Taking communion in an unworthy manner? : Christian - Reddit I believe God feels the same toward us. Paul's instructions about taking communion begin in 1 Cor. God will not give us more than HE can handle., "Truth without grace only kills, grace without truth goes unnoticed, unappreciated, and therefore unaccepted. If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. Both are symbolic and both declare the success of Jesus Christ on our behalf. Fortunately for us our salvation has nothing to do with our performance but has everything to do with Christ's performance and communion is proclaiming that very thing! Charles Colson wrote an article in Christianity Today back in 1993 regarding a prison now named Humaita in Brazil whose government, 20 years prior, turned over that prison over to two Christians who's plan was to run that prison on Christian principles. 6:23) and this is what we are here to celebrate! Our new associate pastor earlier this month said it's unlikely he's not sinned each day even before breakfast. That is exactly what I'm saying. I'm actually saying that part of my existence, my being, finds it's life in traveling. Why can I be confident in this? Am I Holy Enough to Take Communion? | Desiring God Yet without missing a beat, he related with me, shared some of his own previous relatable shortcomings, was encouraged how I was handling it, and overall he was unfazed. Love bears all things (1 Cor. 53:5) and Amazingly He is not only willing to take on the responsibility, He wants to because of His great love (Eph. In baptism there is no such concurrent duty enjoined upon the recipient, a duty which inheres in the very nature of the sacrament. We remember not ourselves, our unworthiness has long been established, but rather we remember Jesus who is worthy who took our place on the cross. What does it mean to take communion in an unworthy manner We are perfect in God's eyes. 2:13, "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." And the moment they lift their arms to me, signaling permission for me to start this journey with them, in that moment their well-being to make it safely across this river becomes entirely my responsibility. A person's doubt can stem from one or more of these different categories. (1 Cor. (John 11:25-26). Some of you worry how you will ever get to God, but don't miss all that God did to get to you! On a good day we feel okay, but on bad days we feel unworthy. It's like when Jesus held His arms out on the cross it was like He was saying to all the courts of heaven "these are My sins, this is My guilt". Are they doomed? I profess that I have the life of Christ within me by my present faith. As the Hymn states "When He shall come with trumpet sound, oh may I then in Him be found, dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne." To partake in an "unworthy manner" thus entails at least three things: (a) calloused disregard for others in the body of Christ (see vv. If you are here and concerned about partaking in an unworthy manner as Paul wrote about in 1 Corinthians 11 then let me assure you many of those temptations have largely been removed in the way we offer communion. 12:2). Do not forget this proclamation is declaring the success of Jesus on the cross, His body which He broke so that yours never would, His blood which was poured out was so that yours never would have to be. Hallelujah, you're finally getting it!". I might also say to you that I'd rather die than not get to travel, or that if I couldn't travel "it would kill me". We read the New Testament and as we learn we create a new law from it for ourselves; I call this Christianese. At least we don't measure up accordingly when we look at our performance. Intercession is not needed for the righteous but only for sinners. The hatred of Esau, the hardening of Pharoah, not unloving as some claim but more importantly all part of God's election to make way for the Messiah. 11:27). I was encouraged but I still had another sin that I felt wasn't so acceptable and I didn't have the nerve yet to disclose it there. If I were to say to you "I live to travel!" The church in Acts would observe the breaking of bread regularly and even from house to house (Acts 2:42-46) and would celebrate the Lord's . Therefore God remade them for a greater redemptive purpose. Regardless of the exact meaning, Paul is definitely telling Christians to. That, like a coupon, this body and blood offer a significant discount in purchasing our redemption but I say to you that is grossly mistaken. Answer The concept of taking communion unworthily comes from a teaching by the apostle Paul to the believers in the church at Corinth ( 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 ). 5:17, Acts 10:15). They believe that you have to be right with God, and not have sin in your life, in order to be worthy to take communion. We are prone to this way of thinking! Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. You see, at this point nothing is going to separate this kid from me. Taking Communion in a Worthy Manner - providencepgh.org You who have received Jesus are NEVER alone. If you are here and feel the weight of what is required of you, then know Christ's invitation to come to Him was specifically for you (Matt. A congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). 5:21, 1 John 1:5)! (1 Cor. What do I need from the kid, I need them to trust me, to cling to me, to let me carry them through the raging waters. 