Baptist communion at Easter

[Oldtimer_7]

I was installing a new computer at church today and one of the members came by. He is a musician and played at a Baptist church in the area Easter morning.
He was quite surprised that there was no communion at the service. His opinion was that if there was a time to celebrate it, Easter was the time. Can any Baptist brothers or sisters elaborate on this?

 

[GeorgeTheWild]

Many Baptists practice open communion. This means that they leave it up to the individual to determine worthiness to receive the elements. Since it was Easter, lots of the people there were probably Easter and Christmas ‘Christians’. It’s possible the pastor did not want to administer the elements when so many in the congregation would probably partake of them unworthily.

But you’re right, Easter is probably a good time to celebrate communion

 

[losh14]

Since it was Easter, lots of the people there were probably Easter and Christmas ‘Christians’. It’s possible the pastor did not want to administer the elements when so many in the congregation would probably partake of them unworthily.

That makes absolute sense. Thanks for explaining.

 

[Eutychus123]

Many Baptist churches celebrate communion only on the first Sunday of the month.

 

[Cat]

I know that there are many hundreds of different kinds of Baptist denominations.

I grew up in the Conference Baptist denomination, and in our church, communion services were uber-choreographed events that took around 45 minutes. The ushers who administered the communion elements stepped off on the same foot, and they stayed in step as they processed through the sanctuary. Each element was distributed separately, first the bread and then the grape juice, and there were prayers and meditations over each element. Although the organ or piano played softly in the background, there was no other noise. Communion services in Baptist churches are times of reflections about your sins and shortcomings, your relationship (or lack of relationship) with Jesus, and your relationship with others in the Church.

I’ve seen many church services where the pastor gave the opportunity for those in the church who were in conflict with someone else in the church to make amends and be reconciled, and I’ve seen over and over these people stand up, approach each other, say a few words, shake hands or embrace, and then return to their pew for communion.

It’s a solemn, serious time.

And when I say 45 minutes, I mean 45 minutes. Generally speaking, communion services doubled the time that we spent in church.

I used to think about the Changing of the Guard during our communion services. That’s how choreographed it was.

Now think about it–Easter Sunday–brunches, family dinners, Easter egg hunts, a three day weekend for many families–does this really seem like a good day to add 45 minutes of silence and prayers about your sins to a church service?

Keep in mind that as someone else has said, Easter is a huge day for visitors in Baptist churches. Many people come as a family (even if they don’t come any other day of the year).

And keep in mind that there is no obligation for Protestants to come to church each week or be “members” of any church. This means that all Protestant churches are always competing for people to attend and promoting their church as the best one for a Christian to join. They need those members because that’s how they raise funds to pay for pastors’ salaries, programs, and their building expenses and campus upkeep. And to be fair, they want people to come to their church because they are preaching the Gospel of Jesus and they want everyone to believe in Jesus and live an abundant life in relationship with Jesus and with fellow Christians.

Usually on Easter Sunday, Protestant churches go all out to have the most glorious music, both traditional and contemporary. The preacher has the BEST sermon ever. There are children’s sermons. There are special solos and choir numbers. There is magnificent congregational singing (many Protestants love to sing in congregation). There are decorations and lilies and banners and trumpets and eggs and often treats in the fellowship hall after the service.

Easter Sunday in most Protestant churches is truly dazzling and uplifting. I’ll be honest, folks–I’m always tempted to attend a Protestant church on Easter. I love the Easter vigil Mass, but boy, I miss that awesome traditional-praise music! Those of you who know me from my posts know that I don’t find chant or Latin or dull hymns worshipful at all. Yes, I understand that nothing, no song, is as beautiful as Jesus Christ Himself in the Eucharist, and that’s why I don’t attend a Protestant church. Since I’ve become Catholic, I find the services without Jesus in the Eucharist to be rather empty, even with the great music.

Anyway, my point is that the LAST thing a church in the hunt for new (tithing) members wants to do is add a dull depressing downer to what is supposed to be a glorious celebration of Christ’s resurrection. I never saw communion services done on Easter. Communion services were often done on Maundy Thursday, even in the evangelical Protestant churches that didn’t recognize a Church calendar.

 

[losh14]

Cat, thanks for sharing this.

I grew up in the Conference Baptist denomination

SBC-affiliated?

