The reason this bothers me is that I go to a very small church in a very small town. Everyone except the one Jewish husband goes up to get communion. I have never been baptized. I have been going to the church and been active for 15 years now.
So far I have avoided being put on the spot directly. But often 'they' want me to lead Sunday school or take more of a role and I don't feel I should, I hardly read the bible. If I ever told anyone I'd never been baptized I would be 'in for it' with a lot of people trying to get me to do it, and telling me what I fake I have been for taking communion. I just find it easier to take the communion. I believe in an afterlife and I believe Jesus was a very important link to moral living and the spirit world. But to me, getting baptized is all about saying 'every other religion' is wrong and I don't feel that way. But isn't baptism supposed to be your admitting that Jesus is the only way to heaven? Help !
2007-12-27 03:26:43 · 11 answers · asked by hanging around 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Generally, when you receive communion in a church, it is an implied profession that you accept all the beliefs of that particular denomination. If that denomination believes baptism to be a requirement, then you are receiving communion under false pretenses, and that can't be spiritually good.
2007-12-27 03:33:04 · answer #1 · answered by Robin Runesinger 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A) ALL Christian denominations accept that Baptism is a Sacrament, a holy thing. And that the only way to become part of the Body of Christ is through baptism.
B) For most Protestant denominations "communion" is merely the partaking of a memorial meal, NOT a Sacrament. If the church to which you go is one of these, then take communion all you want.
C) If the church is Catholic, Orthodox or Episcopalian (especially "high church"), then for them communion IS a Sacrament and reserved for those who are baptised and full members of their congregation. ONLY the baptised can be considered full members. Therefore if your church is one of these, either get baptised or stop taking communion. It is useless to you and the others will not thank you for what they will most probably see as a terrible insult.
Hope this helped.
2007-12-27 03:34:21 · answer #2 · answered by Granny Annie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
talk to the pastor about it. baptism is what makes a person a Christian it si not like joining a basketball or a knitting club, there is a transformation that God carries out in ones soul by baptism. THis is then what enebles one to receive Holy Communion when one has confessed ones sins. But if you think that the religions are the same why dont you look at what they teach , you ill see that they differ and if you are a person of substance, you will decide according to the merits of each, you will decide which one is best, otherwise what is your point for going to Communion if you do not believ what It is?
2007-12-27 03:34:23 · answer #3 · answered by peaceisfromgod 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I sing in a church choir on Sundays (yes, a Wiccan singing in a church on Sundays) because they are desperate for altos and the choir director is a lifelong friend of a very close friend of mine, so I agreed to help them out - no reason not to, I think of it like being in a musical or a choral concert. I never take communion. I'm the only person in the church who doesn't, even though I was baptised United Methodist. If it doesn't feel right to you, don't do it. Presumably you're an adult, so don't cave to peer pressure.
)O(
2007-12-27 03:32:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Communion, according to Jesus was to remember Him in His death, burial and resurrection. Paul said that if you take the communion in a manner unworthy of a Christian (that is, you have hate, anger, bitterness, jealousy, envy or fraud), then it would be a curse to you, and in fact (according to Paul), many are sick and weak for that very reason.
Not having been baptized is NOT a reason to skip communion. But Paul said to examine yourself that you are truly in the faith before you participate.
You are right, of course, about your idea of baptism. In addition, it is associating (by faith) in his death, burial and resurrection.
As to the claims that "every other religion is wrong", C. S. Lewis, in his book “Mere Christianity” makes this statement: "A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic - on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg - or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us."
2007-12-27 03:32:58 · answer #5 · answered by no1home2day 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Depends entirely on the church in question. For most Protestants, communion is just a mere symbol. Since it's merely symbolic for them, it doesn't matter what religious beliefs or practices you actually adhere to. Everybody can have it, since they practice the communion equivalent of an open marriage (everybody gets to play).
Other churches practice a "closed marriage" approach to communion--only members in good standing who have been appropriately prepared are permitted to take communion in those churches.
2007-12-27 03:36:31 · answer #6 · answered by Hoosier Daddy 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If you believe in Christ as reflected in the early creeds and confessions of Christianity, then you should be desperate for baptism rather than waffling on the issue. Baptism isn't just "admitting that Jesus is the only way to heaven." It is a sign and seal of a believer's ingrafting into Christ as his/her Lord and Savior.
2007-12-27 04:47:25 · answer #7 · answered by ccrider 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the more communion you have the more power you receive from God to start making the right choices. Then you are more liable to get baptized at the right time.
To tell someone that may be a visitor in the church , ect. that they can't partake of the communion , would be totally wrong.
2007-12-27 03:35:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
First, i could propose you to start examining the Bible (New testomony). Jesus pronounced in Matthew 28:19 to "coach all international locations, baptizing them interior the call of the father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. " Pray and ask God to direct you to a stable Bible-believing church. consistent with hazard you have Christian acquaintances you are able to ask approximately it. once you come across a church, seek advice from the pastor approximately it. he will counsel you. don't be afraid. you're purely figuring out your self with Christ and indicating a choose to persist with Him. he will ask you for a short testimony by employing announcing something like, "have you ever primary Jesus as your Lord and Savior" ? to which you purely answer "confident" after which you would be decreased into the water for approximately one 2d and delivered back up back, symbolizing Christ's loss of life, burial, and resurrection. you quite choose a church to help you improve spiritually and for fellowship with different believers and help. i'm going to wish for you.
2016-10-20 01:27:20 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i believe it is only and outward showing of what has happened inside of you. i know you said you don't read the bible much, but for me it is important to study for myself to be able to say what i do and do not believe.
2007-12-27 03:33:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