November 5, 2014
FEELING THE LORD'S SUPPER
(PART FOUR)
In the previous bulletin article, I summarized the Apostle Paul’s words in First Corinthians concerning the Lord’s Supper, thusly:
“Since we have been given everything we need in Jesus, we no longer act as the world does in hoarding our resources to the detriment of others. In allowing the poorer Christians to go hungry, certain Corinthians provoked God’s displeasure by displaying their disbelief in Jesus by their selfishness. We fail to discern the body of Christ when we neglect the physical needs of our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ (the Church). Paul reminds the Corinthians, ‘Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing?’” (11:22).
In short, I was attempting to show how frequently First Corinthians chapter eleven is misused and misunderstood in many Lord’s Supper meditations I have heard over the years. Sadly, this section of Scripture has been used like a type of food warning label: Eat at your own risk! In my more cynical moments, I wonder if those advocating such a use of this Corinthians passage are not a little prideful and self-righteous. “Look at me,” they seem to be saying, “for I know how and what we should feel in taking the Lord’s Supper, and I now sit in judgment of you.”
However, are those who advocate a more solemn and sad feeling when coming to the Lord’s Supper entirely unjustified? No, they are not. Here is an old expression that I think can help us: “The right doctrine from the wrong text.” In other words, many times we may be saying something that Scripture rightly supports, but we are referencing the wrong biblical text. Or, in even more complicated cases, we may be saying something right from the text but applying it incorrectly (The wrong application of a right doctrine?).
Let’s see if we can better clarify. Recall that the issue in Corinth is not the practice of the Lord’s Supper per se. The Corinthian issue centers more on the disconnect between what the Lord’s Supper represents (unity in love), and how some Corinthians were treating those who had no food (disunity in prideful distinctions). In part, the Lord’s Supper ought to represent a reversal in the human sin-ordered world of survival of the fittest (Cf., Matt 6:31-34 and Acts 2:41-47). The sin some Corinthians were being disciplined for was the practice of selfishness and neglect (“When you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk” (1 Cor 11:21).
So the Corinthians may have been practicing the Lord’s Supper in a correct ritualistic manner. That is to say, they gathered on the first day of the week, they thought of the body and blood of Jesus, and may have even felt solemn in the partaking! Yet, the selfish neglect of their hungry fellow brothers and sisters in Christ meant the Lord’s Supper became an act of hypocrisy. The Corinthians were proclaiming love of others in the participation in the Lord’s Supper (“This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins”), and their actual lived experience practiced toward others (“One remains hungry, another gets drunk” (Matt 26:28; 1 Cor 11:21).
To be continued . . . . – Terry
Soup and Salad Lunch -- Please come join us this Sunday, November 9, after morning services for a Soup and Salad Lunch. This is being sponsored by the 5th & 6th Graders to raise funds for their overnight field trip on November 14th and 15th. They will be visiting the Archeological Museum at Corban University in Salem and the Bible Manuscripts Library at Northwest Christian University in Eugene. They will be offering a variety of soups and salad. Please be generous with your donations as they need to raise about $400.00 for their trip. Come join us for a good time of fellowship following services this Sunday!
College Boxes -- We are starting to assemble the college boxes for our eight students. We need all items brought to the church by November 23rd. If you are unable to shop for items, we also need cash for mailing fees or to shop for the items. Please contact Denise Beeks for more information.
Prime Timers Thanksgiving Potluck -- All Prime Timers are invited to join us for a Thanksgiving Potluck Lunch in the Fireside Room on November 20th at noon. Our theme is Ephesians 5:20, “Give Thanks Always for All Things In the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.” Each person is asked to prepare and share a “special thanks.” Please bring lots of your favorite dish to share and come join us for a great time of fellowship and fun!
Thanksgiving Dinner will be held at the building on Thursday, November 27, at 2:00 p.m. Contact person is Laura Drew. Everyone is invited to attend.
Calling All Performers ! ! ! -- A Winter Wonderland is the title of our Talent Christmas Program. If you are interested in performing or helping in any way, the sign up sheet is posted on the bulletin board in the courtyard. This year’s program will take place on Saturday, December 20. Contact person is Meagan Delgado.
Audio-Visual Help Needed -- If you would like to learn how to assist in the audio-visual department for our Sunday services, please contact Dan Beeks or Darren Dixon.
Nursery Help Needed -- If you can help in the nursery for 2015, please contact Diane Liles this Sunday. She needs three months of calendar dates filled for 2015. Thank you for all your help.
Coffee Servers are needed for the month of December. Please sign up on the sheet posted in the hallway by the stairs. Thank you for all of your help.
Our Sympathy and Love is with Steve Patterson whose mother, Virginia, passed away on October 29th. Virginia had lived in the Rogue Valley all of her life and was a member of Hope Christian Church. The service for Virginia will held at our building on Saturday, November 8th at 2:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend the service. A cookie fellowship will be served following the service. If you can bring cookies, please contact Mary Ragsdill.
Calendar of Events
November 9: Fund-Raiser Soup & Salad Lunch following morning services
November 27: Thanksgiving Dinner; 2:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room
Refresh & Renewal coming in January. More info to come.
is coming in January. More info to come.
