The Doors and Beyond

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People Are Strange

• The Doors and Beyond!
• Part Seven - Lesson 1

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ESV Luke 150 And his mercy is for those who fear
him from generation to generation. 51 He has
shown strength with his arm he has scattered the
proud in the thoughts of their hearts 52 he has
brought down the mighty from their thrones and
exalted those of humble estate 53 he has filled
the hungry with good things, and the rich he has
sent empty away.
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ESV Jeremiah 231 "Woe to the shepherds who
destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!"
declares the LORD. 2 Therefore thus says the
LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds
who care for my people "You have scattered my
flock and have driven them away, and you have not
attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you
for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. 3 Then I
will gather the remnant of my flock out of all
the countries where I have driven them, and I
will bring them back to their fold, and they
shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set
shepherds over them who will care for them, and
they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither
shall any be missing, declares the LORD.
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LIX. When thou instruct the people, O bishop,
command and exhort them to come constantly to
church morning and evening every day, and by no
means to forsake it on any account, but to
assemble together continually neither to
diminish the Church by withdrawing themselves,
and causing the body of Christ to be without its
member. For it is not only spoken concerning the
priests, but let every one of the laity hearken
to it as concerning himself, considering that it
is said by the Lord He that is not with me is
against me, and he that gathereth not with me
scattereth abroad. Apost. Const
ESV John 1711 Holy Father, keep them in your
name, which you have given me, that they may be
one, even as we are one.
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After this let the sacrifice follow, the people
standing, and praying silently and when the
oblation has been made, let every rank by itself
partake of the Lord's body and precious blood in
order, and approach with reverence and holy fear,
as to the body of their king. Let the women
approach with their heads covered, as is becoming
the order of women but let the door be watched,
lest any unbeliever, or one not yet initiated,
come in. Ap. Const. Bk II Sec. VII, LVII
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If any brother, man or woman, come in from
another parish, bringing recommendatory letters,
let the deacon be the judge of that affair,
inquiring whether they be of the faithful, and of
the Church? Whether they be not defiled by
heresy? . . .And when he is satisfied in these
questions, that they are really of the faithful,
and of the same sentiments in the things of the
Lord, let him conduct every one to the place
proper for him. Ap. Const. Bk VIII Sec. II, XII
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This food we call Eucharist, and no one may
receive it unless he believes that our teaching
is true, and has been washed with the washing for
forgiveness of sins unto regeneration, and lives
as Christ handed down to us. Apology I, Justin
Martyr, 150 AD
We do not abolish the Mass but religiously keep
and defend it. In our churches Mass is celebrated
every Sunday and on other festivals, when the
sacrament is offered to those who wish for it
after they have been examined and absolved.
Apology, XXIV, The Mass
Chrysostom says that the priest stands daily at
the altar, inviting some to Communion and keeping
others away. Augsburg Confession, XXIV
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Closed Communion Rome East 61
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Passover eaten in homes Only for Israel
Growing division/corruption
Corruption/Division Samaritans, Sadducees,
Pharisees
Luther
Corruption of doctrine/life in West
East/West split
Christ eats Passover with His disciples Institutes
Eucharist
Early Church admits only the baptized, and those
united in doctrine and life
St. Paul to Corinth
Early Church admits only the baptized
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From a Roman Catholic Website . . . Even
Christians who don't believe in the Real Presence
generally understand that Communion is a
Christian rite, and is therefore reserved only
for Christians. Only the most liberal Protestant
denominations would allow non-Christians to
receive Communion. Since the Catholics and
Orthodox constitute the large majority of
Christians, closed Communion is actually the norm
for most of the Christians in the world! The
policy of a "closed Communion" is nothing new in
fact it goes back to the earliest Christians. The
Didache, a book of Church discipline dating back
to the late first century A.D., clearly states
that only Christians can receive the Eucharist
"But let no one eat or drink of this eucharistic
thanksgiving, but they that have been baptized
into the name of the Lord." Didache 910-12
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As tragic divisions started to form within
Christendom itself, it soon became necessary to
close access to the Lord's Table even to some
baptized Christians. And on the Lord's own day
gather yourselves together and break bread and
give thanks, first confessing your
transgressions, that your sacrifice may be pure.
And let no man, having his dispute with his
fellow, join your assembly until they have been
reconciled, that your sacrifice may not be
defiled for this sacrifice it is that was spoken
of by the Lord "In every place and at every time
offer Me a pure sacrifice for I am a great king,
saith the Lord and My name is wonderful among the
nations". - Didache 141-5 Why? Because Jesus
once said "If you are offering your gift at the
altar, and there remember that your brother has
something against you, leave your gift there
before the altar and go first be reconciled to
your brother, and then come and offer your gift."
(Matthew 523-24). God wants us to worship Him in
love, humility and unity, not with prideful
divisions among us, rooted as they are in sin.
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Questions to Ponder . . . According to Christ,
can a person from another denomination, who has
an unreconciled dispute with our doctrine and
practice, properly commune at our altar? St.
Paul writes (1 Corinthians 1018) Consider the
people of Israel are not those who eat the
sacrifices participants in the altar? How does
the principal of comm-unity prohibit people
taking Communion where there is division in faith
and love? Are there ever exceptions to the rule?
That is, are there cases where a baptized,
repentant Christian MAY be admitted to an altar
that is not his or her own?
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• Again from that Roman Catholic Website . . .
• Mother Church makes some exceptions to her closed
  Communion policy in certain situations. She would
  allow an Eastern Orthodox Christian to receive in
  an emergency (although that person's own church
  would forbid it). Members of the Polish National
  Catholic Church, an Old Catholic communion, are
  also allowed by the Vatican to partake in our
  Eucharist if they have no recourse to their own
  Communion. And a Protestant may be given
  permission to receive the Eucharist, but only if
  he or she
• - has a serious spiritual need (i.e., is dying or
  under persecution)
• - is unable to receive in his/her own church for
  a long time
• - is living a genuine Christian life, not a life
  of sin
• agrees with the teaching on the Real Presence of
  Christ in the Eucharist
• - gets permission from his/her own church to
  receive Communion in another.
• Unless all these circumstances are met, a
  Protestant cannot receive Communion in a Catholic
  church. The Church is not being mean, snobbish or
  exclusive. Christians who are not in union with
  us cannot receive Communion with us, nor can
  those who have a dispute with us. The Eucharist
  cannot be used as a means toward a unity which
  does not yet exist.

