The Communion Controversy

As I said in a previous blog, the Lord left the church two ordinances, rites or sacraments. They are baptism and the Lords Supper or Communion. We already looked at the controversy surrounding Baptism and so now lets look at the second.

I am not going to discuss the "what Communion is" issue, whether the literal flesh and blood or Spiritually the flesh and blood or just emblems as a remembrance. That is a different discussion. What I would like to talk about is how the Lords Table is treated today and its frequency of observance.

In a recent forum discussion where Pastors from different assemblies discuss (debate) different topics, we were talking about the Lords Table and its placement in the assembly. I almost fell over when one Pastor said, "you still have one of those?" To which he explained that his church had removed the actual table as it had become "an idol" for too many in that assembly. An Idol? I had to wonder if the cross would be the next thing removed, or the pulpit?

Many recently have relocated the Table to the rear of the assembly hall or meeting place. Some of these same churches do not have a communion time but tell people they can partake on their way out. I can imagine inviting some friends or relative over to dinner and telling them the food was in the garage on their way out. Is that what they were invited for?

I think we have lost our sense of what the Lords supper originated as and what it was meant to convey. It was instituted during a Passover Seder, instituted as a remembrance of Gods great deliverance of Israel from the bondage of Egypt. Jesus took this very Seder to institute another remembrance different in some ways but very similar in others. Both were memorials and had a specific purpose.
Luke 22:19 (NASB)
19 And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
The word remembrance there is anamimnēskō and does not only mean to bring to ones mind intellectually but to actually relive or participate again in something. This is why Israel was told at the Seder to read the Exodus story along with the 10 plagues. They were to go back in their minds for the purpose of never forgetting what was done for them. the idea is made clearer in Paul’s words to Timothy 2 Timothy 1:6 (NASB)
6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Timothy was not only to be reminded but to kindle afresh the gift. It was more then merely remembering but to make it real again.
Paul’s account or record of that evening uses the same word for remembrance but adds some other information we need to look at.
1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (NASB)
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

First this information was given to him by the Lord and is now passed on to the church in Corinth. For both the bread and cup he says in remembrance. But there is more. like Luke Paul uses the words "which will be broken" of the bread. It is in the future tense. Something not done that evening at the table but at a point we now know was on a cross. He also uses the word "often" twice. Once concerning the cup and the second time concerning both emblems. So what does often mean?

Many today have reduced the amount of times they participate in the remembrance. Some once a month, others once a year at Easter. The word for often there is hosakis and means often. No hidden meaning or difficult to understand. But it is only used three times in the NT. Twice here and once in Revelation 11:6 (NASB)
6 These have the power to shut up the sky, so that rain will not fall during the days of their prophesying; and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to strike the earth with every plague, as often as they desire.
This really seems like little help in this matter since it seems that often in Revelation depends on desire or decision rather then a strict sense of doing it as often as possible. But how did the early church understand the Lords Supper and its participation?

Acts 2:40-47 (NASB)
40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!"
41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.
42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
44 And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common;
45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need.
46 Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

Right after the great sermon of Peter’s on Pentecost we are told that those who received (believed) his word were baptized and at that point were added to the churches number. They then communed or fellowshipped together in specific ways. Devoting themselves to the apostles teachings, fellowship, prayer, sharing what they had with one another and doing this from house to house "daily" and with gladness and sincerity of heart. As a result the Lord was adding to their number daily those who were being saved. But I purposely left some things out (I hope you caught them). They were breaking bread from house (v 46) to house taking their meals with one another. This is a common meal shared among brethren. However in verse 42, we are told they were devoting themselves to "the" breaking of the bread. The definite article there distinguishes this breaking of "the" bread and breaking bread taking their meals together. The earliest church did both and they did it daily. That is how they understood the word often.

Not long afterwards the Lords Supper was taken only on the first day of the week when the church met to give its offerings but not until recently do we see any less then that. When the church assembled it met to offer praise and worship, hear Gods word, pray and share in the fellowship meal the Lord had left them. It was a sharing of something common they all shared. What does it say when we move the table to some outside vestibule and focus our attention on the preacher or the sermon? It says that the Lords Supper is some how of lesser importance then the man standing at the podium. What does it say when we only partake in remembrance once a month or once a year? As humans we are prone to forget and the Lord knew that. This is why he has always given His people visuals to bring their minds back to what is important.
Perhaps even more important are Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 11 as to why often is a better way to partake then seldom
1 Corinthians 11:26 (NASB)
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

This message can never be done to often. It is our proclamation of what price was paid for our redemption and reconciliation and we are not ashamed to let everyone know it.
I have heard the notion that if done too often it becomes "common". I find it interesting that this is never said of prayer, which is commanded to be done continually. Does prayer, communicating with our Lord, ever become common? I am not aware of any preacher who tells the assembly not to give their offering every week so it wont become common. Do you?

John