I've actually opened this discussion topic upon having several requests. Here goes... lol
The Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist?
This New Year’s Eve many churches throughout America will be celebrating what is commonly called “Communion”. They will gather in a large church service in a church building where a religious official will officiate the sacrament. A “token” wafer and a small glass of grape juice will be provided. Most will take much time to reflect and dedicate prayer to the event. But is this truly “Apostolic” in practice… or is it something else?
First, I’d like to say that I don’t want to condemn anyone for the manner in which they partake in the Lord’s Supper. However, I do wish to bring up some serious issues that I’ve come to see that relate to this sacrament and our practice of it.
In the original Lord’s Supper was a Seder (Passover Meal). It was a memorial meal designed to bring to remembrance the Lord’s mighty deliverance from Egypt. It was at the end of this meal that Jesus Himself instituted what soon became known as the Lord’s Supper with the breaking of bread and the passing of the cup. The bread and the wine were designed to represent the Lord’s body, broken for us. The cup (the wine) was to symbolize the Lord’s own blood… shed for us.
The early church appeared to make this meal (called the breaking of bread) a central theme of their gathering whenever they gathered. In Acts we read:
Acts 2:41-47
{2:41} Then they that gladly received his word were
baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them]
about three thousand souls. {2:42} And they continued
stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers. {2:43} And fear came
upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by
the apostles. {2:44} And all that believed were together, and
had all things common; {2:45} And sold their possessions
and goods, and parted them to all [men,] as every man had
need. {2:46} And they, continuing daily with one accord in
the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat
their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, {2:47}
Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And
the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
You will discover that celebration of this meal is mentioned along with the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, and prayers. Many don’t realize that the Apostolic church of the Bible had no church buildings, pews, pulpits, choirs, or fellowship halls. The early Christians, being Jewish, would meet at the temple as was their normal Jewish custom, and then meet together in their homes for “Christian fellowship”. The church was primarily a home-based, grass roots, movement that proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Saviour. These smaller home-based meetings were blessed. They partook in a full meal, often called a “love feast”. Scholars have well documented how this feast was more central in the early church than the “sermonizing” we do today in our traditional churches. Paul describes open meetings wherein all participate and may prophesy in
I Corinthians 14. And in
I Corinthians 11 Paul clearly indicates that the “Lord’s Supper” was a full meal more akin to a banquet. It was over the table that the early Christians shared testimonies, prayed, prophesied, and edified one another, meeting needs that had arisen among them. Christianity was a “meating” not necessarily a “meeting”. Sadly, when Christians go out to eat together and fellowship over a dinner table at a restaurant it’s reflects early church gatherings more than the actual “service” they had just attended together.
Paul writes regarding the Lord’s Supper:
I Corinthians 11:17-34
{11:17} Now in this that I declare [unto you] I praise
Unregistered not, that ye come together not for the better, but for
the worse. {11:18} For first of all, when ye come together
in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and
I partly believe it. {11:19} For there must be also heresies
among you, that they which are approved may be made
manifest among you. {11:20} When ye come together
therefore into one place, [this] is not to eat the Lord’s
supper. {11:21} For in eating every one taketh before
[other] his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is
drunken. {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 Unregistered not. {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:
{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. {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. {11:26} For as often
as ye eat this bread, and drink [this] cup, ye do shew the
Lord’s death till he come. {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. {11:28} But let a man examine himself, and so let
him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup. {11:29} For
he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh
damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
{11:30} For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among
you, and many sleep. {11:31} For if we would judge
ourselves, we should not be judged. {11:32} But when we
are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not
be condemned with the world. {11:33} Wherefore, my
brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for
another. {11:34} And if any man hunger, let him eat at
home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And
the rest will I set in order when I come.
In this passage Paul rebukes the Corinthian church for not practicing the Lord’s Supper properly. First, we read how it was a gathering for a meal. We read that many who arrived first partook in the feast and often didn’t leave enough for those who arrived later in the day. We also read that some we actually getting “drunken” at this feast. The meal was to bring fellowship and harmony; instead it was bringing contention and strife as they observed it. Those believers who didn’t have very much were often provided for in these meetings. Those who devoured the meal left little for those who “had not”. Paul then brings to remembrance Christ’s institution of the meal. In
I Corinthians 10:17 Paul states:
I Corinthians 10:17
{10:17} For we [being] many are one bread, [and] one
body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.
Paul speaks of being partakers of “that one bread”, also translated “loaf”. The single loaf is symbolic of their being only one Lord and therefore one body. Today many wafers are passed out in convenience, loosing this significance. The one cup that Paul speaks of (“the cup”) signifies the blood of one. The thimbles of grape juice being passed around today denies this reality.
The Lord’s Supper is an illustration of several truths.
First, in the supper we shew forth the Lord’s death until He comes. In the Lord’s Supper we are to re-live the crucifixion. When the loaf of bread is being torn apart, each of us taking our share, we are to envision the brutal beatings that tore our Lord to pieces. When partaking in the cup, we are to remember the blood that He shed to cleanse our undeserving souls. A tidy little wafer doesn’t truly bring this reality home. I remember my first house church meeting where I participated in my first actual Lord’s Supper. The elder blessed the bread and spoke of Christ’s body and suffering. Then as the loaf was passed around the table I watched it being torn apart. With ever tear, tears began to roll. It was a powerful reminder of the one who was torn apart to bring spiritual nourishment to a lost and dying people. Reliving the death of our Lord vividly in such humble surroundings was truly abasing. I realized that the pomp and circumstance of the traditional “Communion” was lacking. Like the early church, we should have one loaf… and one cup. And we should sincerely reflect on Christ’s suffering and death. I know many do, but throughout Christianity, this sacrament is regarded as merely a tradition to get through. Its meaning is often lost, especially among many Protestants and Catholics of our day.
TO BE CONTINUED....
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