The Lord's Supper

[Joidevivre]

Back to the original request for thoughts about communion, I believe it is a sad thing that families do not take communion in their homes with each other. Jesus only said "Do this". He did not say where, how and when. I understand that pastors like to keep it in the church setting in order to protect the sacrament from being lightly taken or the meaning becoming muddied.

But if the congregation was taught properly concerning this sacrament and encouraged to take into the home, I believe there would be fewer divorces, fewer teen problems, and a happier home life. How could you stay bitter with someone who hands you the cup and says, "This is Jesus' blood shed for you. You are forgiven" - (just an example).

In my home, my husband and I served each other communion (lots of people just can't get to church), and that was such a bonding time. We felt more love for each other at that time. It changed the atmosphere. I wish we had started this when our children were young.

So many people are home-bound, and they do not enjoy this special moment with the Lord. They believe that they have to be in church or a pastor has to come to their home (which few have the time to do). What a shame. Communion belongs anywhere two or more Christians are gathered together.

 

[Ariel82]

I think if we understood the Passover, we would have a deeper understanding of Jesus sacrifice.

There was a plague that killed the 1st born in Eygpt. An angel passed over those houses that had the seal of the blood of a Passover lamb on their door post.

The Jewish people kept the Passover over meal in remembrance of what God did in Egypt.

We take holy communion in remembrance of what Jesus did upon the cross for us. How he cleanses us of our sins and feeds us with Manna from above so we might live as children of God.

 

[prove-all]

I personally think that God only cares about whether we love Him or not.
I believe that the warnings given in Scripture are addressed to those who are more
into legalistic do-it-just-the-right-wayism than focusing on remembrance of the love Jesus had

Jude 1:4 (KJV)
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this
condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness[lawlessness],
and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[oyster67]

Following Christ could be such a blessing.... if it wasn't for "Christianity."

Amen. If all could just humble themselves and trust him with simple, child-like faith. I like the sound of "Child of the King".

 

[oyster67]

[SUP]20 [/SUP]But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
[SUP]21 [/SUP]Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
[SUP]22 [/SUP]Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
[SUP]23 [/SUP]All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 1 Corinthians 10:20-23




[SUP]14 [/SUP]If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
[SUP]15 [/SUP]For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
[SUP]16 [/SUP]Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. John 13:14-16

How many today wash each others feet after they eat, and drink.

We do that at our church, but if the heart is not right, it profitteth nothing.

 

[oyster67]

One of the sad things about this forum is that so many people seem to believe that the more words they throw at a subject, the truer THAT particular opinion will have to become.

To that point, may I narrow things down a bit, and ask one or two simple questions? In these verses, WHO DIES, and specifically, WHY DOES THEIR BODY (if it, indeed, IS their body that dies) CEASE TO FUNCTION?

I suspect that it might be an Annanias and Saphira kind of thing. Having sin in your life is one thing; having sin in your life and lying to God about it is another.

Another thing that comes to mind is the story of the man who was struck dead when he reached out to steady the Ark of the Covenant. God knew exactly what he was thinking and what his attitude was at the time. We do not.

 

[dcontroversal]

A friend of mine was doing some work for a "big" church in Little rock one time and I was helping him....we found the "wine" closet and there was enough wine and bags of "wafers" to keep Genghis the Kahn's army fed and drunk for a month...well I was hungry and thought about Jesus and his disciples eating the "corn" on the Sabbath and David eating the shew bread....I grabbed about 50 wafers and hammered them....I am still alive....that was like 25 years ago........

 

[Willie-T]

I suspect that it might be an Annanias and Saphira kind of thing. Having sin in your life is one thing; having sin in your life and lying to God about it is another.

Another thing that comes to mind is the story of the man who was struck dead when he reached out to steady the Ark of the Covenant. God knew exactly what he was thinking and what his attitude was at the time. We do not.

Yet, there has never been any reported incident of someone falling dead from doing Communion wrong. I suspect it must be something else being spoken of. I also think the probable answer is given right there in the text.

 

[zone]

Yet, there has never been any reported incident of someone falling dead from doing Communion wrong. I suspect it must be something else being spoken of. I also think the probable answer is given right there in the text.

then you are denying what Paul stated explicitly - that some were sick and dying. there's nothing to suggest that warning (curses?) ceased to apply with that church.

many today may indeed be falling sick or dying as a result. do we really know?

