Examining Communion

Whoever changed the term "The Lord's Supper" into Communion was on the right track but whatever happened after that? Obviously the one who changed the term had understanding that is not generally known today but like everything spiritual has over time and centuries been degraded into something else that was never intended. Communion was never intended to be a ritual of 5 or 10 minutes over a tiny chip of bread and half a sip of grape juice. When Jesus spoke of it they were having a full meal deal and it was the last time they would be having a meal together before His death. Yes Communion is definetly to commemorate His death but much more also. At this last meal He girded Himself and washed the disciples feet as an act of humble servitude and then told them that this is how they should view one another. How can I serve you my brother to make you feel special and to show my respect for the fact that you are a chosen vessel of the Lord Jesus Christ? What has been done with the Communion is a travesty and with tragic results. Let's examine the scriptures. We know what Jesus said and the Apostles seem to have understood it but the Apostle Paul had to bring some correction.

According to the scriptures it was common for the early church to get together frequently to eat together and worship and praise God. Everyday was a celebration of sorts because of the new found freedom they were experiencing.

Acts 2:46

New King James Version (NKJV)
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart,

What they were doing is practicing in reality the instructions of Jesus. "Whenever you come together to eat, remember me". However also what is common among people in general there were some who were not following protocol and this is what Paul addressed.

1 Corinthians 11:17-21

New King James Version (NKJV)
Conduct at the Lord’s Supper
17 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk.

I will get right to the core of my message and then attempt to prove it by the scripture. Communion by it's very root means sharing, being together in close intimate relationship. The hippies of the flower generation took it even further and shared everything sometimes even their spouses. The early Church sacrificed whatever extra that anyone had and shared all things in common and that is the root of Communion. So when they came together to eat and celebrate their new found faith and love for the Lord Jesus they also recognized that He had done something special in each of them and now they were children of God and because He was dwelling in each of them they were in effect "His Body" and He demanded that they show the same respect for each other that they would give to Him if He were present in person.  Every time they got together and ate it was essentially a reenactment of the Last Supper. It was indeed a full meal otherwise why would Paul accuse some of gluttony and others of drunkenness. No wonder that he points out that some are sickly and some have already died. God does not fool around with our misunderstandings. I am reminded of a mother bear with her cubs. Better not mess with them or your life is in danger yet we show so little respect for God by the way we treat each other. Just tell a loving parent that their children are being bullied at school, all hell will break loose. We are created in God's image though we have not yet attained His holiness He's working on that and will get it done. You and all those other Christians around you no matter where they go to worship are precious in His sight so when we go to have Communion do we even consider if we have an issue with someone or if someone has an issue with us that we have not addressed?

1 John 4:20

New King James Version (NKJV)
Obedience by Faith
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

It doesn't have to be something big for Solomon said "It's the little foxes that spoil the vines, for the vines are tender". Why do you think that Peter was so harsh with Ananias and Sapphira who just held back a bit of the money from the property they sold and gave a large portion of it to the Church? It was because of the purity of heart that was so prevalent at the time and God was delighted with it and just one bit of guile was unacceptable and He wanted to make a point. It was like in the garden of Eden where all was pure and perfect, so perfect that Adam and Eve did not know they were naked but just one bit of evil destroyed it all.
I am not trying to judge anyone for that is not my job but I see Christians dropping like flies from every manner of disease and others who are just sick almost all the time and there has to be a reason. One need not look too far to see the discord that exists and the scriptures do not lie. So while I think it unlikely that the manner of the Communion practice will to change to a more meaningful form at least the individual can take responsibility and get themselves in right relationship with those around them and if they cannot do that then don't eat with another Christian until you do or you may be eating and drinking condemnation for "We are the Lord's Body".

john

responses to email justjohn@eoni.com