Why Do We Do the Lord’s Supper if Non-Believers Can’t Partake?
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On Sunday night, we took the Lord’s Supper at church. Someone asked a really thoughtful question afterward:
Why do we do the Lord’s Supper if non-believers can’t take part? Isn’t that a bit exclusive? Shouldn’t we be more sensitive to non-Christians when they’re in the room?
It’s a good question. In this article, I’m going to turn to 1 Corinthians for some help, as we seek to work through three important questions.
1. What is the Church?
The first thing to remember is that the church isn’t a building or an event. It’s a gathering of God’s people.
The New Testament word for “church” is ekklesia, which simply means “assembly” or “gathering.”
In 1 Corinthians 1:2, Paul helps us understand what the church is. He writes:
To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours.
The church is not just a social club or a weekly event. It is God’s church, made up of people who have been sanctified in Christ, that is, set apart by Jesus and made holy in him. It is a gathering of those who have been called by God to belong to him and to live as his holy people, together with every believer everywhere who calls on the name of Jesus.
This means that when we gather, we gather first and foremost as the people of God, those who belong to Jesus and share in his saving work.
That means that while we love welcoming guests and want non-believers to feel welcome and cared for when they visit, the gathering itself is first and foremost for the people of God. It’s the family meeting.
So when we take the Lord’s Supper, we’re doing something as God’s people, for God’s people.
2. Why Does Jesus Give the Lord’s Supper?
When we turn to 1 Corinthians 10 and 11, we see that the Lord’s Supper has three purposes.
a) Remembering
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:23–26 that when we eat the bread and drink the cup, we are remembering Jesus’ death for us. We do this because Jesus commanded it. In Luke 22:19, he said, “Do this in remembrance of me.” That’s why we share in the Lord’s Supper. Our Lord told us to remember him in this way until he comes again. And it’s a good way of remembering because, alongside other ways we remember Jesus, it provides a tangible, shared reminder of his body broken and blood shed for our salvation. Experiencing the message in a physical way, through a meal, can help drive the truth of the gospel deeper into our hearts.
b) Participating
In 1 Corinthians 10:16, Paul says:
Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?
That word “participation” is the Greek word koinonia which means fellowship, sharing, or communion. The Lord’s Supper is more than a mental exercise. It’s a spiritual participation.
That’s why Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 11:27–29 that anyone who eats and drinks “in an unworthy manner,” without discerning the body of Christ, eats and drinks judgment on themselves.
This is why it’s not appropriate for someone who isn’t trusting in Jesus to take part. The meal is for those who belong to Jesus and are united to him by faith. To take it without that faith is spiritually dangerous.
So, we do it because Jesus commanded us to. We don’t invite unbelievers to take the meal because it would cause them to drink judgment on themselves.
c) Proclaiming
Finally, the Supper is proclamation. In 1 Corinthians 11:26, Paul says:
“For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”
Every time we share this meal, we are preaching the gospel to ourselves, to one another, and to anyone watching.
So even though non-Christians shouldn’t take the bread and the cup, the act itself still proclaims the good news to them. Jesus died, Jesus rose, and Jesus is coming again. Therefore, it’s helpful for unbelievers to see Christians take the Lord’s Supper.
3. How Do We Treat Non-Believers in Church?
Sometimes people worry that by fencing the table, by explaining that the Supper is for believers, we’re being unwelcoming or unloving. But the Bible shows us another way to think about this.
1 Corinthians 14 assumes that unbelievers will sometimes be present in the church gathering (verse 23) and that they are welcome to listen (verse 24). Paul urges the church to be clear (verse 9) and orderly (verse 40) so that they are not confused or alienated (verse 23). When God’s Word is spoken plainly, the Spirit can convict hearts, leading people to recognise God’s presence (verses 24-25). Unbelievers are guests in the gathering, but the focus remains on worshipping Jesus and building up his people.
So we care deeply about our guests. We explain what’s happening. We avoid unnecessary confusion. We make sure they know they are welcome to watch and listen.
But at the end of the day, we do what Jesus has told us to do. And that means keeping the Lord’s Supper for those who belong to him, even as we pray that those watching will hear the gospel and come to faith.
Final Thought
The Lord’s Supper is for believers, but it is not a private club. It’s a family meal that:
Remembers Jesus’ death
Participates in our fellowship with Christ
Proclaims the gospel to everyone in the room
For those who don’t yet trust Jesus, it’s a chance to see and hear the good news on display. And for those who do, it’s a moment to remember, participate, and proclaim, together, until he comes.
