesus Christ, His Son, are considered worthy to partake in the Lord’s Supper because they have acknowledged Christ’s death as the atonement for their sins (see also Ephesians 1:6-7).

The rationale behind certain churches’ practice of closed or close communion is to ensure that only believers partake. While this intention is understandable, it places church leaders and/or ushers in the challenging position of determining who is eligible to participate, which can be problematic. A church may presume that all official members are genuine believers, but this assumption may not always hold true.

The practice of closed communion—limiting communion to church members—is also an effort to prevent individuals from partaking in an “unworthy manner.” «WTherefore, whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27). Churches practicing closed communion believe that only the local congregation can assess the spiritual readiness of its members. It is impossible to ascertain the spiritual state of outsiders or strangers. However, 1 Corinthians 11:27 addresses how a person participates in the communion elements, not their personal worthiness. No one is truly “worthy” to commune with God; it is solely through the sacrificial blood of Christ that we are deemed worthy. Participation becomes unworthy when certain believers are excluded (verse 21), when sharing is refused (verse 21), when drunkenness occurs (verse 21), when the poor are shamed (verse 22), when selfishness is displayed (verse 33), or when the gathering is treated as a mere meal to satisfy hunger (verse 34).

According to the Bible, communion should be inclusive to all believers, not restricted to a specific church or denomination. The key is that participants are born-again believers in harmony with their Lord and with one another. Before taking communion, each believer should introspect their intentions. “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” (1 Corinthians 11:28). Regardless of one’s church affiliation, disrespect, bias, selfishness, and impure desires have no place at the Lord’s Table.