Question About Holy Communion

[Papa Zoom]

I grew up in the Church of Christ. We took Communion every week (as often as ye gather....) Now I've been going to the Baptist church for many years now and we take it once a month. We took it Friday night. Appropriately so.

If I were to attend a Church and they had "rules" to follow regarding communion, I'd be fine with whatever as long as it wasn't some far out idea. If I didn't like the "rules" I'd go elsewhere. But in my view, these things are an attitude of the heart. So when Communion happens, this is between me and the Lord as I remember Him and His death (and all that it means). I partake with fellow believers but each of us is, in a personal way, communicating our own remembrance of the Savior on that day.

 

[Willie T]

As long as we understand that there is a hierarchy in the church, that there always has been, and the pastor is the head of the of the church. So they do have a special position because they have a special responsibility, as do all who are elders, and the deacons under them.

What I mean is that we give them preferential adoration in many instances. The simple belief that an "official" preacher is required (and only that "ordained" person) to "administer" The Lord's Supper is one example. Some people also actually think the preacher has to do the praying for them, or "it ain't legal." And the list can really get kind of long.

 

[Willie T]

I grew up in the Church of Christ. We took Communion every week (as often as ye gather....) Now I've been going to the Baptist church for many years now and we take it once a month. We took it Friday night. Appropriately so.

If I were to attend a Church and they had "rules" to follow regarding communion, I'd be fine with whatever as long as it wasn't some far out idea. If I didn't like the "rules" I'd go elsewhere. But in my view, these things are an attitude of the heart. So when Communion happens, this is between me and the Lord as I remember Him and His death (and all that it means). I partake with fellow believers but each of us is, in a personal way, communicating our own remembrance of the Savior on that day.

I used to limit my view of Communion to that too.

 

[Willie T]

My wife was also born into the CoC, and I spent 12 years there. We both find it "uncomfortavle" to attend a church that does not have weekly Communion.

 

[stovebolts]

As long as we understand that there is a hierarchy in the church, that there always has been, and the pastor is the head of the of the church. So they do have a special position because they have a special responsibility, as do all who are elders, and the deacons under them.

That's an interesting take.
How do you get the Pastor as the head?

The churches of Christ put Jesus as the Head, then Elders.
Elders oversee both the congregation and those they have designated for specific church roles. (Deacons).

A Pastor doesn't have to be an Elder.

 

[stovebolts]

I used to limit my view of Communion to that too.

John Mark Hicks has a great theology on it.

 

[Willie T]

John Mark Hicks has a great theology on it.

"Come to The Table?"

 

[ezra]

Gee if only there were a process for this kind of thing...

there is its is GOD CALLING GOD QUALIFYING the church denoms makes so many rules up they choke the life out of the Holy Spirit . any person living the life of Christ can protect the Communion table. all though i never recall a passage that says to protect it

 

[Free]

That's an interesting take.
How do you get the Pastor as the head?

The churches of Christ put Jesus as the Head, then Elders.
Elders oversee both the congregation and those they have designated for specific church roles. (Deacons).

A Pastor doesn't have to be an Elder.

You need to read a little closer what I wrote. That Jesus is the head of the Church goes without saying. Pastors are the heads of their local churches, the ones that God himself has called them to pastor, or should have called them to pastor.

Pastors are elders. They are elders that teach.

1Ti 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. (ESV)

 

[for_his_glory]

So many get so politically correct about communion with rules and regulations they lose sight that it's a memorial unto Christ and one had better be worthy to partake of it.

1 Corinthians 11: 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

 

[ezra]

So many get so politically correct about communion with rules and regulations they lose sight that it's a memorial unto Christ and one had better be worthy to partake of it.

1 Corinthians 11: 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

 

[Free]

So many get so politically correct about communion with rules and regulations they lose sight that it's a memorial unto Christ and one had better be worthy to partake of it.

1 Corinthians 11: 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

That one be worthy is a rule, a regulation. Hence why some churches take very seriously who approaches the table, because it is a serious matter.

 

[reba]

Years back i would get to the pulpit before my brothers to get the juice that had not been drank ..

 

[Knotical]

there is its is GOD CALLING GOD QUALIFYING the church denoms makes so many rules up they choke the life out of the Holy Spirit . any person living the life of Christ can protect the Communion table. all though i never recall a passage that says to protect it

Take a closer look at the passage from 1 Corinthians that was recently referenced.

 

[stovebolts]

"Come to The Table?"

Yes! I take it you've read it? I learned so much from his book.

 

[for_his_glory]

That one be worthy is a rule, a regulation. Hence why some churches take very seriously who approaches the table, because it is a serious matter.

It's life or damnation, how serious that is and many are not even taught this as it has become more of a tradition without much thought of the importance of this memorial to Christ death until He returns.

 

[Willie T]

Yes! I take it you've read it? I learned so much from his book.

I enjoyed it. I have come to see a lot more about Communion, but he says some good stuff.

 

[Willie T]

Many of you wouldn't be able to follow my feelings about Communion, let alone UNDERSTAND them, and it would take more of something along the lies of a book than just a forum post to do the subject justice. So I won't even upset you any more than just saying that I see far more than just remembering a killing and being grateful for having eternal life.

 

[ezra]

Take a closer look at the passage from 1 Corinthians that was recently referenced.

Institution of the Lord’s Supper
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat;[b] this is My body which is broken[c] for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Examine Yourself
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood[d] of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner[e]eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s[f] body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

33 Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34 But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. we examine ourselves
when i minister Communion. i tell about the seriousness of it the sacredness of it and pray we take it in the right spirit.. personally i dont agree with it every sunday i feel it becomes a ritual ..that is ME for years i was raised in the U.M.C i took Communion i was lost as lost could be . then one day the man my aunt married came and talked to me told me the seriousness of it.. i used it as a opportunity as a young man to quit Church....since then he has come to me and apologized twice after being called to preach... he was in the right i was in the wrong...............Darkness

 

[ezra]

Many of you wouldn't be able to follow my feelings about Communion, let alone UNDERSTAND them, and it would take more of something along the lies of a book than just a forum post to do the subject justice. So I won't even upset you any more than just saying that I see far more than just remembering a killing and being grateful for having eternal life.

i am willing to listen with a open mind.. i may not agree but i do not judge...