Before I accepted Christ, I fathered a child. My church says I cannot partake of the Lord's supper until I marry my woman. But I have financial problems. What should I do?

As the father of a child, it is your financial and moral responsibility to provide for your little one. A father sacrifices himself for the welfare of his child. Sometimes it is necessary to work two jobs; sometimes the father eats oatmeal in order to supply nutritious food for his child. When the family needs clothes, second-hand shops are their primary stores. 1 Timothy 5:8 (CSB), “if anyone does not provide for his own family, especially for his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Fathers are to copy their Heavenly Father’s example of sacrificial love. Remember: God so loved us that He sacrificed His only begotten Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins. (John 3:16) Pray to God and ask Him to help you to learn how to provide for your dear child’s welfare.

You called the mother of your child, “my woman.” That sounds like you are in a close relationship. Are you living with her? Are you intimate with her sexually? Then you are committing adultery if you are not married. Jesus said, “Do not commit adultery.” (Mark 10:19). You are already living as a married couple. Obey God’s will by taking marriage vows.

However, if you are not living together, you should stop having sex with her. Sex is only between a husband and wife in the marriage relationship. If you desire sex, you should get married. That’s what the Bible teaches.

The scriptures are clear that no one should partake of the Lord’s supper if he is living in opposition to Bible teachings. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (NLT), “anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the cup. For if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself. That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.” 

Before a believer participates in the Lord’s supper, he should judge his heart and his life. Is he sinning? Then he should repent, ask for forgiveness through Jesus’ blood, and stop sinning in the future. If he doesn’t do this, God will certainly judge him. 1 Corinthians 11:31, 32 (ESV), “But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined.” 

Therefore, you may not partake of the Lord’s supper while living in any kind of sin.