Lesson 2:
Identity and Communion

“Holding communion”

2LCF 26.14

“Churches (when planted by the providence of God so as they may enjoy opportunity and advantage for it) ought to hold communion amongst themselves for their peace, increase of love, and mutual edification.”

The Abingdon Association, 27 December 1652

“That particular churches of Christ ought to hold a firm communion each with other.”

“In respect of union in Christ there is a like relation betwixt the particular churches each towards others, as there is betwixt particular members of one church. For the churches of Christ do all make up but one body or church in general under Christ their head, as particular members make up one particular church under the same head Christ.”

The Petty France, London Church, 1679

“The congregation agreed to enter into an association with the congregation meeting in Gravel-Lane, that our Brother [Hercules] Collins is pastor of.”

Communion presupposes union

What kind of union precedes church communion? Social? Pragmatic?

The Cripplegate, London Church (1704)

“The solemn owning and ratifying of our so well attested and general approved confession of faith, as transmitted to us in the full evidence of the word by our late pastors etc. in the general assembly, seems to us as it did also to them a thing absolutely necessary to the just and regular constitution of all associations… Now that it has been the stated method of our associations most religiously to own the same confession of faith is evident; for we find that the association in London in 1644 subscribed in the name of the churches the confession then put forth, and also that association which met in 1652 did the same. And moreover in the year 1656 the churches in Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucester, and Bristol met in association put forth a confession of their faith agreeable with the former, on purpose that they might declare their harmony in faith and practice. Again in the year 1677 the elders and brethren of many churches in London and the country unanimously put forth our present confession of faith, which was approved of and signed by the general assembly which met 1689.”

The Bristol Association (1704)

“We cannot but greatly be concerned to apprehend the foundation of church communion so directly struck at, because as we understand some churches in the association at London cannot, neither will sign our confession of faith maintained by the association in London in the year 1689 which we have, and hope [that we] ever shall have, a very honourable esteem for. Therefore we cannot advise you to join with such churches in association, for communion is founded in our union: and two cannot comfortably walk together except they be agreed.”

The Worcestershire Association (1704)

“It is proper for the members of the Baptist associations to subscribe the Baptist Confession of Faith printed 1689 generally owned amongst us before their admission into the said associations; and that the neglect hereof is of dangerous consequence.”

The Western Association (early 1730s)

“It is with no small satisfaction, Brethren, that we find by the letters from the several Churches such an united approbation of the Bottom on which the Association is now fixed; which encourages us again to acquaint you, that we have entered into fresh hearty and zealous resolutions, in the Divine Strength, to adhere to the agreement last year at Bristol, with regard to that Scriptural and most excellent Confession of our Pious Ancestors in the year 1689, as the foundation of our future meetings. And that you may be entirely satisfied with our proceedings herein, we shall be a little more particular than we were at that time with regard to the reasons on which those proceedings were founded.…

First, because we conceive that no Christian Society can usefully and comfortably subsist without some fundamental agreement of this kind. The constant but evasive objection to this, is that a general acknowledgement of the Scriptures should be sufficient. But ‘tis easy to observe that if we were not to declare our harmony of opinion with respect to the sense of the Sacred Writings, as to the great points of the gospel, a subscription to the letter of the Scriptures would be no bar to hinder the greatest heretics in the world, even the Romanists themselves, from joining with us; who own the Scriptures, but wrest them to their own corrupt sense.…

Thirdly we in this affect no novelty, but follow the example of almost all the Religious Societies in the World; who have from time to time distinguished themselves from one another by the declared Principles of their Faith: and as this Confession was calculated to show how far our forefathers accorded with others of the Reformed Churches; so our Subscription shows our agreement with them.…

Seventhly, that we choose this larger Confession because by sad experience we have observed that some have artfully found means to evade those shorter declarations.”

General Assemblies of Messengers

2LCF 26.15

“Churches holding communion together, do by their messengers meet to consider, and give their advice.”

The Abingdon Association (1652)

“In point of advice in matters and controversies remaining doubtful to any particular church.”

“A main ground of particular church communion” is, “to keep each other pure, and to clear the profession of the gospel from scandal; which cannot be done unless orderly walking churches be owned orderly, and disorderly churches orderly disowned. Yea the reason is more full in respect to the greater scandal by not witnessing against the defection of a church or churches.”

Two historical precedents

Thomas Collier and 2LCF

“That those who are desirous to know the principles of religion which we hold and practice may take an estimate from our selves (who jointly concur in this work) and may not be misguided, either by undue reports; or by the ignorance or errors of particular persons, who going under the same name with our selves, may give an occasion of scandalizing the truth we profess.”

The hymn-singing pamphlets of the 1690s

2LCF 26.15

“These messengers assembled are not entrusted with any Church-power properly so called; or with any jurisdiction over the Churches themselves, to exercise any censures either over any Churches, or Persons: or to impose their determination on the Churches, or Officers.”

“Church power” refers to the keys of the kingdom, i.e., ecclesiastical power to ordain officers, admit or remit members, administer the sacraments, discipline, etc.

“Censure” is the general term for all forms of church discipline, such as admonition, suspension (from the Lord’s Supper), withdrawal (to remove from membership without excommunication), and excommunication.

1. Love

Colossians 2:1-2 “For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ.”

2. Prayer

Ephesians 6:18 “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.”

3. Mutual Support and Help

Romans 16:1-2 “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.”

3 John 5-8 "Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth.”

4. Financial Relief

Acts 11:29-30 “So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.”

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints-- and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”

5. Assembly and Advice

Acts 15:22 “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.”

Acts 15:25 “It has seemed good to us, having come to one accord.”

Acts 15:28 “For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements.”

6. Doctrinal Accountability

Colossians 4:15-16 “Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house. And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.”

7. Glorify God

1 Corinthians 1:2-3 “To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”