PTM WEEKLY UPDATE -- OCTOBER 6, 2008

Communion -- Should the bread come first, then the cup -- or is that a legalistic concern?

Q. I don't know if I'm being legalistic or just petty, but there's one thing that my pastor and his wife do that makes me feel uncomfortable. Invariably they speak of our Lord taking the cup, and then afterwards taking the bread. As far as I know, that's opposite of what's in the Bible. Jesus took the bread and broke it and said "This is My body . . . " He then took the cup of wine or juice representing his shed blood.

What's your take on this? Do you think I have a legitimate gripe or should I just shrug it off?

A. Like you, I favor the order of the two elements being the bread,
then the cup. However, you bring up the potential of becoming legalistic -- and I believe it is a valid consideration. Communion is the most basic act of worship celebrated and observed by the body of Christ -- but it has many interpretations. These questions of interpretation have to do with the nature of the ceremony itself:

1) Is it a sacrament -- usually defined as a physical rite or ritual that in some way conveys, confers or communicates God's grace? I absolutely resist such a definition -- God's grace is given by him, not by a rite or ritual.

2) Are the elements symbolic (as most Protestants believe) or are they the real presence of Jesus (as Catholics and traditional Lutherans believe)?

3) What kind of bread -- what kind of fruit of the vine? Who dispenses the elements -- the priest or pastor, or may congregants "serve" themselves as they come forward, or as the elements are passed among them?

4) Bread AND the fruit of the vine -- or just bread? While the Synoptic gospels speak of the bread and the cup, the Gospel of John simply says Jesus and his disciples had a meal, and the early church, in the book of Acts, often spoke of "breaking of bread" as their celebration of the Last Supper/Communion/Eucharist.

Some denominational questions of interpretation include:

1) How often? Some believe that more than once a year trivializes Communion -- others believe it is so fundametally vital it should be taken daily, or at the very least, weekly.

2) The bread and wine. Some insist that it must be unleavened -- going back to the Jewish celebration of Passover. Others believe that the consumption of any alcohol, ever, is wrong -- so only juice may be used.

This is but a short list of the many "religious" barnacles that have attached themselves to the ship of Christianity, when it comes to celebrating or observing Communion/Lord's Supper/Eucharist. While we are free to choose a tradition we feel is best, we are not free to castigate and condemn those who differ with our traditions. How sad and pathetic that the very observance of the greatest act of love has fallen into across the board condemnation within Christendom -- as those who choose one tradition or practice often castigate those who do not follow the the beat of their religious drums.

Some Christians completely avoid the whole "mess" by saying that it's all symbolic, and the physical side only leads to condemnation -- so they take the view that there is no set liturgy for proclaiming and celebrating Christ until he comes.

The primary meanings of Communion are 1) a symbol of Jesus' atoning work on the cross, for us; -- thus a memorial meal 2) The beginning of the new covenant, in the blood of Christ, 3) The ultimate act of forgiveness of sin, 4) the substitution of our sin bearer, the body and blood of Christ, as he said, "for you." 5) The deliverance and freedom from slavery -- physically and spiritually -- which hearkens back to the Jewish practice of the Passover meal -- themes which continue, though not required or religiously absolute, in the Christian practice (a Christian exodus if you like) 6) Communion with God -- true fellowship -- which was celebrated in the early church as the love (agape) feast.

So the order of the bread and the cup? Immaterial in my mind -- not essential. There are bigger issues here, when seen from a Christ-like view. No one physical, religious tradition can capture all that there is to comprehend and experience when we commune with God. Perhaps that's one of the real lessons. Whatever practice we favor, it is flawed and imperfect -- unable, obviously, to transmit and signify the true depth of what God gives.

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