Why do some churches not serve Holy Communion regularly? Thread on the Lutherans.com Forums

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1.4 yrs ago

This is a sensitive issue, though.

Because there's a Scriptural truth that states if a person communes in an unworthy manner, they are bringing spiritual death to themselves.

The flipside of grace is judgment. I don't think we should be so ready to dismiss that.

Feb 16, 2012 - 12:12 pm

PastorT

PastorT:

Joined:

1.4 yrs ago

Yes, it is good to remember 1 Corinthians 11: ²⁷ So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. ²⁹ For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.

But it is also good to remember what the body is that Paul is referring to in 1 Corinthians 11:¹⁷ In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. ¹⁸In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. ¹⁹ No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 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!

With which Paul follows up with a discussion on spiritual gifts and unity and diversity in the body in Chapter 12 followed by the love song in 13 which reminds us that if we don't have love we are just an obnoxious noise maker. So the way I look at the issue of who is invited to communion is, if you eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ gathered, if anyone is excluded in any way for any reason, you are eating and drinking damnation unto yourselves and making just a lot of noise.

This is why I invite all (and by that I mean ALL) to the table and this is why we make our own communion wine without sulfides as well as non-alcoholic grape juice, and why we make our own communion bread without preservatives as well as offering gluten free wafers for those with other allergy issues.

in my humble opinion

Feb 16, 2012 - 01:51 pm

PD:

Joined:

1.4 yrs ago

When quoting that Scripture, we must be careful to quote it properly.

Claiming we must discern the body "of Christ" is a translator's insertion that relies upon his/her presuppositions. The Greek merely states we must discern "the body."

But even beyond that, the immediate context supports the notion that Paul is speaking of the sacramental presence of Christ and not merely of the gathered body of believers. vss 23-26 make is quite clear that when he says "cup" and "bread" he is referring to Christ's sacramental presence in the meal, and therefore when he says "body," he is referring primarily to the proper reception of the Sacrament.

Feb 16, 2012 - 03:02 pm

PastorT

PastorT: