A Converting Ordinance?

Wesley once described Holy Communion as a 'converting ordinance', i.e. an event in which people can encounter Christ and make that initial decision to turn and follow Him. Sounds a bit surprising, doesn't it, since we tend to think of Holy Communion as something reserved only for Christians.

We might not necessarily resolve that question here, but the episode in Hezekiah's reign, recorded in 2 Chronicles 30 has some parallels. Hezekiah re-institutes the Passover meal, but not just for the select few. He does it in style.

He extends the invitation far and wide across Israel. Bear in mind the deep split between Judah and Israel at this point - only two chapters earlier they were in military combat against each other.

His call is for people to come back to God - to 'repent and believe' in today's parlance.

People were called to the feast from far off: geographically far off but also spiritually far off. Israelites had accumulated a terrible record regarding staying close to God, so this was much more than just freshening up one's discipleship. Full blown turning of one's life around was going to be necessary for many.

Of course people came with all kinds of impurity and mess in their lives, but Hezekiah trusted in God to do the necessary restoration (see v18-20).

This is a great episode of extending generosity and grace in the context of a serious religious rite. Somehow they managed to do it without de-valuing that rite. Somehow they reached out, providing a space where God could work, calling & restoring people back to Himself.

Some might even say, a converting ordinance?