Proper 14 (NTA)

1 Corinthians 10:14-22

¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. ¹⁶ 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? ¹⁷ Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. ¹⁸ Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? ¹⁹ What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? ²⁰ No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. ²² Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?

1 Corinthians 10 always gives me a little twinge in my stomach, especially when I think of verse 20. "No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons." Do "Christian" assemblies offer sacrifices to demons? Are there people today who need to be warned about verse 21? "You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons."

When someone asks me about my position on closed communion, I generally start the Sacrament of the Altar is a public proclamation of our faith (together). Often times the person will act as or assume that by this statement (or refusal) of communion means we are saying they are going to HELL. This is where I want to blurt out, "YES". But often times settle for your public confession is not Christian.

But is not the refusal of communion and fellowship with such a person stating their sins are not truly forgiven, because they worship at the table of demons. Those demons who have corrupted the teaching with many "Christian" churches. Demons have lead many of God's children into false teaching and corrupt doctrine. Therefore, church bodies close of their altar to those who do not confess their same belief in the Salvation of Jesus Christ by grace alone through faith alone.

But a refusal to communion does not mean that we are saying you are going to Hell. I reminded several people not to long ago that not everyone who refused to communion at an Altar is refused on the basis of worshiping demons. Some are refused for lack of proper understanding. Example: Children are not offered communion until they are instructed and/or able to examine themselves.

Therefore, those who might not know they communion with demons, should be excluded until such a time they learn they are in league with demons (and are turned from these demons). Others should not communion because they actively participate knowingly with the altar of demons. But this means sometimes we may need to stand up and say, "That congregation is worshiping demons and no longer preaches the truth found in Holy Scripture." The truth is that when you eat of the one loaf, you are joined in participation of the body of Christ. When you drink of the cup you are joined in participation of the blood of Christ. This eating and drinking is done for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of faith into life everlasting.