11:27-32) and if you are here and haven't received Jesus then that for example is a justifiable reason for not taking communion. A thorough, in-depth book regarding the subject of doubt. For if grace is only given to those that earn it, then it's no longer grace but becomes a wage (Rom. When we come to the Supper by Christs holy commandment, we are actually re-covenanting again with God. It's like if I were 10 feet tall and bullet proof, standing on the edge of the Nile River during raining season and a 3 year old having an asthma attack came up to me who desperately needed to get to his parents on the other side of the river because they have his inhaler. We parted, and I went home, yet I felt compelled if they were going to invite me on the elder board, if this was indeed God's calling, that I wanted to trust God with giving them full disclosure. nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. I believe this is why Jesus commanded us to specifically do this in remembrance of Him even saying "as often as you drink it" to do so in remembrance of Him (1 Cor. When Paul spoke of an unworthy manner of taking communion he was speaking to how the church should conduct themselves when gathering for the Lord's supper as noted by the word "manner" here (1 Cor. Because He is glorious God is for His glory, which simultaneously results in the best possible gift for us. Wherever I walked I saw men at peace. Or worse, that somehow the breaking of Jesus body, or the pouring out of His blood on our behalf is somehow negated by our performance. Romans 9, when studied properly, is a beautiful exegete of the Old Testament making known a mystery that prior to the Messiah was largely misunderstood. What do you do? Because He is glorious God is for His glory, which simultaneously results in the best possible gift for us. Unfortunately at the church of Corinth those who were wealthy became favored at these events and those who came with nothing often left with nothing. But herein likes the problem. taking communion in an unworthy manner is about faith if you believe you are unworthy then you are taking in an unworthy manner ,making the work of the cross powerless. I might also say to you that I'd rather die than not get to travel, or that if I couldn't travel "it would kill me". 2 Corinthians 12:1-13 - What Could Possibly Torment Paul? 43:4, Matt. Faith rests on facts, feelings follow faith. Because I'm confident in Him and His work on our behalf. We are not doing this to bring to memory our failures but to be reminded of His success no matter how bad you have failed. Christ screamed out those words of forsakenness so that you and I would never have to. As the song states "Here in the death of Christ I live". Halfway across the kid could out of fear demand I take them back, but I know better. It would appear from verse 34 that to eat it in an unworthy manner is to eat it because one is hungry, and not because they are doing it in remembrance of Jesus. We read some strong words of warning in 1 Corinthians 11 about the way in which we approach the Lord's Table and take communion. May our good God grant that we would ever more commune in a worthy manner! A growing collection of scripture related to this subject. The bread At the Last Supper Jesus handed out the bread, said it was his body, and told the disciples to eat it in remembrance of him (Luke 22:19). 1 Corinthians 11: 27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. "But Ryan, we should be careful not to abuse God's grace". Your qualifications and merit are nowhere in that equation. Why? This judgment is not from God, but from others. Grace is the source, faith is the condition. Jesus could have said nothing and still saved Him. If your reason for not partaking is because of a judgment against yourself that you have made then please consider this. Romans 11:1-6 - Grace and Works Are Like Oil and Water, They Don't Mix. We intellectually know this not to be, but our hearts have been duped into believing that the grace of God needs propping up. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. Jesus took all the penalty for sin, He satisfied all of the wrath of God, you don't need to appease that demand anymore. 53:5) and even though the kid may foolishly want down, foolishly want me to take them back, and even foolishly be punching me in the face, the fact is, I've taken ownership of this kid's well-being and because I care for this kid, even more than myself, I'm willing to endure a black eye or two, even the heart break of the screams of the kid against me, in order to get that kid safely to the other side that they may live! There is nothing you have done that any of us in this room aren't capable of doing, there is nothing you have done that the blood of Christ is not sufficient to cover, and if we hold ourselves to the standards set forth by Jesus Himself who said we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. Your entry into heaven is completely contingent on Jesus Christ therefore meditate no longer on if you're worthy, but dwell on just how worthy He is to enter because by His doing we are not judged by our performance, we're judged entirely by His performance, a substitution that was a delight for Him to do for you! It wasn't their eating and drinking that was the issue but rather their doing so under the guise of the celebration of the Lord's supper. 1 Corinthians 11:27 "Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. I'd love to hear from you! You who have received Jesus are NEVER alone. The responsibility is on him. The question of "am I worthy" should be replaced in your mind with the question "was Christ worthy?". I eat and drink in faith that Christ is mine and I am His. 1:15) in their most wretched state (Rom. How you like that church family, your leadership here is a bunch of sinnersLast time the pastor lets me lead while he's on sabbatical. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) as a Christian, The All-Clear "Drug" OCD Sufferers Desperately Pursue, Renewing of the Mind - Difficult Reprogramming and Why It's Crucial, OCD, Scrupulosity, and Well Traveled Bad Synaptic Pathways. . The Potter's original intent wasn't to make vessels of wrath. 