Jesus on “open table fellowship”

Perhaps the Revisionists are right. They keep going on about how Jesus practiced “open table fellowship” with everyone.

of course He did:

Mark 14:17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.”

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  1. guided_by_grace

    David, what is your more serious take on this issue? It is one I’ve been contemplating a lot lately.

    1. David Ould

      well, it depends on how the question is being asked.
      Currently as Anglicans we’re getting accused of being exclusivist whereas Jesus, apparently, was inclusivist – He would eat with anyone.

      That sort of argument is flawed along a number of lines.

      1. Sitting with someone doesn’t mean that you endorse them – that much was clear from Jesus’ constant call to prostitutes and “sinners” to repent.
      2. The issue for us is the Lord’s Supper and it’s wrong to map Jesus’ general meal behaviour onto one very specific and different meal.

      is that the sort of thing you were looking for?

      1. guided_by_grace

        Those are both good points. I guess I’m just wondering how exclusive is too exclusive. Is it the church’s responsibility to screen partakers or should it be more of an education thing then an individual’s own responsibility to “police” him/herself?

        1. David Ould

          oh right, that’s another question

          The issue we’re facing as Anglicans is that the 3rd World Archbishops won’t now sit with the Primate of the American province because she’s frankly, a heretic.

          You’re asking about associating with unbelievers. I think that’s fine, just within limits. Jesus, as always, is a great model – He is unbelievably clear on sin and yet those very same people often found Him so attractive.

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