Mike S
Member
- Mar 10, 2011
- 10,313
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In another thread, one of us posted this comment:
"After I turned 40 years old, my sister invited me to attend her church and she asked the local priest if he would let me bring up the "elements" for their communion. He agreed and I accepted the honor. I didn't eat with them - we have very basic differences and although I do still believe that there is One Church and One Body, I excluded myself from partaking from them out of my respect for their closely held belief in transubstantiation. But does that mean that I could not worship God in spirit and truth along side of and with my brothers and sisters in that assembly? No. In fact, even though we had and have very real differences in our beliefs, it seemed to me then as it seems to me today that God is a God of hearts."
This made me think of how we view Holy Communion in our churches. In my church we have open communion, meaning anyone who wishes to accept this relationship with Christ is welcome, no requirement to be a member of our church. We believe communion is Christ's act, not ours, and we dare not get between Christ and anyone who wishes to come to him with a sincere heart.
Throughout my Christian life our communion has always been served with reverence and awe, a quiet reflective experience. In fact, our most relevant communion hymn is "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." This is communion in the spirit of the last supper in the upper room.
There is another spirit in which communion can be taken, the spirit of the breaking of bread in Emmaus. This is where Christ, after a long walk with disciples explaining the messianic prophecies, breaks bread with them and they suddenly recognize Him as Christ. They're filled with joy and enthusiasm, and rush back to Jerusalem to spread the good news that Christ lives.
Celebrating communion in the spirit of Emmaus is not silent and solemn, it's a joyful and enthusiastic sharing in Christ's love. It's filled with the absolutely wonderful experience of knowing we're one with Christ, that we live in Him and He lives in us.
"After I turned 40 years old, my sister invited me to attend her church and she asked the local priest if he would let me bring up the "elements" for their communion. He agreed and I accepted the honor. I didn't eat with them - we have very basic differences and although I do still believe that there is One Church and One Body, I excluded myself from partaking from them out of my respect for their closely held belief in transubstantiation. But does that mean that I could not worship God in spirit and truth along side of and with my brothers and sisters in that assembly? No. In fact, even though we had and have very real differences in our beliefs, it seemed to me then as it seems to me today that God is a God of hearts."
This made me think of how we view Holy Communion in our churches. In my church we have open communion, meaning anyone who wishes to accept this relationship with Christ is welcome, no requirement to be a member of our church. We believe communion is Christ's act, not ours, and we dare not get between Christ and anyone who wishes to come to him with a sincere heart.
Throughout my Christian life our communion has always been served with reverence and awe, a quiet reflective experience. In fact, our most relevant communion hymn is "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." This is communion in the spirit of the last supper in the upper room.
There is another spirit in which communion can be taken, the spirit of the breaking of bread in Emmaus. This is where Christ, after a long walk with disciples explaining the messianic prophecies, breaks bread with them and they suddenly recognize Him as Christ. They're filled with joy and enthusiasm, and rush back to Jerusalem to spread the good news that Christ lives.
Celebrating communion in the spirit of Emmaus is not silent and solemn, it's a joyful and enthusiastic sharing in Christ's love. It's filled with the absolutely wonderful experience of knowing we're one with Christ, that we live in Him and He lives in us.