Communion services in Baptist churches are times of reflections about your sins and shortcomings, your relationship (or lack of relationship) with Jesus, and your relationship with others in the Church.

As it should be.

I’ve seen many church services where the pastor gave the opportunity for those in the church who were in conflict with someone else in the church to make amends and be reconciled, and I’ve seen over and over these people stand up, approach each other, say a few words, shake hands or embrace, and then return to their pew for communion.

This blows me away. At first I think it could get out of hand, in particular if one party isn’t ready to forgive, but I’d think the congregation would have sufficient respect to take anything further outside of the service, and it’s got to be humbling and powerful to be called on the carpet like that - or call yourself.

Now think about it–Easter Sunday–brunches, family dinners, Easter egg hunts, a three day weekend for many families–does this really seem like a good day to add 45 minutes of silence and prayers about your sins to a church service?

Keep in mind that as someone else has said, Easter is a huge day for visitors in Baptist churches. Many people come as a family (even if they don’t come any other day of the year).

Same for all churches, I think. It was the only day my stepmother - who with my father had not attended Mass since JPII’s declaration that divorced and remarried Catholics should live as brother and sister - actually went to Mass.

And keep in mind that there is no obligation for Protestants to come to church each week or be “members” of any church.

So when one actually joins a Protestant church - signs a membership roll or book - is it seen as a permanent committment, ie “we’ll see you here every Sunday and call you to help with things”?

Usually on Easter Sunday, Protestant churches go all out to have the most glorious music, both traditional and contemporary. The preacher has the BEST sermon ever. There are children’s sermons…There are decorations and lilies and banners and trumpets and eggs and often treats in the fellowship hall after the service.

This was our first Easter away from our old parish, which was affiliated as a Newman Center but it was a unique and more expansive community with an almost-charismatic style of worship. We didn’t speak in tongues but the music was incredible, the homilies dynamic - the pastor got into the worship with a singular enjoyment. When he swung the hyssop, you got drenched. When he baptized (and last year we baptized 11 adults and welcomed another 20 into full communion), he dunked and proclaimed and we sang “Down to the River”, clapping and really feeling the Spirit. Everything, from the lighting of the fire to the Exultet to the baptisms and confirmations to the reception afterwards, everything was pure joy. I miss it tremendously.

Yes, I understand that nothing, no song, is as beautiful as Jesus Christ Himself in the Eucharist, and that’s why I don’t attend a Protestant church. Since I’ve become Catholic, I find the services without Jesus in the Eucharist to be rather empty, even with the great music.

You perceive a greater spiritual Truth that trumps the ecclesiology, that’s a real sign of maturity. I’d really like to find a charismatic Mass, and just see what it’s like, or at least find a dynamic pastor and a choir who sings with the intent of us following along. Our pastor - while he is an excellent confessor - gave a 20-minute homily the other week on the dangers of internet pornography and all the theology behind it. People left. There are two choirs - one comprised of 8 to 10 year olds, the other of octogenarian women. Both sing a higher register than I can possibly hit. Yes, we’re fed, but I wonder how much our children will appreciate the Mass if it seems so out of reach.

I never saw communion services done on Easter. Communion services were often done on Maundy Thursday, even in the evangelical Protestant churches that didn’t recognize a Church calendar.

Related question - washing of the feet?

 

[DElias]

So when one actually joins a Protestant church - signs a membership roll or book - is it seen as a permanent committment, ie “we’ll see you here every Sunday and call you to help with things”?

While I can’t speak for all Protestant churches, I have found this to never be the case. In order to become a member in a Baptist church, you first need to be baptized. In order to be baptized, you need to meet with the pastor and then the elders if you make it past the pastor. A strong knowledge and understanding of the scriptures is necessary as one is grilled heavily.

I was up for baptism with the pastor’s son. I passed. He didn’t.

 

[Oldtimer_7]

Great posts, folks, Thanks a lot! We Lutherans, Catholics, and Episcopalians especially have a much different view of communion than Baptists. I have attended a few services in Baptist churches where communion was offered, and it did not feel at all the same to me. I guess that I still have a lot to work on there.

