TweetIn a recent blog, I wrote about the importance of Christ in us as the key to Christian living. In light of that, we considered how, in the early church, the faithful were devoted to the breaking of bread. In communion, believers felt the real presence of Jesus with and in them while celebrating his life, death, and resurrection.
We learn in Acts that communion was generally celebrated in homes where participants would share a common meal referred to as “love feasts.” Paul wrote to the Corinthians (1 Cor 11: 17-34) to teach them how to properly celebrate a love feast and communion.
First, communion is a celebration of the unity of God’s family intended to benefit our spiritual journey. A proper celebration of communion yields the benefit of a loving family atmosphere. The problem at Corinth was between rich and poor members of God’s family: At these communal meals, the rich were apparently eating their own little feasts while the poor were basically left with table scraps. That didn’t reflect God’s heart as it was causing disunity among the people, which quenched the Spirit. Every time we come to the Lord’s table we must remember that we are all one family and it is a time to get right with God and others. Our natural response to getting hurt is to pick up a shield of self-protection – anger, withdrawal, silence, etc. The problem with a shield is that it is indiscriminate. Not only does it keep out the person who is hurting us, but it also shields out God. We need to lay down our shield with each other and forgive each other so that we can let God’s love penetrate and heal our hearts. Communion is a time to remember that God never shields his heart from us. Communion is a time to celebrate the Spirit’s love for those around us. Communion is a time to get back in line with God by drinking in and passing on his love. We are all equal before the cross. Everyone counts. Everyone matters to God.
In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul goes on to instruct that when we are devoted to the Lord’s Supper, we remember what Jesus has done for us and we allow his sacrifice to move our hearts again. We celebrate His death until He comes. When we look upon the cross and are not moved, we are in trouble spiritually as our hearts have grown hard and cold. The danger of any repeated ceremony like communion is that familiarity can breed indifference — the impact is gone. It becomes so rote that we celebrate without really focusing on its meaning or significance; it no longer stirs our heart affections. We need to keep the death and resurrection of Jesus fresh in our lives. Here are some practices that have helped me to keep my remembrance of Jesus fresh: I listen to worship music daily that softens my heart with the amazing act of God’s love on the cross. I also read spiritual books that draw me to Jesus. I seek out spiritual masters who write books that connect my heart to God and help me encounter Jesus. Art has also brought me at times to remember Jesus’ death. There are many renditions of his crucifixion that help me practice a form of visual meditation. Meditation on Scripture often takes me deeper into experiencing the reality of Jesus’ love for me. Finally, gratefully experiencing forgiveness is absolutely vital in keeping the death of Jesus fresh for me. Being honest about my sin makes me continually live in need of God’s grace. Take inventory; allow the Holy Spirit to examine your heart, be ruthlessly honest with God and others about your shortcomings, and then gratefully receive Christ’s forgiving love for you. This will often serve to awaken your heart.
Finally, Paul tells us that when we are devoted to the Lord’s Supper it is a time of examination and cleansing. We celebrate forgiveness. Jesus came and died for us because we are sinners in need of redemption. Paul warns us not to participate in communion in an unworthy manner. People who take part in communion while living in open rebellion against God are essentially mocking him. God died for you and that is not to be taken lightly. God found you so precious, he was willing to sacrifice His Son’s blood for you. To treat that sacrifice with contempt is a great cosmic offense. So, in preparation for communion, we should pray like David prayed in Psalm 139, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” If you are walking with the Spirit, your confessions should be current. If you step out of step with the Spirit, he convicts you. If you respond to that conviction, you confess it and you will be forgiven.
Our cell groups are the perfect atmosphere to recapture the love feasts of the early church. Let’s gather in our homes and celebrate that God has adopted us into His family; let’s celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection, and let’s celebrate the forgiveness we have in Christ.
