- 00:00
- But this table is not for everyone. There are standards that are set.
- 00:06
- That standard is only for the church. What he is referencing here are those who have been born again.
- 00:15
- It is reserved for Christians only. We don't make unbelievers leave.
- 00:22
- We don't tell our kids to leave. We welcome unbelievers to be present and watch, but the taking part is for the body.
- 00:30
- This is an ordinance of the Lord and a serious one, and we guard it the best that we can.
- 00:36
- That's why we have bylaws. Those who we believe to be believers, who have been baptized as all believers have been instructed to be, who are part of a local church as is consistent with the
- 00:49
- New Testament teachings, are allowed to partake.
- 00:55
- There are many churches who we believe are in error in their view of baptism and of biblical church membership.
- 01:03
- So to better guard this ordinance and those taking part, we limit it to members of our church or another church of like faith and practice who are not under church discipline.
- 01:16
- And the reason we do this is not our desire to put man -made restrictions. It is not our desire to have a secret club that leaves people out because there are really two ditches that we want to avoid with the
- 01:30
- Lord's Supper. Ditch number one, we want to avoid denying baptized believers to partake in the
- 01:39
- Lord's Supper. But the other ditch is we also want to avoid not protecting the importance of this ordinance and the people that are partaking.
- 01:50
- It is our desire to guard this ordinance and those who partake. It is done with the souls of Christians who partake in mind as well as unbelievers who should not partake, considering their souls as well.