Cat, my wife occasionally fills in for the organist at our church. My wife was raised in a little country Disciples of Christ church and they played a lot of the old Protestant songs. Many in our congregation have come out of a similar background. One Sunday, my wife played a number of the songs she had grown up with. At the end of the service, one of our members, who had grown up Baptist, came running across the sanctuary with a huge smile on her face and thanked my wife profusely for playing music that she, too, had not heard or sung in years.

 

[newbear]

I was looking for a church home several years ago.one Sunday, I was in my car listening to a Baptist church service, and fell in love with that church over the car radio because of the music (songs) and the preaching. I was an active member of that church for a few years. The old songs are still the best for me.
May God bless
newbear

 

[losh14]

So when one actually joins a Protestant church - signs a membership roll or book - is it seen as a permanent committment, ie “we’ll see you here every Sunday and call you to help with things”?

While I can’t speak for all Protestant churches, I have found this to never be the case. In order to become a member in a Baptist church, you first need to be baptized. In order to be baptized, you need to meet with the pastor and then the elders if you make it past the pastor. A strong knowledge and understanding of the scriptures is necessary as one is grilled heavily.

Interesting. Did the pastor’s son ultimately make it?

If you were to leave one Baptist congregation and join another, would your prior baptism be recognized? This made me think of a co-worker whose family is church-shopping after a massive falling out at their current Independent Baptist church. Their church looks like it can no longer function financially - and there was a toss-up with the pastor and several elders leaving - so they’re moving on.

 

[losh14]

Since this conversation is so open, I hope you’ll forgive me for bringing us off-topic again. Most of the Protestants I currently know are Anglican, Presbyterian or go to one of the several large non-denominational churches around here, so I don’t often have the opportunity to interact with Baptists or Methodists.

Some of you have mentioned growing up in one denomination and practicing another. Is this frowned upon by those in the church you leave, or did you encounter flack from your family?

 

[DElias]

Interesting. Did the pastor’s son ultimately make it?

If you were to leave one Baptist congregation and join another, would your prior baptism be recognized? This made me think of a co-worker whose family is church-shopping after a massive falling out at their current Independent Baptist church. Their church looks like it can no longer function financially - and there was a toss-up with the pastor and several elders leaving - so they’re moving on.

He did make it the following year. Also, baptisms are recognized between churches just as a Baptist baptism is recognized in a Catholic church (provided you make it through RCIA).

Some of you have mentioned growing up in one denomination and practicing another. Is this frowned upon by those in the church you leave, or did you encounter flack from your family?

This can happen. I haven’t left, but I know those who have and have had this happen to them.

 

[GeorgeTheWild]

Interesting. Did the pastor’s son ultimately make it?

If you were to leave one Baptist congregation and join another, would your prior baptism be recognized?

The majority of Baptists recognize all Christian baptisms as valid. You usually just need a letter from your previous church to verify your baptism.

 

[4Squarebaby]

Most of the mentioned growing up in one denomination and practicing another. Is this frowned upon by those in the church you leave, or did you encounter flack from your family?

My mother was raised Baptist married my father the Methodist after his death found her way to the African Methodist Episcopal Church. From United Methodist to the Foursquare Church for me with no problem.

For the Baptist and proving baptisms. I suppose you are talking showing records of a beliver’s and not of infant baptisms?

 

[TrueLight]

So when one actually joins a Protestant church - signs a membership roll or book - is it seen as a permanent committment, ie “we’ll see you here every Sunday and call you to help with things”?

Oh there may be no “obligation”, but it is expected that you will attend church and if some of the people don’t see you several Sundays in a row, you usually get a call from a church member to see if everything is okay.

If you continuously miss church, you are seen as beginning to fall away from the faith. At least that’s how it was in my church.

 

[Cat]

Oh there may be no “obligation”, but it is expected that you will attend church and if some of the people don’t see you several Sundays in a row, you usually get a call from a church member to see if everything is okay.

If you continuously miss church, you are seen as beginning to fall away from the faith. At least that’s how it was in my church.

Same here.

The really “good” evangelical churches have committees or even hired staff who are charged with the responsibility of “maintaining” contact with all members and making sure that they don’t just slide through the cracks and gradually fall away from the church or the faith.

Nowadays, “membership” is being de-emphasized in many evangelical denominations. For one thing, it is clear that in our culture and society in the U.S., people are very mobile and many families move several times during their lives. This is so different than a few generations ago, when families usually remained in the same city/town where they were born and lived and died there. That’s not the way it is now.

