Open Table Theology

Dear Northminster,

Have you all ever realized that I say (nearly) the same thing at the beginning of the Communion liturgy?  Even if the Communion liturgy is different, I always begin by saying something along the lines of,

“Friends, this is the joyful feast of the people of God!  
They will come from east and west, and from north and south,
​and sit at table in the kingdom of God.
This isn’t a Northminster table,
It isn’t a Presbyterian table,
It isn’t an American table.
It is God’s table - and God invites everyone who seeks to follow to meet God here.
So come, you who have much faith and you who would like to have more.
You who have been here often and you who have not been for a while,
You who have tried to follow Jesus, and you who have failed.
Come, for it is Christ who invites us to meet him here.”

I have this more or less memorized, but whether or not I say it exactly the same way every time is anyone’s guess.

This section of the liturgy is called, the "Invitation to the Table.”  It isn’t strictly necessary by the standards of our faith; many congregations and pastors don’t include it.  But I personally find this section necessary and will always include it.  Why?  Because I find that the Invitation to the Table does two important things:

1) It reminds us of the breadth of God’s love and
2) It situates us within the story of God’s loving redemption.

The Breadth of God’s Love
Many denominations and congregation have what they call a “closed table.”  Closed table theology dictates that only Christians that meet certain requirements – like baptism, confirmation/catechism, and/or membership in that tradition – can take Communion when it is served.  The scriptural reason for this goes back to Paul’s fist letter to the Corinthians where he is scolding them for abusing the Lord’s Supper:  “So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord,” (1 Cor 11:27).  In order to prevent people from sinning against the body and blood of the Lord, these traditions put restrictions on who can partake in Communion so that no one who approaches the table is unworthy.  The social/cultural reason to have a closed table is because some traditions have a certain set of ritual movements or patterns that go along with taking Communion.  Traditions such as the Catholic or Orthodox have such rituals and movements that are taught to people and children in the congregation, but which outsiders would not know.  By restricting who can come forward, they are ensuring that everyone knows the proper way to partake in the sacrament.

The PCUSA is an “Open Table” denomination.  That means that we do not restrict who can partake in Communion; we simply ask that people treat the sacrament with respect.  This theology comes out of the fact that Jesus, himself, doesn’t put restrictions on who can partake of the Last Supper.  Jesus even included Judas in the ritual as he is in the middle of turning Jesus over to the authorities.  So, we believe that Communion is a demonstration of the breadth and depth of God’s love, and all are welcome to experience that grace.


Our Place in God’s Story of Redeeming Love
The first major split in the Christian Church was in 1054 with the Great Schism that broke apart what would become the Orthodox tradition and the Catholic tradition.  Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517 created further divisions and factions in the Christian tradition.  Protestant Christianity would continue to splinter into smaller and smaller denominations as the United States would grow in population and territory.  It is not uncommon to find congregations or traditions that want to claim that only they have the correct and true understanding of the Bible.  But Communion reminds us that we are only a one piece of the story.  We play a part in God’s story of redeeming love, but we are not the main characters.  Our God is a universal God that loves, guides, and protects people all over the world.  So, yes, while we might ask God to protect our family, watch over our community, and even guide our nation’s leaders, God does not favor any one country or group of people.  We don’t worship a Northminster God, a Presbyterian God, or even an American God.  We worship the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end; the God that always was and always will be.  We are invited into God’s story, but we play only a part in that story.

World Communion Sunday is a reminder of these things.  God is so much bigger than us and God’s love surrounds us and the world so fully.

Blessings,
Pastor Chris