i have been away for a while. i feel bad. i have not stopped thinking and reading about things, but for some reason i haven't been writing them down on the internet. anyway, lately i have been trying to better understand the instructions behind communion. in certain circles, it might be better known as "the lord's supper," "the breaking of bread," the "eucharist," "divine liturgy," or "mass," among other titles. i have been reading passages in matthew (chpt 26), 1 corinthians (chpts 10-11), and jude (v. 12) all to find answers to a question or two. naturally, i have discovered more questions than answers along the way. i will list them below.
1. what scripture do we have that tells us communion is an identification or association with other believers? i believe 1 cor 10:17-18 might give a possible answer to that: "for we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. observe israel after the flesh: are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?" are there any other scripture references that are more concrete in this assertion?
2. but if those verses do, in fact, support the notion that we are identifying with other people , should christians place more emphasis on identifying with other believers than they would on remembering christ? in other words, should we withdraw from any particular instance of remembering our savior if we don't have full confidence in someone within the same four walls?
3. what about people remembering the lord outside of our particular church? people across town? people in another denomination? people in a different time zone that may have already taken communion before us?!
4. what is the responsibility of a group of believers (connected at any level: locally-to-world-wide) to make sure that all those who are identifying with the group through the simple practice of communion (again, locally-to-world-wide) are not also partaking of the "table of demons" (1 cor 10:21)?
5. if we should be vigilant against those with whom we should not be associated in communion, where do we draw the line? 1 corinthians 10 mentions idolatry and fellowship with demons -- how do we interpret those things? in some churches i know that billy graham and francis schaeffer would be prohibited from taking communion for some reason(s) i do not know. is this smart or is this just stupid?
6. ultimately, is it enough that i take communion because i am a christian who remembers what jesus has done for me? or do i have to worry about associating with the guy next to me?
i'd like more scripture references that may give credence to any of the views mentioned in here, so if you have any please note them in your comment.
abuch out.
