Communion
QUESTION
Is it ever appropriate to let a Christian from another immersing denomination take the Lord’s supper with a PB congregation?
ANSWER
This question, and others of similar form regarding PB communion, are curious to me. For one thing, what constitutes a proper "Christian" in this question is undefined, and this makes answering the question challenging.
I belong to a Primitive Baptist church that practices close communion and feet washing once every year. I feel no need or desire to seek occasions to participate in a “communion” service at any other assembly, "immersing" or otherwise. This raises a number of questions in my mind regarding those who desire to commune with our assembly when they are not members of our church:
If this "Christian from an immersing denomination" is a member in good standing, why are they not taking communion at their own church? If they are, why do they feel compelled to seek communion elsewhere?
Why would someone from another "immersing denomination" want to take communion with us, when the Primitive Baptist profession of faith is contrary to the profession of faith found in most other "immersing denominations"? This is very odd to me. I feel no desire to take communion at a Southern Baptist Church, because I recognize that the doctrine of salvation taught by essentially ALL of those churches is opposed to the doctrine of the grace of Christ found in the scriptures (Galatians 1:6). I have no doubt that there are many children of God in those assemblies. It is better to convert them to a proper understanding of the truth (a primary objective of gospel ministry) rather than give them the false sense that "We all believe the same thing" by communing with them. Individual motivations may vary, but in some instances I believe the zeal to participate in communion across denominational and doctrinal boundaries is motivated by a desire to promote "Christian unity" in a subtle and sinister way - the sort of "unity at all costs" view that is just a round-about way of saying "doctrine doesn't really matter." That sort of "unity" is a wolf in sheep's clothing, IMO. It is totally at odds with the purpose of the NT church as codified in statements like "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good" (I Thes 5:21) and "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." (II Timothy 4:2)
Most other "immersing denominations" do not practice feet washing as part of the communion service. Some of them vilify the practice as "Roman Catholic" by which they intend to suggest that it is out of order. This raises multiple questions: Why wash feet if you don't believe it is part of the communion service? If you do believe that it is part of the communion service, then does this not show your own non-feet-washing, "immersing denomination's" practice to be out of order? If you intend to "commune" with the Primitive Baptists but excuse yourself from feet washing, do you really have a desire to participate in Primitive Baptist communion service at all, or just some nominal form thereof?
If the matter of cross-demoninational communion is as important as it seems to be for some, are there not innumerable assemblies who are willing to accommodate, without having to ask the Primitive Baptists to modify their practice to accomplish this end? If our practice of close communion and foot washing is wrong, would it not be a better use of your time to convert us from our error (James 5:19-20) rather than endorse our error by communing with us?
In the final mix, I believe that non-PB Christians who want to participate in a Primitive Baptist communion service are pursuing a sort of feel-good, faux unity that dismisses the importance of proper doctrine. We should not endorse that practice. In an institution that is said to be "the pillar and ground of truth" (I Timothy 3:15), we do well to resist being that casual about either pillar or ground.
FOLLOW UP QUESTION
Isn't saying “No” equivalent to saying, “You guys worship another Jesus”? If they truly have another Jesus, how could they be called Christians? The disciples followed Christ, not someone else.
ANSWER
I would not affirm that saying "No" is equivalent to saying "You guys worship another Jesus." I believe that children who lack maturity or proper instruction often misunderstand their parent's character, plans, and intentions. From my vantage point, ALL Christian denominations outside the Primitive Baptists posses a different profession of faith on the doctrine of salvation that is misrepresents God’s character, plans, and intentions. But misunderstanding one's parents does not mean that they have the wrong parents - it just means they have more to learn about the parents they have. This distinction provides sufficient cause to maintain close communion for Primitive Baptist church members only. This practice provides a reason for others to consider the importance of that distinction more carefully, an occasion for us to explain it to them, and an opportunity for them to join with us in declaring the absolute efficacy of the saving work of Jesus Christ on behalf of his people (Matthew 1:21).