Do You Have to Be Baptized to Take Communion?
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When it comes to communion, there are differences between denominations. Some churches take communion every week, some do it once per month, while others do it on a random schedule. I used to attend a church where we had communion at best three to four times per year. Just as there are variances in the frequency, you will discover there are also variances in who can take communion and when they can take it.
In some denominations, baptism is a prerequisite for taking communion, while in others, it is not. For example, in Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, baptism is required before a person can receive communion. The belief is baptism is the final part of the act that brings you into the Christian faith and makes you part of the community. After being baptized, receiving communion is a way to continue that expression of faith.
In many Protestant denominations, the requirements can be more flexible. Certain churches might mandate baptism as a precondition, whereas others might see communion as available to all believers, regardless of their baptismal status.
The question then is which one is right? Do you have to be baptized before you take communion? I am going to answer the question now and give you some context to support my answer. The answer is you do not have to be baptized to take communion. I know some of you might not agree with my conclusion, but keep reading so you can understand how I came to it.
Jesus Established the First Communion
The Gospels record what we call the Last Supper, but you could also refer to it as the first communion. During this time, Jesus broke bread and gave wine. The bread represented his body, which would soon be broken. The wine represented his blood that would soon be shed for our sins.
After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the next moment where we potentially see communion coming into play is in Acts 2.
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).
You could imply that the breaking of bread is a reference to communion because that is what Jesus did with his disciples. What I want you to focus on is the one thing both events have in common. Those who took part in communion were all believers, meaning they were part of the body of Christ (except for Judas, but that is a conversation for another day). This establishes the first criteria necessary for anyone who takes part in communion. They should be a born-again believer in Jesus Christ. This fact of belief is critical when we try to answer the question: do you have to be baptized to take communion? To dig deeper, let’s consider the framework laid out when we take communion.
The Framework for Taking Communion
In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul lays out some ground rules for taking communion. Let’s look at each of them and see what we can discover to help us understand why you do not have to be baptized to take communion.
Communion Is a Time to Remember
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me. In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me’” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).
The primary reason we take communion is to remember the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. In that regard, communion should be a solemn moment, but it should also be a celebratory moment. We can be solemn in recognizing his suffering, but we can celebrate the result of that suffering.
Since we remember Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, the only ones who would understand and appreciate that sacrifice are those who are already believers. That’s why you must be a believer to take part in communion.
Communion Is a Time of Retelling
“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
Whenever you take communion, you are making a declaration, telling again the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. The ones who are responsible for proclaiming this message are those who have been redeemed by his shed blood and broken body. Again, this only applies to believers.
Communion Is a Time of Recognition
“So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27).
This verse leads to a very interesting question. What does it mean to take communion in an unworthy manner? Could it mean you must be baptized to take communion? The answer is no. When you read the passage in context, some in the Corinthian church were not recognizing the seriousness of the moment and were treating it like any other meal. To take communion, you must recognize what it is about.
Communion Is a Time of Repentance
“Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29).
Finally, communion is a time of repentance. Is there not a better moment of repentance before the Lord than when you are reflecting over the elements that represent the sacrifice he made for your sins? All these things clarify that to take communion, you must be a believer. But what about the baptism aspect?
Do You Have to Be Baptized to Take Communion?
Plainly and simply, the answer is no. Communion is only for believers in Jesus Christ. The Bible does not say you must be baptized to receive communion, and I won’t say it either.
Here is where there may be some level of disagreement, because you might ask when does a person become a believer? Some of you might argue you cannot become a believer until you are baptized. If you hold to that opinion, then your answer is going to be you must be baptized before you can take communion because you are not a believer until you are baptized.
This might not be a surprise, but I don’t hold to that opinion. I believe salvation comes at the point of belief and not at the point of baptism. I am not disparaging baptism because I believe every Christian should be baptized, and to refuse to be baptized is an act of disobedience. However, baptism is symbolic of the salvation you received when you have believed in Jesus.
Baptism, therefore, is a public declaration of the faith you have placed in Jesus Christ for salvation. Baptism happens because of your salvation. It does not produce your salvation.
Based on the belief that salvation comes by grace through faith and happens at the moment you believe, that is why I conclude you do not have to be baptized before you take communion.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Mizina
