Broad and high

In his classic The Covenant Sealed: The Development of Puritan Sacramental Theology in Old and New England, 1570-1720 , E. Brooks Holifield (who has the classiest name among all church historians) describes the oscillation of Reformed sacramental theology and practice.

High views of the real presence have typically been linked to tight restrictions on access. If Christ is really presence, the fence around the table must be very high. A sacred meal has to be protected.

Lower views of the real presence typically went along with looser restrictions on access. If Christ is only present “virtually” or in His benefits, the fence doesn’t need to be so insurmountable. If the meal isn’t exactly sacred, it’s not under any taboos.

The better alternative is a high view of the real presence and minimal requirements for access (baptism, professed faith, not under discipline). Christ present, but a low fence.

And the lower fence needs to be seen as an implication of the high view of real presence: We don’t have broad admission despite the fact that Christ is present. We have broad admission because Christ is present – the Christ of “forbid them not,” the Christ of “Come to me, all you weak and heavy laden,” the Christ who is the hospitality of God.