Jason Crabb, Public Confession & Home Communion

MissBrattified · #1 12-13-2008, 12:21 AM

Reading a few things at this link prompted me to wonder....

Forget about Jason Crabb...what do you think about encouraging members to have communion at home with their families, and encouraging baptismal candidates to read short confessions before being baptized?

Does having communion at home make it too "common", or is it just a special time of devotion in the home?

Is making public confession something that should be encouraged? Would some people feel pressured to confess sins they need only confess to God?

Praxeas · #2 12-13-2008, 12:30 AM

not necessarily a confession of sins, but a confession that Jesus is Lord...the communion thing at home sort of defeats the point of the church family having communion

MissBrattified · #3 12-13-2008, 12:45 AM

No, from the blog, it sounds more like a confession of sins. (to me, anyway)

Quote:

"...I will never forget the beautiful public confession that one of our baptismal candidates had written to precede her baptism. In fact, we are thinking about asking every future candidate to write a short public confession to be read preceding baptism...."

bishoph · #4 12-13-2008, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

No, from the blog, it sounds more like a confession of sins. (to me, anyway)

Quote:

"...I will never forget the beautiful public confession that one of our baptismal candidates had written to precede her baptism. In fact, we are thinking about asking every future candidate to write a short public confession to be read preceding baptism...."

They are speaking of a confession of the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

This is probably a much more "historically" correct methodology of baptism that what we or other groups practice. According to historical accounts the candidates always made a confession (statement) of their belief and acceptance of Jesus Christ. That is one of the reasons why baptism was so powerful to the Jewish believers, because to make such a confession they were declaring Jesus to be the messiah which was considered heresy by the religious community.

PastorD · #5 12-13-2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

Reading a few things at this link prompted me to wonder....

Forget about Jason Crabb...what do you think about encouraging members to have communion at home with their families, and encouraging baptismal candidates to read short confessions before being baptized?

Does having communion at home make it too "common", or is it just a special time of devotion in the home?

Is making public confession something that should be encouraged? Would some people feel pressured to confess sins they need only confess to God?

After reading, it sounded more to me like the communion was more of a one time thing to do as a family in order to consecrate their homes. What in the world could be wrong with that?

As to the confession...I wouldn't imagine it was a "Lord, I did this, that and this too" type confession. Knowing these reasonable people as I do, I believe it was more of a confession of faith and commitment to journey upward.

Innocuous · #6 12-13-2008, 09:32 AM

I do family communion and communion at church. Doing it at home in no way makes it 'common' nor does it defeat the purpose of doing it at church. We find special value in doing it at both places, with my physical family and my spiritual family.

Occassionally I have what I call communion dinners. As I feel the purpose of communion is primarily to properly discern the unity of the body of Christ through his sacrifice I invite friends over for what the early church called an "Agape Feast" where we have a common meal and hang out as fellow believers. We take communion at the table before we eat dinner and pray a communion type prayer. A couple of people thought it was little strange, but the majority thought it was cool.

The early church did public confession of Christ before they baptized. For some there was an elaborate set of rituals (pre RCC) that led up to baptism. They took it much more seriously than we do today, for the most part. It's cool thing imo and I like it. At our church we video people who show their picture and short statement as to why they want to be baptized up on the bigscreen as they are being baptized. It's a good thing, imo.

Not so sure about the confession of personal sins in front of the group. I don't see value in that and don't see that it's scriptural.

MissBrattified · #7 12-13-2008, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PastorD

After reading, it sounded more to me like the communion was more of a one time thing to do as a family in order to consecrate their homes. What in the world could be wrong with that?

As to the confession...I wouldn't imagine it was a "Lord, I did this, that and this too" type confession. Knowing these reasonable people as I do, I believe it was more of a confession of faith and commitment to journey upward.

Well, I didn't state my own conclusions, really, just asking for other opinions. When my sister and her husband were married, they had communion during the ceremony--I thought that was really neat. I'm not sure what I think about having it at home, but if it could be treated with the sobriety it deserves, I suppose it could be a good thing. What would be the reason, though? To do it at home? Is there a specific goal that goes above and beyond prayer and devotions? What would be accomplished?

Regarding the confession... Personally, I don't agree with most instances of public confession. I believe that confession to God, and maybe the directly injured party (asking for forgiveness) is quite adequate.

Most of you perceive it to be a confession of the "Lordship of Christ", so I guess I'm reading it wrong.

MissBrattified · #8 12-13-2008, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Innocuous

Occasionally I have what I call communion dinners. As I feel the purpose of communion is primarily to properly discern the unity of the body of Christ through his sacrifice I invite friends over for what the early church called an "Agape Feast" where we have a common meal and hang out as fellow believers. We take communion at the table before we eat dinner and pray a communion type prayer. A couple of people thought it was little strange, but the majority thought it was cool.

It sounds interesting. I don't know if I'm comfortable with the idea (I haven't pinpointed why...LOL!), but it is interesting.

Quote:

The early church did public confession of Christ before they baptized. For some there was an elaborate set of rituals (pre RCC) that led up to baptism. They took it much more seriously than we do today, for the most part. It's cool thing imo and I like it. At our church we video people who show their picture and short statement as to why they want to be baptized up on the bigscreen as they are being baptized. It's a good thing, imo.

Not so sure about the confession of personal sins in front of the group. I don't see value in that and don't see that it's scriptural.

I agree. A confession of Christ is a very good thing.

jaxfam6 · #9 12-13-2008, 10:15 AM

I think the home communion is up to the individuals. The Bible does not say it has to be in the church and with the church family only. It does tell us that as often as we do it we should do it in remembrance of Him.

As for open public confession that is not of sins. I believe his comment about the 'beautiful confession' would be that she wrote a statement declaring her belief in Jesus as her saviour.

question though, does the bible tell us how much 'blood' we are to drink or 'body' we are to eat? I might just start having me some wine and bread every day. I think I am becoming a believer in this home communion thing.

MissBrattified · #10 12-13-2008, 10:22 AM

I don't know, jax. I think this scripture will apply!

"1Co 11:20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
1Co 11:21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
1Co 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not."

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxfam6

...question though, does the bible tell us how much 'blood' we are to drink or 'body' we are to eat? I might just start having me some wine and bread every day. I think I am becoming a believer in this home communion thing.

1Co 11:34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.