Many years ago, we were also warned that if we ate the blood and body of Christ in an "unworthy manner" we would probably get sick, "because of unconfessed sin," we were told.
That's in 1 Cor. 11:30 "29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing* the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself." The KJV reads " For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning* the Lord's body." "30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep."
* "Recognizing" the body, "discerning" the body, same Greek word - "to judge thoroughly." The same word is used in Matt. 16:3 If you read that passage, pondering how much time people spent outdoors in those days and pondering how well they needed to be able to predict the weather, it almost suggests being able to see the obvious.
"31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment." (NIV) The KJV reads "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." Clear, simple, let's hear if for the KJV! LOL! A good thing for kids to learn? (consequences, forgiveness, and mercy) 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world." An interesting take on discipline. Discipline that will save us from something worse.
There's surely more to ponder but revisiting these passages shuffles around some puzzle pieces as I ponder what it means for us to partake of the Lord's table and invite our children to join us there? Examine yourself. Judge yourself so God doesn't have to. Do you have confidence before God? Do you have confidence before God to do what He's asking you to do? Are you paying attention to potential warning signs in the Body of Christ? And somewhere at the heart of it all, remember Jesus. Eat and drink the life of Christ.
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Over time, a variety of interpretations concerning the nature of the symbols of communion have been identified, including:
ReplyDelete· Transubstantiation – this is the idea that the substance of the bread and wine is changed into the Body and Blood of Christ (there is a ‘real presence’). However, the accidents (including chemical properties) of the bread and wine remain. The Roman Catholic Church and many Anglicans, especially Anglo-Catholic Anglicans, hold this view.
· Consubstantiation - this is the idea that the body and blood of Jesus Christ are substantially present within the substance of the bread and wine, which remain. Some Anglicans hold this view.
· "In, with and under" – this is the view that the body and blood of Jesus Christ are substantially present in, with and under the substance of the bread and wine, which remain. This is the view held by most Lutherans.
· Objective reality – this is the view that the sacrament is not merely bread and wine but truly the body and blood of Christ, yet there should be a pious silence about technicalities; a perspective shared by all of the ancient Churches of the East, including the Eastern Orthodox "the Eucharist is neither a symbol to be 'contemplated' from outside nor an 'essence' distinct from humanity, but Jesus Himself, the risen Lord, 'made known through the breaking of bread'.
· Real Spiritual presence, or mystical presence – this is the view that not only the spirit, but also the true body and blood of Jesus Christ (hence "real") are received, but only by those partakers who have faith ("receptionism"). It is a view held by Reformed Christians, such as Presbyterians, as well as Methodists.
· Symbolism or "memorialism" / Zwinglianism – this is the view that the bread and wine are symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus Christ; in partaking the believer commemorates the sacrificial death of Christ. This view is held by several Protestant denominations, including most Baptists.
In all these the main objections to children in communion are that the table of the Lord is defiled by the admission of "undiscerning" children and infants. 1Corinthians suggests that self-examination is necessary before communing, and also recognising the ‘meaning’ of the sacrament.The Roman Catholics particularly require that children discern the Eucharist from ordinary bread, believe in the Real Presence, and realize in some measure the dignity and excellence of the Sacrament. The main objections to children in communion are that the table of the Lord is defiled by the admission of "undiscerning" children and infants. 1Corinthians suggests that self-examination is necessary before communing, and also recognising the ‘meaning’ of the sacrament “So then, you should each examine yourself first, and then eat the bread and drink from the cup. For if you do not recognize the meaning of the Lord's body when you eat the bread and drink from the cup, you bring judgment on yourself as you eat and drink” (1Corinthians 11:28 –29). The Roman Catholics particularly require that children discern the Eucharist from ordinary bread, believe in the Real Presence, and realize in some measure the dignity and excellence of the Sacrament. Many Protestants would also admit that these verses are compelling reasons to bar children from communion. Admitting children to communion who do not have this ability to discern would – apparently - bring judgement upon them. No parent would want extra wrath of God upon his or her offspring! BUT.... wait and see....
Jeffrey Meyers (1996) points out Paul’s’ use of “examine yourself” in verse 28 is not talking about checking to see if you are a worthy person before communion; rather, he is talking about how you partake of the Supper.Meyers continues that in 1Corinthians 11:28 the verb “dokimazo” is “to prove”. Thus the verse is best translated as "Let a man prove himself before he eats . . . ." In this context (1 Corinthians 10-12) the ‘proof’ refers to the Christian's behaviour with respect to the unity of the body of Christ. The Corinthian church was eating and drinking in an unworthy manner, that is, in a way that did not evidence the unity of the body of Christ. Therefore, "let a man prove himself" refers to his manner of participation at the Table, or more broadly, to his relationship with the local body of Christ.
Meyers also examines 1 Corinthians 11:29, which apparently suggests that a person must be able to “recognise the meaning”.By saying only "body" Paul clearly is referring to the body of the church. He finds that to “discern the body" cannot possibly be understood as a either i) a failure to discern the location or mode of the flesh of Christ in the sacrament, or ii) a failure to reflect adequately on his death during the meal. The entire passage is about the manner in which the church at Corinth eats the Lord's Supper – they partake as a divided church. It's all about manifesting the unity of the church at the Lord's family Table.
Meyers concludes by asking who are those guilty of not "discerning the Lord's body"? Are they the little baptized children of the church who have not yet attained intellectual maturity; or are they those who divide the ecclesiastical body of Christ at the Table. Quite clearly after this analysis, those who violate Biblical principles are those who prevent the little ones coming to the communion.
Copyright Susan George
www.churchbaby.info
What a wealth of information!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
And "welcome", by the way!
ReplyDeleteJeffrey Meyers. Do you have book titles for us?
Thanks!