The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1910, Page 82

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82.

voices. Their thankfulness moves them to be active
in God’s service by helping those that are in need,
especially those that are in spiritual need, which is
the greatest of all needs. The Christian’s offerings
for the Church and her missions are thank-offerings
for the countless benefits of God, who forgiveth all
his iniquities, who healeth all his diseases, who re-
deemeth his life from destruction, who crowneth
him with loving-kindness and tender mercies. “Give
thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; for His
mercy endureth forever.”

Of the Lord’s Supper.

OF THE SALUTARY USE OF THE LorD’s SUPPER.
(Concluded.)

Only the believer is a well-prepared communi-
cant, and for this reason every communicant must
examine himself, whether he has true faith. But
what if upon examination we find our faith to be
weak, very weak? May those who are weak of faith

_ approach the Lord’s Table? The answer is: Yes,
indeed; for the Lord ‘will cast out no-one that
comes to Him, John 6, 37. Why, the fact is, that
the good and gracious Lord above all things had
our weak faith in view when He instituted the Holy
Supper, and it is His special desire that those who
are weak of faith should come to the Lord’s Sup-
per, that their weak faith may be strengthened. In
the Lord’s Supper the Savior would have the meek
to eat and be satisfied, Ps. 22, 26. God does not
desire to break the bruised reed, nor would He
quench the smoking flax, Is. 42, 3. As sure as the
weak of faith come to the Lord’s Table crying as
did that poor father, “Lord, I believe; help Thou
mine unbelief!” Mark 9, 24, so sure will the Lord
in and by the Sacrament grant them their heart’s
desire arid assure them of His grace to the quick-
ening and strengthening of their weak faith. —

From what we have heard so far concerning the
salutary use of the Lord’s Supper it will be ap-
parent that there are people to whom the Lord’s
Supper must be denied. Since only believers can
be worthy communicants, we can under no circum-
stances permit outspoken unbelievers to commune,
since they would eat and drink damnation unto
themselves, and we, ‘by permitting them to do so,
would likewise become guilty of their damnation.
Neither can we give the Holy Supper to those that
are not one with us in faith, since by doing so we

would be acknowledging their false doctrine to be

The Lutheran Pioneer.

correct, or, at least, that the distinction between
truth and falsehood in matters of religion is of no
importance. Acts 2, 42 we therefore read that the
Christian congregation at Jerusalem communed
with those only who continued steadfastly in the
apostles’ doctrine, that is, with those who held faith-
fully to the true doctrine.

It is also self-evident that those who have given
offense to others and have not yet made amends can-
not be well prepared to go to the Lord’s Supper.
It is only the humble and contrite spirit that can
profitably approach the Lord’s Table; it is only the
meek that shall eat and be satisfied. Such being
the case, it follows that he who has given offense
and yet refuses in his pride and stubbornness to
make amends cannot worthily partake of the Lord’s
Supper. Finally, all those who are not able to
examine themselves must be debarred from Com-
munion, since the Apostle requires self-examination
as a necessary preparation for all communicants,
when he says, “Let a man examine himself, and so
let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.”
Children, persons lying in a state of unconscious-
ness, idiots, and insane people must therefore be de-
nied the Lord’s Supper.

In consequence of this, all those wishing to com-
mune with us are required to signify their intention
to the pastor, thus affording him, as the steward -
over the mysteries of God, an opportunity to ex-
plore and examine the prospective communicant be-
fore admitting him to the Sacrament. This explo-
ration of the person intending to commune may be
short or long, according to circumstances, and may
be dropped altogether, if the pastor have a sufficient
knowledge of the communicant’s state of prepared-
ness. But under no circumstances should a com-
municant go to the Lord’s Supper without having
stated his intention of so doing to the pastor and
given his pastor the opportunity to explore him.

Those persons who have never yet communed
should first be instructed in the doctrine of God’s
Word by the pastor. Then, having been sufficiently
instructed, so as to be able to examine themselves,
they may also be admitted to the Holy Supper.

In this connection it maybe well to call atten-
tion to an old and commendable custom which is
found in our Lutheran Church, — the rite of Con-
firmation. After our catechumens have been suffi-
ciently instructed in God’s Word, they publicly, be-
fore the congregation, give an account of their faith,
and make a solemn profession of this faith, where-
upon the benediction is pronounced upon them and