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Communion Practice at Saint Luke We believe and
teach that holy communion is the true body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread
and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us
Christians to eat and to drink. (Luther's Small
Catechism) We believe that this meal we share
does not belong to any pastor, congregation, or
church body. It is truly what it is called the
Lord's Table. Because it belongs to the Lord
Himself, we welcome everyone to this table whom
our Lord welcomes to this table, namely every
Christian who shares this belief and desires what
He gives to sinners in this meal forgiveness,
life, and salvation. We welcome children who have
not yet been instructed concerning the Lord's
Supper or who have not yet been confirmed to come
to the altar to receive a blessing. Please let
the pastor know beforehand whether a child has
been confirmed.
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Communion Practice at Saint Luke We believe and
teach that holy communion is the true body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread
and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us
Christians to eat and to drink. (Luther's Small
Catechism) We believe that this meal we share
does not belong to any pastor, congregation, or
church body. It is truly what it is called the
Lord's Table. Because it belongs to the Lord
Himself, we welcome everyone to this table whom
our Lord welcomes to this table, namely every
Christian who shares this belief and desires what
He gives to sinners in this meal forgiveness,
life, and salvation. We welcome children who have
not yet been instructed concerning the Lord's
Supper or who have not yet been confirmed to come
to the altar to receive a blessing. Please let
the pastor know beforehand whether a child has
been confirmed.
Communion Practice at Saint Luke We believe and
teach that holy communion is the true body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread
and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us
Christians to eat and to drink. (Luther's Small
Catechism) We believe that this meal we share
does not belong to any pastor, congregation, or
church body. It is truly what it is called the
Lord's Table. Because it belongs to the Lord
Himself, we welcome everyone to this table whom
our Lord welcomes to this table, namely every
Christian who shares this belief and desires what
He gives to sinners in this meal forgiveness,
life, and salvation. We welcome children who have
not yet been instructed concerning the Lord's
Supper or who have not yet been confirmed to come
to the altar to receive a blessing. Please let
the pastor know beforehand whether a child has
been confirmed.
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Next Week Through the Doors!