Who Can Receive Communion?

The Sacrament of Communion is the most prominent because we receive the Body and Blood of Christ. It strengthens us in our fight against sin and draws us closer to God. The Sacrament of Communion gives us grace to resist sin in every aspect of our lives. "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food, and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6:53–58). This encounter we have with Christ has been entrusted from Jesus to his Church, and it is only through his Church that we are saved.

There are five requirements the Church has for those who wish to take Communion. First, you must be in a state of grace. Second, you must have been to confession since your last mortal sin. Third, you must believe in the doctrine of transubstantiation. Fourth, you must observe the Eucharistic fast. Finally, one must not be under an ecclesiastical censure. If you have offended someone you must repent your sin before you can participate in Communion; otherwise it is futile. Transubstantiation literally says that the bread and wine are actually transformed into the actual body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ, with only the appearances of bread and wine remaining. Only after fulfilling these requirements and are a member of the Universal Church can you participate in Communion.

My Church believes that everyone has the right to participate in Communion, to help them grow and be transformed in God. The United Methodist Church’s Confession of Faith states: “We believe the sacraments, ordained by Christ, are symbols and pledges of the Christian’s profession and of God’s love toward us. They are means of grace by which God works invisibly in us, bringing to life, strengthening and confirming our faith in him. Two Sacraments are ordained by Christ our Lord, namely Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.”

On transubstantiation, we believe that the change is spiritual. They signify the body and blood of Christ for us, helping us to be Christ’s body in the world today, redeemed by Christ’s blood. We pray over the bread and the cup that they may make us one with Christ, “one with each other, and one in service to all the world.”  Anyone may participate, but you remain your right to choose to not receive Communion. It is the Lord’s Supper, not ours, and it is Christ who invites you. As our ritual puts it: “Christ our Lord invites to his table all who love him, who earnestly repent of their sin and seek to live in peace with one another.” We do not refuse any who present themselves desiring to receive. Whether you should receive Communion with us is between you and God. Two thousand years ago Jesus ate with sinners and those whom others scorned. He still does. None of us is worthy, except by God’s grace. Thank God we don’t have to earn worth in God’s eyes by our goodness or our faith. Our sacred worth is God’s free gift. No matter what we have done or what is our present condition, if you want Christ in your life you are welcome at his table. Communion provides the opportunity for you to confess your sins, to receive forgiveness, and to indicate your intention to lead a new life.

Children may also receive Communion. We remember that when some of Jesus’ disciples tried to keep children away from him he said: “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14 NRSV). You may say they do not understand the importance of their actions; however, neither do any of us. It is a wonderful mystery, and children can sense wonder and mystery. Children cannot understand the full significance of family meals, but we feed them at our family tables and at Christ’s family table. Young children experience being loved by being fed. They sense the difference between being included and excluded at a family meal. They have the faith of a child, appropriate to their stage of development, which Jesus recognized and honored. Indeed, he said to adults: “Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15 NRSV). More information can be found in the book, United Methodists and Communion. We believe anyone who has the desire to change and to grow in God should be given the right to have Communion.