Also, there is a great dislike in the U.S. of “committing” oneself to anything. We see it in marriage, where “fear of commitment” causes many young couples to simply co-habit. We see it in social organizations; the lodges especially have been hard-hit, as young men and women simply don’t want to “join” any organization and commit to coming to meetings, getting involved with projects, and nurturing friendships with fellow lodge members. We see it in sports and arts activities, as many families refuse to let their children get involved because they don’t want to make a commitment to daily or weekly practices. (Some of this is because of the expense.)

We see this happening more and more in the figure skating community. There is a category of membership called “individual” where people can test and compete in figure skating without joining a skating club. The original purpose of this category was for people who lived in out-of-the-way little towns where there were no figure skating clubs. But now many people compete in figure skating as individual members even if they live in a city with several figure skating clubs! They do this because they don’t want to commit to a skating club and have to fulfil responsibilities of membership (club fund raisers, paying dues, volunteering to help with competitions and ice shows, etc.).

We see a “lack of commitment” in many aspects of American life, and no where more obviously than in faith-based organizations. People want to be “spiritual” and “have faith,” but they don’t want to commit to a church or religious community. They just want to be “individual Christians.”

And evangelical churches are responding to this by not emphasizing membership. In many evangelical churches, membership is required to teach a class, but even those standards are being relaxed now; e.g., a non-member could teach IF a member is present in the class. In the last evangelical church we were part of, we were never asked to join as members, even though I was teaching. When we brought up membership, we were told that it was an option, but we didn’t need to join to be involved. Hmmm…

 

[Cat]

SBC-affiliated?

I assume that SBC is Southern Baptist Convention? Or is this “Swedish Baptist Church.”

No, our Conference Baptist denomination was not associated at all with Southern Baptist Convention . Our governing body was a “conference,” while the Southern Baptists are run by a “Convention.” They’re just words that mean “a group of officials who govern the church.”

Yes, our denomination was connected with the Swedish Baptist Churches. The Conference Baptists have a strong Swedish history, and the headquarters is in strongly-Swedish St. Paul, Minnesota. When I was just a tiny child, my church still held services in Swedish. Many of the members spoke Swedish and maintained ties with their Swedish relatives over in Sweden. And of course, I was taught that Swedish is the language that we will all speak in heaven!

This blows me away. At first I think it could get out of hand, in particular if one party isn’t ready to forgive, but I’d think the congregation would have sufficient respect to take anything further outside of the service, and it’s got to be humbling and powerful to be called on the carpet like that - or call yourself.

It WAS awesome. It’s how I grew up. It was a wondrous thing for a child to watch the grownups apologize to each other, embrace each other, and then work together in various church projects. It was how I was taught to deal with conflict–apologize, forgive, and start over being friends.

This is one reason why I was so completely blindsided when our last evangelical church kicked me and my husband out–all my life until then, I was used to being with Christians who loved each other and worked hard to maintain peace and harmony. It was a shock for me to discover how hateful Christians can be, and that some Christians don’t believe in reconciliation, or at least, don’t believe in working hard to bring about reconciliation. Nowadays, if it’s not easy, it’s not worth doing.

Keep in mind that the church people in my churches knew that any given Sunday was Communion Sunday. So if they wanted to avoid reconciling with an enemy, they would simply not come to church that day. They knew that as long as they were involved in a conflict, they were “receiving communion unworthily,” and if they didn’t want to face that and deal with the proddings of the Holy Spirit, they would simply stay home from church. Always remember that there is no obligation for Baptists to go to church or take communion. It’s all symbolic.

And even though that sounds terrible, it isn’t. If someone isn’t ready to be reconciled, forgive, and work towards friendship, it can’t be forced. The Holy Spirit works in people to soften their hearts towards their enemies, but often, it does take a long time before a person, or two people, are ready to face each other and say, “I’m sorry.” That’s OK–that’s real life.

