Close Communion by James White

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Jul 22, 1875

"Close Communion."

By James White

The Christian Union has the following item:

"Noticing our remark that the 'Free Baptists stand upon the platform that the question of immersion is one of the 'non-essentials,' and that, therefore, they can invite to the Lord's table all true believers,' the Morning Star, while admitting that we were right so far as the qualifications for communion are concerned, makes this important qualification: but when it comes to church membership in the Free Baptist denomination, the case is altered. Then baptism becomes an essential. From its earliest history the denomination has regarded it as prerequisite to membership in its churches. It still so regards it. It follows, of course, that the Free Baptists exclude from their churches persons whose piety they would not question: Would it not be better to be just a little more 'free,' and not make the form of baptism a test at all?"

The expression used by the Union, "not make the form of baptism a test," is a mere blind, and opens before us the truth that the clamor against "close communion" is more of prejudice than of reason. The question is not whether the form of baptism is a test, but is baptism a qualification for church membership? With Baptists, and some others, "the form of baptism" is no question at all, and when that is disposed of there is no difference in the cause of action between them and those who cry out against their order of communion. The Presbyterians and Congregationalists consider baptism in some form a requisite to church membership, and so of course a requisite to communion, for they do not invite to communion those who are not church members. Where is the difference, then, between them and the Baptists? Each invites to the table such as they consider have been baptized, and no others. If there is any unreasonable restriction of communion it is on the part of those who practice infant baptism, for they baptize thousands with whom they will not commune. This course we think is questionable. Many have found fault with the course of Seventh-day Adventists on this subject, but we think it is only because they do not well understand it. J. H. W.