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A hard thing to do but a MUST.

The act of observing Holy Communion is also known as “The Lord’s Supper”. The title comes from the Apostle Paul’s writing in his first letter to the Corinthian church. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul quotes Jesus from “the night he was betrayed”, an event recorded in Luke 22 that has become known as “The Last Supper” and inspired the famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci. It was the last time that Jesus would eat and drink with his closest friends and followers, where for the final time before his crucifixion he would explain to them his purpose on the earth and would use elements they could see, smell, touch, and taste to show them.

The same words that Jesus spoke as recorded in Luke 22 and quoted by Paul in 1 Corinthians 11 are the ones that have been repeated many times over the years by pastors and priests while leading their congregations in observance of the Lord’s Supper. But unfortunately, we often pay no attention to Paul’s crucial instructions that follow. He declares that “a man ought to examine himself” before taking the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor. 11:28). Personally, I grew up in a church tradition that only observes Communion a few times each year. I have many friends, however, that come from traditions where it is observed at least once per month if not more. Like Katie wrote in Monday’s blog, the details of when and how and how often we do it are not what really matters. Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19b). Paul then quoted Jesus’ words and inserted the phrase “as often as you do this” (1 Corinthians 11:25b). The one thing that stands out to me about my church’s tradition of the Lord’s Supper growing up is that no matter how seldom or often we celebrated it, the pastor always allowed time for the congregants to “examine” themselves first. And it is each individual’s responsibility to do this lest he face God’s judgment, as Paul goes on to say in the rest of 1 Corinthians 11.

The point of this examination is not to make sure we are without sin, as that is impossible. Rather, observing the Lord’s Supper requires that the individual have no non-confessed sin and that he is not stubbornly unrepentant. We must not pretend to be without sin, for our realization of our sins and need for a Savior is the whole point of remembering the Lord’s Supper. But the problem of unrepentant sin is that it destroys the very thing we celebrate at the Lord ’s Table: the unity that can only come through Christ’s physical death. That’s why we call it Communion, meaning “with union”. Unrepentant sin and a failure to examine oneself causes dissension within the body, and Paul is clear that we cannot approach the Lord’s Supper in this manner.

Earlier in 1 Corinthians 11, it is clear that Paul is admonishing the Corinthian church because of the “divisions among them” (v. 18). There was no unity in their observance of the Lord’s Supper. Each one simply did as he pleased, often did not wait for others, and allowed divisions to continue. This selfish attitude turned it into more of a ritual than a unifying act of remembrance that reminded all of their sin and need for a Savior, both collectively and individually. You see, consciously choosing to remember what Christ did for us in unity with others can truly have no other effect than to humble us and cause us to show grace to one another as we are reminded of the grace that was poured out on us. That’s why we must be aware of the sin in our lives before we take Communion, and that’s why we must take it with others, including those in the body with whom we’ve had divisions. Quarrels may arise and last for a short time, but as Christians, our recognition of what Christ did for us should put an end to division and cultivate love and unity within the body.

So, while it is true that many of the details surrounding the act of taking Communion are simply matters of preference, Paul is clear about the ones that are crucial in 1 Corinthians 11. We must be willing to examine ourselves so that we become aware of any sin to which we are still actively giving power in our lives. We must humbly remember the grace given to us so that we might show grace to those in the body that have offended us. And last but not least, I believe, we MUST take it together with others, because the whole point is to unite under Christ’s sacrifice that which is divided by our own sins. As we prepare for all of the traditions, festivities, and worship services of Holy Week leading up to and including Easter, let us truly examine ourselves so that we can experience the unity that only comes through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!