# Synodical Conference Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1904_S19
# AI translation — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

of the Ev. Luth. Synodical Conference of North America. 1904. 19

from the heart repents his sins, believes in JESUS Christ, and has the earnest purpose to amend his sinful life, is certainly worthy and fit to go to Holy Communion, and yet consideration for the congregation can require that he first refrain from it or not go to the Sacrament so readily. An example. Someone has fallen out bitterly with his brother. They have quarreled and reviled, blasphemed and struck each other. They have reconciled with one another and in sincere contrition sought forgiveness besides from their God. This happened today, and all of it in private; so they may then go confidently tomorrow to the Lord's Table, in defiance of the devil. But if it happened publicly, if the quarrel was perhaps in the street before the eyes and ears of the congregation, then those concerned must certainly stay away from the Lord's Table the next day. That is required by consideration for those with whom they would go to the Sacrament. The congregation now has something against them, and — the congregation would be offended, that is, the greatest danger is there that it would lose a good piece of its high regard for the Sacrament if these brothers were to go to the Sacrament so readily. They must first go to the congregation and first be reconciled with it, before they come and offer their gifts. A going to Holy Communion would in such a case look more like the act of a heart sinning on grace than of one seeking grace. — Thus consideration for the congregation can require abstaining from a going to Communion, and entitle the pastor, though not to refuse the Sacrament, yet to refuse its immediate reception, should he be asked for it.

Let us now, in conclusion, briefly sum up what we learn from the passages of Scripture we have gone through as to when Holy Communion must be refused.

Holy Communion must be refused where there is something present in doctrine or conduct which, for Christ's and the congregation's sake, must first be brought, on the basis of Scripture, into a condition pleasing to God by public repentance or by an affirmative or negative declaration, or act — or by both — and where the one desiring the Sacrament refuses to take this step, or, if he is willing to take it, has not yet had or taken opportunity to carry out his intention.

Likewise to those in whom it is evident and recognizable that the capacity for the self-examination required for the reception of Communion is lacking.

Thus the Smalcald Articles write (IX: Of the Ban [Vom Banne]): "The greater ban, as the Pope calls it, we hold to be a purely worldly punishment and it does not concern us ministers of the church. But the lesser, that is, the true Christian ban, is that manifest, obstinate