Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
Practically speaking the altar is regarded as related to the communion table in major denominations, particularly Catholic. You seemed to regard the altar similarly. In post #131 you "joined the dots" so to speak between the altar verse and communion:
Instead of leaving your gift at the altar, Evangelical determines who is in right standing and refuses communion if he determines they aren’t.
If the altar is related to the communion table then my comment about multiple altars or let's say, multiple communion tables, makes sense.
If the altar is the cross, then how does one practically apply:
Leave there your gift before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
There is actually no biblical command that one must be reconciled before taking communion. However we apply the principle mentioned in said verse, to taking communion.
Or we could just disregard the verse altogether, and consider it part of a Jewish command that gentiles don't have to keep.
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That is an excellent point, if we equate the communion table ("this is my body and this is my blood given for you") to Jesus sacrifice on the cross which was a sin offering, peace offering, meal offering, burnt offering, etc.
Then this will answer the question of different communion tables or one communion table.
To me this test is just like the test for Ruth, was she a Moabitess or was she the widow of an Israelite? We get the answer from her heart -- your God will be my God and your people will be my people.
If we ask the believer, is this the Lord's table of a particular denomination and you need to be a member of that denomination first, before partaking of this table, then yes -- Moabite.
On the other hand if the answer is that "no, this is the "Lord's" table and you need to have received the Lord first to partake of this table, then this church is the widow of an Israelite (Jesus, who died on the cross).