Evangelical, I appreciate your comment. But I can't understand why Witness Lee holds to the territorial principle of the early Church. At the same time, he rejects closed communion. He doesn't seem to be consistent.
The idea of open communion is a modern concept. The early Church didn't know it. "It was not until the beginning of the 20th century that open communion became anything more than highly unusual. Anglicans and Episcopalians, Lutherans, Baptists, Reformed Presbyterians, and Methodists all practiced closed communion at least until that time. That means for close to 1,900 years the sharing of communion between Christians of differing faith was quite exceptional."*
Justin Martyr (100-165AD) says in his Apology: "And this food is called among us the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake but the person who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins… and who is so living as Christ has enjoined.”
Yes, we share common, basic beliefs in our faith but we don't have a common faith. So, I find it odd that churches with conflicting theologies must have open communion. If members of these churches have a different understanding of the Mystery, how can they share the common cup? They don't have the unity of faith.
To practice open communion is like to practice "open marriage". "And it places us in danger; danger of an imaginary church, an imaginary faith, and an imaginary Christ that will some day disappear from our imaginations altogether."*
"According to the historic Christian teaching reflected in the early Church Fathers, admittance to Holy Communion means embracing the entire faith tradition of the body. Before Holy Communion can be received, communion must already be achieved.
In the patristic understanding then, to receive communion in a Lutheran church implies you have become a member of the Lutheran communion. To receive in a Presbyterian church is to profess union with the Reformed tradition. To receive communion in a Mormon church is to join oneself to Mormon doctrine and tradition and to place oneself in communion with all Mormons throughout the world. Whether we mean to do this or not, is not the point."*
The Eucharist is the supreme expression of the unity of the Church and not a means towards Christian unity. It is a sacrament of our unity with Christ and each other, when the union in faith is already there.
I am sorry, Evangelical. I don't have time to continue our interesting conversation. So, if you don't mind, I would like to stop it here. Thank you for your kind reply and thoughtful comments. I don't have any more questions. However, if you still have any questions, feel free to ask me. I will be glad to answer them if I can.
May the mercy and love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
*
“Monogamous Communion” A Defense of “Closed” Communion by Fr. Michael Shanbour