 

[Willie-T]

then you are denying what Paul stated explicitly - that some were sick and dying. there's nothing to suggest that warning (curses?) ceased to apply with that church.

many today may indeed be falling sick or dying as a result. do we really know?

Is that what Paul said?
Are you sure?
Read the WHOLE THING again, and determine just WHO it was that Paul was concerned about ending up not getting any food. Remember, this was an actual wholesome meal that many poor people probably really depended upon to survive. But the rich fat cats were hogging all the food. Those people weren't just meeting to let a thin communion wafer melt on their tongues, and then wash it down with a small swallow of wine.

Consider the whole scene as Paul actually described it happening there and then.

 

[Locutus]

That's an interesting take on it Willie, I don't think Paul was talking about "common" meal sharing but rather the actual Lord' supper if it's read in context.

 

[Willie-T]

We are told to consider the body of Christ. Who is the body of Christ? Who was Jesus ALWAYS concerned about?

 

[Willie-T]

That's an interesting take on it Willie, I don't think Paul was talking about "common" meal sharing but rather the actual Lord' supper if it's read in context.

Then why would he ask the greedy hogs, "Don't you have your own houses and your own food to eat there?" (paraphrased)

 

[Locutus]

Then why would he ask the hogs, "Don't you have your own houses and your own food to eat there?" (paraphrased)

I think there were having both together.

1 Cor 11:20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.


1 Cor 11:21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.


1 Cor 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.


1 Cor 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:


1 Cor 11:24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.


1 Cor 11:25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.


1 Cor 11:26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.


1 Cor 11:27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

 

[Willie-T]

One of the reasons, thank God, more accurate and more readable translations are offered to us for the language as it has evolved today...

1 Corinthians 11:20-32New International Version (NIV)

20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!


Basically, he is saying your ignoring of the poor is making a mockery of this meal of remembrance.

 

[Willie-T]

BTW, fundamental to the Seder table, which is the meal the disciples were eating, is the Seder plate, which has on it the following items:

» Zeroah, a lamb's shankbone symbolizing the ancient Passover sacrifice
» Beitzah, a roasted egg symbolizing the temple sacrifice and the continuing cycle of life
» Haroset, a paste of fruit and nuts symbolizing the mortar used to build the pyramid of the pharaohs
» Mar'or, a bitter herb (like horseradish) to represent the bitterness of slavery
» Karpas, a green vegetable (usually parsley) representing spring
» A bowl of salt water to dip the karpas symbolizing the slaves' tears

Some traditions also include chazeret, a second bitter herb, usually the roots of romaine lettuce. Also necessary are three matzos (unleavened bread, symbolizing the haste of the flight from Egypt — there was no time for the bread to rise), either wrapped in cloth or covered, and broken and eaten at set points throughout the evening.

The actual Seder meal is also quite variable. Traditions among Ashkenazi Jews generally include gefilte fish (poached fish dumplings), matzo ball soup, brisket or roast chicken, potato kugel (somewhat like a casserole) and tzimmes, a stew of carrots and prunes, sometimes including potatoes or sweet potatoes.

Those guys did not meet with Jesus to just eat a little bit of bread and have a sip of wine from a cup passed around. And Jesus never said to change the memorial Passover meal to be a morsel of bread and a swig of wine.

 

[Locutus]

You only posted 2 verses, what about the rest than gives the context?

 

[MadebyHim]

We do that at our church, but if the heart is not right, it profitteth nothing.

Thats great, not forgetting about being a servant.

 

[p_rehbein]

Apparently ONLY those who agree with some here understand Communion and the reason for celebrating it. uh....er, hmmm....

I disagree...............guess I do not understand the reason for the celebration of Communion........sigh......

 

[Stephen63]

https://escapetoreality.org/2011/04/10/taking-communion-in-an-unworthy-manner/

This site is a hypergrace site. The author of the site says so.

G777 reminds "some" of us that we're not supposed to talk about hypergrace in the forums because it's against the rules, then does it himself.

"He that judgeth doeth the same things"