kingdomseekers

1 Corinthians 11:27-28

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.

For many Christians, this is a passage they would prefer not to be reminded of. Not because they want to avoid pleasing God but because it reminds them of those times they waited outside the Principal’s office awaiting impending doom-or not. The thought, “Am I guilty and about to be punished or am I not guilty?” runs through their mind. “Am I, at this moment, pleasing to God or am I a little unworthy?”

I believe the problem stems from a few misunderstandings:

1. Even though we know we have been graciously redeemed by a merciful God, we know that we let Him down-we sin. At those moments, it is only reasonable to assume we have displeased Him. Of course we repent at the earliest possible opportunity thus assuaging our consciences. But, what about those sins that creep up on us? Those “little” ones that add up until a general prayer of contrition is offered. Is there a tipping point at which we are out of favour with God and thus unworthy? The answer to this is to be reminded again, as we all need from time to time, that Christ’s sacrifice was once for all. Do we sin? Yes, of course. But, we are still covered.

We are also reminded that we were once “unworthy” hence the necessity of His grace. We were unworthy, as Paul says, “whilst we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” We were unworthy, we had nothing to offer Him, we could not contribute to our salvation…yet He loved us. Note the past tense of all the verbs in that last sentence. We “were”. But now, worthy isn’t even a question. It’s not like scripture allows for the notion that we are “now” worthy. No, “worthiness” is now irrelevant. We stand with Christ, covered with His righteousness, because of His worthiness.

This “unworthiness” has nothing to do with our standing before the Father.

2. Then there is the misunderstanding of the context of passage in question. Paul is talking to a Church in crisis, this is just one of many of their issues. Read verses 20-22. What is happening? When they eat, they are not focused on Christ but on themselves. Instead of waiting for one another they gorge themselves and leave nothing for those that might be late to the table. (Remembering that this Love Feast shares nothing in form with what we participate in today.) At that time there were many slaves in the church whose time was not their own. It was not their fault, unlike many of us today, if they were late for church.

Paul then shifts his attention to the real purpose of Communion as seen in verses 23-26. It’s about Christ, “do this in remembrance.”

After Paul’s solemn discourse he turns his attention to the matter at hand in verse 27. Don’t do this in an unworthy manner. So, we know the unworthiness (from the context), has something to do with our attitude, the way we view our brothers and sisters. It is about not considering their needs.

Verse 28 says we should examine ourselves before we eat. And verse 29 makes the subject matter clear, “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” If we eat and drink without being concerned for the body of Christ we eat and drink judgement on ourselves.

This is not about having let God down. It’s about having let the Church down. Unworthiness is not about disappointing God (although it does); it’s about thinking this journey is solo, that the body of Christ doesn’t matter to me, that I can enjoy all the goodness of God without paying attention to my brother.

One eats alone, I’m talking about at home, when we have no friends. One eats alone in Communion when we don’t consider the brothers in our midst. Communion is not just about our relationship with Christ. It is so wrapped up in our relationship with others.

So, what about today? We don’t participate in the same Love Feast. The miserly amount of bread and grape juice are handed out to everyone at the same time so we don’t even have the opportunity to gorge ourselves before everyone has sat down at the table. Is it possible that we eat in an unworthy manner if we hold a grudge, if we cognitively sit on the opposite side of the Church from someone, if we’ve been hurt but haven’t tried to settle the matter?

I suppose the application of Paul’s warning might vary from person to person but the meaning remains the same: I am unworthy if I think my brother is less worthy.

Here’s the whole passage:

17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 

18 In 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!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

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.

30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment.

32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together.

A while back, a friend tried to strongly encourage me to look into something I had already deemed unhealthy for my relationship (as did my husband). She relished in trying to explain a sexual act that degrades all parties involved. Now, she is in no means a bad person, but I recognised an all too familiar expression and attitude coming in my direction.

I can recognise when someone thinks I am too naïve or close-minded. I can recognise when someone tries to drag me down to his or her personal level of understanding. I feel no need to walk backwards. God has brought me this far (really far). I only want to walk forwards in His understanding, not in the world’s crooked view.

Ok. I don’t know many things, but I DO know that sexual impurity will rot the soul. And I can think of no more effective way to completely shatter one’s soul than to engage in an activity that has absolutely no merit outside of the boundaries of marriage.

This conversation with my friend led to the issue of consent (during sex). The argument of consent always pops up in the secular world (and so it should in the right circumstances). It’s been this way for ages. But people fail to remember that even though people may consent, sometimes they make choices that are to their detriment. Sometimes people are downright masochists. They make choices based on instant gratification, and then encourage others to do the same. This leads down a tricky road that many have stumbled through. And sure, when we stumble we can always get up again through the grace of God. But that’s another issue.

We need to better identify when I’m in spiritual warfare so I do not respond in anger. The devil doesn’t care if what I say is technically correct. He only cares that I’ve lashed out and hurt someone. When I can specifically identify when Satan is at play, I am instantly less angry as I know I’m not actually fighting flesh. The person standing in front of me is not my true enemy. I just need to stand firm in the battle with my suit of armour on, being sure not to escalate situations.

I am not saying doing other things while listening to worship music is inherently bad. And I do live a prayer-filled life. I do read my Bible. I do freely worship Him. But I am often selfish with my “free time”. Tonight, I just wanted to relax. Out of guilt (what an excellent emotion..) I put on worship music after I started playing games. After all, it can be nice to listen to. And I hadn’t worshipped God at all today (in a specific, focused manner). So I thought, “I’d better play some music now, and I’ll pray later”. Can you tell I was in a spirit-filled mood…?

But, oh. I am glad I turned the music on. His love overwhelmed me. He is here, even when we feel we don’t need Him. He is Lord in good times and in the storms. He wants me…even when I don’t feel like giving Him the time of day. He is desperate for constant relationship. The God I serve gives me His best every time. Do I give Him my best? Not always.

We shouldn’t feel guilt over not spending every second in silent reverence for our Father. This wasn’t a piece to reflect that. It’s more about how His love can invade our mundane routines. How He can bless the small moments. How He loves us and is waiting in excitement for His next conversation with us. How He is the perfect Father.