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Communion Romans 11:23-26 "For I recieved from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night that he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said,"This is my body which is broken for you. Do this in rememberance of me.' In the same manner he took the cup, after supper, saying,'This is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in rememberance of me.' For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." I do not want to debate the theologies of transubstanciation, but the rite of communion itself. Whether the bread and wine consecrated at communion is actual body and blood of Christ, or symbolic of the body and blood of Christ, I have no definate theology and perhaps could be convinced either way. I want to explore the act of communion, what it means and the authority upon which we take part. As Paul states, we are proclaiming the Lord's death; in full belief that he rose from the grave, which is our hope of salvation. Proclamation is the ongoing testamony of all believers. Our Lord asked us to remember him whenever we eat the bread and drink of the cup. Is this rememberance limited to a semi private act of worship within the confines of a church? I think not. Nor do I believe this act to be solely under the administration of the ordained priesthood. For Christ calls us all to be ministers of the Gospel. The sharing of one bread, and drinking of one cup surely is a sign to us that we are united in the community of all believers which is the body of Christ. 'Whenever you eat or drink this' could as easily mean at every meal which is shared in 'community'. Including our every day meals at home with family and friends. Our unity is in Christ, by Christ, and of Christ. What special grace is given in the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine other than the bond of love and hope that unites all believers in Christ? The practice of limiting the administration of the sacrements in order to maintain the 'integrity' of the ritual, seems not to hold much validity when one considers that Christ himself gave the 'sacrements' to the one who was about to betray him. Even Paul, does not give clear guidelines to as to the whos, and wheres of partaking in Holy Communion; but he does give a stern warning on the how or manner in which communion is to be partaken. I have set out some of my thoughts on communion, what are yours? |
