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li0scc0 said:
Of course, we must be careful, as much as we can, that people understand what we are saying. <span style="background-color:yellow">At times, visitors and guests seem to get the impression that we are making a judgment on their heart (whether they are a Christian or not). Instead, we are doing what Scripture asks us to do, and that is to be discerning judges of that which people confess to believe as we compare that to Scripture.</span>
Steve,

First of all, you have offered not one shred of BIBLICAL evidence for the practice of forcing those who profess faith in Christ and who desire to partake of the Lord's Table to submit to some arbitrary doctrinal examination in order for them to be "qualified" participants. And I must emphasize that such doctrinal examinations are clearly arbitrary and dependent upon the group who devises it. This unbiblical, unwarranted and Pharisaical position would allow any group to forbid a true believer from partaking of that Supper which the LORD JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF bids them come, if they differed on ANY point of doctrine from that which the "group" holds to be true. Do you seriously believe that someone who holds to Postmillennialism should be barred from the Table if the "group" giving their private examination holds to Amillennialism? Or should a Baptist Church forbid someone from the Lord's Table because they hold to "effusion" rather than "immersion"? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/drop.gif" alt="" />

Secondly, all that I have written in response to speratus applies here as well. So, I say read my responses. hehe

Lastly, and now to the highlighted portion of your quote from the WELS document. Their attempt to circumvent that which is incontrovertibly true, i.e., the Lord's Supper is open to ALL of Christ's precious sheep and thus to bar one from that Supper is to undeniably pass judgment upon a person's spiritual condition. Since only BELIEVERS are to partake of the Lord's Table then anyone forbidden access to the Table must logically be looked upon as an UNbeliever. As I pointed out before, the Lord's Table is primarily a place/event where a true believer communes with CHRIST and during which the Holy Spirit ministers to that person's soul, impressing upon him/her Christ's love, the sufficiency of His atonement for them and an assurance that they shall be forever hold fast by the promise, power and preservation of Almighty God, the Father of their souls. The issue is a very sober and crucial one and to forbid one of Christ's lambs from communing with Him unjustly is a grave matter indeed. (cf. Lk 18:15, 16; Matt 18:10)

In His grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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