Is Communion outside the church permissible?

Definition and Significance of Communion

Communion, also referred to as the Lord’s Supper, is a sacred observance memorializing the sacrificial death and victorious resurrection of Christ. Foundational passages include Matthew 26:26–28, Mark 14:22–24, Luke 22:17–20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23–26, where the bread symbolizes His body given for us, and the cup symbolizes the new covenant in His blood. “Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:25). This act unites believers in proclaiming Christ’s atonement and anticipating His return.

Biblical Context for the Gathering of Believers

In the first-century church, believers typically met in home gatherings (Acts 2:46; Romans 16:5) rather than in specialized buildings. These assemblies shared teaching, prayer, fellowship, and the breaking of bread (Acts 2:42). Scripture portrays no rigid architecture or geographic boundary that made these gatherings valid or invalid. Rather, the emphasis fell on worship flowing from faith in Christ and unity in the Holy Spirit.

The body of Christ, according to the New Testament, refers first and foremost to the community of believers (Ephesians 1:22–23), whether they gather in large congregations, small house churches, or even discreet, persecuted assemblies. As such, Scripture underscores the importance of believers assembling with reverence and mutual edification (Hebrews 10:24–25).

Instruction from Paul in 1 Corinthians 11

The most direct apostolic teaching on the Lord’s Supper appears in 1 Corinthians 11:17–34. Paul urges self-examination, unity, and respect for the body of Christ before partaking of the bread and cup. While this passage targets the Corinthian congregation’s corporate gathering, it presents key principles relevant to the practice of communion:

• Reverence and remembrance: “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (v. 26).

• Self-examination: “Everyone ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup” (v. 28).

• Unity of believers: “Now in giving these instructions I have no praise to offer you, because your gatherings do more harm than good” (v. 17). Paul highlights that they should gather in a way that preserves unity rather than division.

Historical Practice in the Early Church

Early Christian writings attest that many gatherings took place in homes. The Didache (an early Christian document dating to the late first or early second century) describes believers meeting to share teaching and the Eucharist (communion) without mention of a particular building requirement. Archaeological findings, such as house church sites (e.g., the third-century Christian meeting house at Dura-Europos in Syria), likewise confirm that believers often worshiped in private residences or other informal contexts.

Justin Martyr (2nd century) in his “First Apology” details that Christians assembled on the first day of the week to read Scripture and partake of the bread and cup. He emphasizes the faith of participants rather than the physical location of worship. Historical descriptions thus indicate that the legitimacy of the Lord’s Supper was not determined by a formal edifice but by the genuine gathering of committed disciples, mutual accountability, and proper leadership recognized by the early church.

Nature of the Church and the Universal Priesthood

According to the New Testament, all believers are part of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). This concept underscores that access to God is not limited to a special spiritual class. Believers can gather in Christ’s name, offering worship and proclaiming His death and resurrection.

However, the New Testament also advocates order and oversight among believers (1 Timothy 3:1–7; Titus 1:5–9). Historically, healthy church structure has included spiritual shepherds (pastors, elders) who guide worship, teach sound doctrine, and protect from error. Thus, while Scripture underscores the priesthood of all believers, it also promotes the importance of recognized leaders who ensure that significant ordinances—such as communion—are observed in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Arguments Regarding Communion Outside the Local Church Gathering

1. Support for Permissibility

- Early gatherings took place in homes or wherever believers assembled (Acts 2:46).

- The church is the fellowship of believers, not a building. Consequently, meeting in a home or another space can still be considered a gathering of the body of Christ when there is shared faith and unity (Ephesians 4:4–6).

- The universal priesthood suggests that sincere believers, under the spiritual guidance of God’s Word, may partake of the Lord’s Supper when regular local church support or facilities are unavailable.

2. Cautions and Concerns

- Communion is a corporate observance memorializing our oneness in Christ. Consequently, personal preference or casual administration can dilute its significance.

- Paul’s warnings in 1 Corinthians 11 stress the need for unity, careful self-examination, discernment, and respect for Christ’s body. Isolated or unsupervised communion might lack the accountability the church body provides.

- Historically, local church leadership has offered spiritual safeguards to maintain doctrinal soundness and reverence in administering communion (Acts 20:28–31).

3. Balance of Biblical Principles

- Scripture does not confine communion strictly to a church building. Rather, the Bible focuses on the attitude of participants, the sincerity of their faith, and the leadership or spiritual oversight.

- Many reputable Christian traditions encourage communion primarily within a recognized gathering of believers, led by elders or pastors. This practice honors biblical patterns of accountability and fellowship (1 Timothy 3:2–5).

Practical Considerations

• Believers serving in mission fields or in places without an established local congregation frequently hold communion in homes or makeshift chapels. Such practice may be considered valid, especially if the group is accountable to spiritual counsel and adheres to Scriptural teaching.

• In extraordinary circumstances (severe persecution or isolation), small groups of believers often meet privately to worship and share communion. Church history records numerous examples of faithful Christians who, constrained by persecution, broke bread underground or in secluded areas—an indication of the importance of Christian fellowship even under extreme conditions.

• Regardless of location, participants should heed Paul’s exhortation for unity, self-reflection, and recognition of the sacredness of the ordinance.

Conclusion

Communion’s significance rests in obeying Christ’s command to “do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19). The New Testament does not prescribe a rigid location for its observance. Rather, the stress is on congregational integrity, leadership accountability, personal examination of sin and faith, and reverent remembrance of the Lord’s sacrifice.

While many Christians rightfully choose to partake of communion within their local church gatherings—benefiting from structured oversight and fellowship—Scripture does not forbid communion in settings outside an official church building. The essential elements remain: genuine faith, scriptural fidelity, orderly conduct, and communal unity. When these are present, partaking of the bread and the cup can indeed honor the Lord and faithfully proclaim His death until He comes.