This was our first Easter away from our old parish, which was affiliated as a Newman Center but it was a unique and more expansive community with an almost-charismatic style of worship. We didn’t speak in tongues but the music was incredible, the homilies dynamic - the pastor got into the worship with a singular enjoyment. When he swung the hyssop, you got drenched. When he baptized (and last year we baptized 11 adults and welcomed another 20 into full communion), he dunked and proclaimed and we sang “Down to the River”, clapping and really feeling the Spirit. Everything, from the lighting of the fire to the Exultet to the baptisms and confirmations to the reception afterwards, everything was pure joy. I miss it tremendously

You perceive a greater spiritual Truth that trumps the ecclesiology, that’s a real sign of maturity. I’d really like to find a charismatic Mass, and just see what it’s like, or at least find a dynamic pastor and a choir who sings with the intent of us following along. Our pastor - while he is an excellent confessor - gave a 20-minute homily the other week on the dangers of internet pornography and all the theology behind it. People left. There are two choirs - one comprised of 8 to 10 year olds, the other of octogenarian women. Both sing a higher register than I can possibly hit. Yes, we’re fed, but I wonder how much our children will appreciate the Mass if it seems so out of reach.

This sounds good to me, too. I know that a lot of Catholics are interested in traditional Catholicism with the Latin, chants, and silence. I personally am NOT interested in this–I would more prefer the “charismatic” style of Mass. We have a Life Teen Mass in our parish on Sunday evenings which is more like what you’re describing.

Related question - washing of the feet?

Depends on the denomination. We didn’t do washing of the feet while I was growing up, but other denominations that I was part of did.

The important thing is that in the evangelical world, symbolism is not that important. What’s important is not washing of the feet in a ritual, but going out into the community and the world and literally serving others doing something needed and helpful.

 

[MarkBrown]

While I can’t speak for all Protestant churches, I have found this to never be the case. In order to become a member in a Baptist church, you first need to be baptized. In order to be baptized, you need to meet with the pastor and then the elders if you make it past the pastor. A strong knowledge and understanding of the scriptures is necessary as one is grilled heavily.

I was up for baptism with the pastor’s son. I passed. He didn’t.

Baptist Churches do not have a set program for membership. It is mainly left up to the individual congregation. Most Baptist Churches have this process: walk the aisle, make a profession of faith, maybe speak with the pastor and recieve believers baptism.

My grandfather was a Missionary and Southern Baptist pastor for 60 years. I was one for 4 years. None of the Baptist Churches in our county or state conferences had the requirements you mentioned. Maybe your group was more reformed minded/calvinist. Reformed Baptist Churches in our area had these type of requirements.

Mark

 

[MarkBrown]

The majority of Baptists recognize all Christian baptisms as valid. You usually just need a letter from your previous church to verify your baptism.

Clarification: Only believers baptism is recognize, not infant. That is why any Catholic, Anglican, Lutherans or Presbyterians who recieved infant baptism are require to be ana-baptize, ie re-baptized. Though it is not thought of that way by the baptist as the baptist do not recognize it as a valid baptism.

Mark
(in a prior life a SBC minister (calvinist) and
an Anglican Priest (catholic)

 

[Anna_Scott]

The majority of Baptists recognize all Christian baptisms as valid. You usually just need a letter from your previous church to verify your baptism.

GeorgeTheWild,
I’m a former Southern Baptists and according to the Southern Baptist Convention website, Sacramental Baptisms are not recognized as valid. So, if you were Baptized by a Church that believes Baptism is a Sacrament and Graces are imparted, such as the forgiveness of sin, you must be Baptized again in the SBC.

There is a “position” paper on the Southern Baptist Convention website, though it has not yet been adopted by the board of trustees. Final editing is to be made by the chairman of the board.

Southern Baptist Convention Link: imb.org/main/news/details.asp?LanguageID=1709&StoryID=3840

Position Paper Concerning the IMB Guideline on Baptism
a. Baptism is a church ordinance.

"Baptism must take place in a church that practices believer’s baptism by immersion alone, does not view baptism as sacramental or regenerative, and a church that embraces the doctrine of the security of the believer.

b. A candidate who has not been baptized in a Southern Baptist church or in a church which meets the standards listed above is expected to request baptism in his/her Southern Baptist church as a testimony of identification with the system of belief held by Southern Baptist churches."

This is one of many reasons I left the Baptist Church. I do believe Baptism is a Sacrament and that Graces are imparted, such as the forgiveness of sin–according to Holy Scripture.

Acts 2:38 (English Standard Version):
38And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

To the OP, Oldtimer_7: Please forgive the Baptism sidebar.
Anna