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Religion

2009-10-01 09:07:00

How often should one receive communion?

Question: My question is about taking the Lord’s Supper (communion). In 1 Cor 11:23-26 St. Paul quotes Jesus: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” Does this mean to do it “often,” or “as often as you do it?” I am aware that Catholics are encouraged to take communion daily, Christian churches weekly, Baptists only every three months, and some churches take it rarely or never. I would appreciate your insight on what this Scripture really means.

Answer: The questioner brings out a very interesting text in a passage that is very instructive about the Lord’s Supper. The area he has chosen to focus, does not ascribe a specific amount of times to the frequency a church body should take the sacrament, “as often as you do it.” What the passage does say is that we should make it a regular practice, it does not spell out the regularity but it does speak of purposes and attitude (done in a meaningful and not a disgraceful or unworthy manner). A strong argument can be made for daily communion from the early church in Acts 2:46 which states, “Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,” The passage however in Corinthians deals with a terrible problem that these young, selfish Christians were experiencing where they would have a “Love Feast” and part of that was the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The problem was that they were acting contrary to what the Lord’s Supper was to exemplify. Instead it was a mockery. They were betraying God’s love by using class distinctions between rich and poor. The poor would get last chance or the least of the meal. The rich were using their clout and were jumping ahead of others to get first dibs on the food. As they approached the Lord’s Supper, they were nullifying its real spiritual meaning of Christ’s love and sacrifice. Next, Paul sets forth the institution of the Lord’s Supper, explaining the purpose behind the meal. First, it was to be a simple meal, as Jesus exhibited on the “night He was betrayed, took bread…” (1 Cor 11:23). It doesn’t need to be an elaborate ceremony that takes away from the spiritual significance, but a very simple action like our Lord showed his disciples. Second, it was taken to remind us, “this do in remembrance of me” (1 Cor 11:24) of the love and saving grace of God all wrapped up in the brokenness He experienced on the cross for us. Third, it was to be a symbolic experience for us in understanding it is His covenant He first made with us, “this is the new covenant in my blood” (11:25). By His mercy not giving us what we deserve for our sins and giving us what we don’t deserve which is grace. This was the binding agreement (covenant) He made to us who have nothing to give Him but our sin. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) Fourth, it is a proclamation of the ground of our faith as Christians. (1 Corinthians 11:26) “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” This, as a church, we hold as our foundation stone until the Lord returns. When Paul finishes explaining the meaning and purpose of the supper, he gives a warning with great instruction on how not to let the Lord’s Supper‘ be taken in an unworthy manner. (11:27) “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.” First, we are to examine ourselves, (11:28) “But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” It means looking deep within and asking the Lord to reveal our sinful ways we have acted on or thoughts we have nurtured or nursed (Psalm 51:1). Then confess that sin, honestly admit (Psalm 32) and agree with God what you have done is wrong (1 John 1:9). Then, recommit your way unto the Lord (Roman 12:1). If there is someone who you are out of sorts with or unforgiving too, go and get it right (Matthew 5:23-24). Second, he drives the point home how serious a matter it is in taking the Lord’s Supper. So much so that people who do it in an unworthy manner, they drink judgment on themselves here and now (11:29) “For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.” What that judgment looks like in practical terms he spells out in the next verse, (11:30) “That is why many of you are weak and sick and some have even died.” Pretty serious wouldn’t you say? That is why when we come to the table, it’s not “mindlessly” just to get it done and out of the way, or hurriedly because it’s the ceremony we always do at the end of the service before we go home or hoping to get it done quickly so we can get to the restaurant before the rest of the crowd from other churches gets there. People who take it frequently can easily fall into a pattern of familiarity and can lose it’s meaning, like reciting memorized prayer that Jesus warned against (Matthew 6:7). Ministers and priests can fall into the temptation of “getter’ done” or running through it because the service is running long or beyond the time everyone expects to be out. No matter what the frequency, we should approach it reverently, discreetly and in the awe of God. It is not to be done or thought of lightly or just doing it, but thoughtfully, reflectively, prayerfully confessing our sins and rejoicing. As we remind ourselves and proclaim our great release from the bondage of guilt and shame because Jesus washed away our sins on the cross and gave us the hope of eternal life. It is in that message that we stand as friends of our Holy and Perfect God. Sincerely grateful every time I participate in the Lord’s Supper, Pastor Dave.