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29 June 2016

The Schleitheim Confesion, Article 2

The ban

A Christian should live with discipline and walk in the way of righteousness. Those who slip and fall into sin should be admonished twice in secret, but the third offense should be openly disciplined and banned as a final recourse. This should always occur prior to the breaking of bread.

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This is about excommunication, and comes almost entirely from Jesus' instructions in Matthew 18. If a person won't live what he says he believes, there's no reason to think he's a Christian and therefore no reason to allow him to take Communion.

The only part that doesn't come Jesus' own words is the last sentence, and even that makes sense in context. After all, there's no point in giving someone Communion if you're about to tell him he can't receive it. 

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