Communion

[zahndervan]

It seems that a lot of LGBTQ folks I've talked to lately are really struggling with communion. They have been exiled by their church and told that they are not welcome to take communion, some churches went as far as to say that if they took communion they were drinking their damnation. This angers and sickens me. I don't know how anyone could call themselves a loving Christ follower and deny a willing person communion, in the name of God none the less. My pastor sent this amazing communion speech thing that I thought I would share.
"The first time Jesus sat down to this meal, among those gathered there were one who would doubt him, one who would deny him, one who would betray him, and they would all leave him alone before that night was over—and he knew it. Still he sat down and ate with them. If he ate with them, surely he's ready to eat with us—baptized or not, confessed or not, Christian or not, sure or not, believer or not, saint or sinner or a little of both. All you have to be to eat at this table is hungry."
All you have to be is hunrgy...how true.

[turquoise]

Jesus welcomed all kinds of people who were different, not the status quo, the ones who society didn't welcome. Communion is between you and God - we fellowship, we are assured of forgiveness, we participate in God's presence, and more during communion. it is not us who will be damned for receiving communion it is those who refuse us who will be. in Romans 15:7 Paul writes, "welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, to the glory of God." you can substitute all kinds of words in for welcome: accept, love, serve, forgive, tolerate, ... I believe this as well as many others throughout the bible show that we are to be welcomed to communion which is bread and wine for all, Christ's body and blood for all. we are welcome no matter what the church or congregation or pastor says. they are not the higher authority, Jesus is.

[zahndervan]

Well said :)