26:26-27). While a feast with our church body is grand, we have largely separated our potlucks from our partaking of the Lord's supper. "Until He comes" means we don't have to fret that it would come up short anytime before then. May I argue with you, that there is no other way to apply God's grace that's not abuse. The seed of the word of God is given to all but not all have hearts that are good soil. 11:27). The bread symbolized the body of Christ which was broken for you, the juice symbolizes the blood which was spilled out for you. We are not doing this to bring to memory our failures but to be reminded of His success no matter how bad you have failed. They were deliberate to remember Jesus, we should be too. We read the New Testament and as we learn we create a new law from it for ourselves; I call this Christianese. There is nothing you have done that any of us in this room aren't capable of doing, there is nothing you have done that the blood of Christ is not sufficient to cover, and if we hold ourselves to the standards set forth by Jesus Himself who said we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect (Matt. Thus, in baptism the commandment is given to the one doing the baptizing, Go and make disciples baptizing and teaching, (Mat. God likewise won't go against His Nature. Does this mean that if someone is non Christian, they are cursed if they take communion? 1 Corinthians 11:28-29NKJV. Thus, the Lords Supper is for current believers who understand and affirm their covenant responsibilities towards God and man. What Does it Mean to take Communion in an Unworthy Manner? nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Where does it come from? We often picture ourselves before God by ourselves, alone, and sitting in our own robes of righteousness or lack thereof. You have exchanged your court record with Christ's and just as God justly punished Jesus for your sins, God, in His great love, is delighted to justly reward you for His righteousness because of Jesus, for God looks at you through Jesus and sees you exactly as Jesus presents you, clothed in His righteousness, without blemish, without fault, blameless, and beyond reproach. Ephesians 5:25 says of husbands "to love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her". Before God looks at you, He looks at Jesus who is at His right hand Who intercedes on your behalf. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers. If we were worthy, none of this would have needed to be done. Romans 10:1-9 - The Easy Way or the Impossible Way, Your Choice. What are Some Reasons that Cause People to Not Have Faith in Christ? 28Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. (Gal. He didn't say much else because no doubt they could all recall the fuss that happened the last time he said he was the bread of life: I am the bread of life You have not out sinned the grace of God! We often picture ourselves before God by ourselves, alone, and sitting in our own robes of righteousness or lack thereof. Todays Question continues that emphasis. Affectionately meditating on Christs passion and death. 2:4). My guide escorted me to the notorious prison cell once used for torture. 4:10). 8:4-5, 116:15, Rom. Hypothetically if you got to heaven's gate and Satan was there, and they asked you what right did you have to enter. Not the waters, not the bystanders, nor any other created thing, not even the kid themselves (Rom. Taking Communion in a Worthy Manner. Faith is not meritorious and therefore earns you nothing. What does it mean to examine yourself (1 Corinthians 11:28)? This is extremely serious, and something that demands closer scrutiny. 11:25). Or worse, that somehow the breaking of Jesus body, or the pouring out of His blood on our behalf is somehow negated by our performance. 12 Sunday Jun 2016 Posted by Steven Anderson in Bible, Practical theology 13 Comments Tags eucharist In all of the churches I have attended, observation of the Lord's Supper (communion) is preceded by a time of introspection, usually with a solemn warning given by the pastor. Because I'm confident in Him and His work on our behalf. What does it mean to partake of communion in an unworthy manner? But when I behold the status of Jesus seated at the right hand of God, and I dwell on His Character, His works, and His nature, I realize saving me, even me, comes naturally for Him and I wonder how hard it is for Him when we don't accept and even celebrate His body being broken, and His blood being poured out. Romans Chapter 11 - Israel Hardened So All May Benefit. As we reached the end of a long concrete corridor and he put the key in the lock, he paused and asked, Are you sure you want to go in? Of course, I replied impatiently, Ive been in isolation cells all over the world. Slowly he swung open the massive door, and I saw the prisoner in that punishment cell: a crucifix, beautifully carved by the Humaita inmatesthe prisoner Jesus, hanging on a cross.". July Breakthrough Service - 2nd July 2023 (Communion Service) First Sunday of July Welcome to NAFPC Kano Church Online We are glad to have you. Can I say if that's you that I believe communion was specifically for you. 53:10, Heb. How do we worthily commune in the Lords Supper? But may I tell you that communion has nothing to do with your worthiness but has everything to do with Christ's worthiness? This is a result of the clay spoiling. 11:27-32) and if you are here and haven't received Jesus then that for example is a justifiable reason for not taking communion. 3:9, 1 John 2:2, 1 Tim. The Corinthian believers were apparently meeting and feasting together, then tacking the Lord's Supper onto their meetings, rather than giving that ceremony the proper respect and reverence it deserved. Unworthy Communion | BibleTalk.tv That leaning on Jesus as we navigate and walk through this life is a cop-out, an excuse for not doing what we should be doing. This body broken for us, and His blood spilled instead of ours is the propitiation for our sins. 19:5). I heard a theologian once say, "when I look at myself I wonder how could God possibly save me, but when I look at Jesus I wonder how could God possibly not?" He must remember Jesus death, as he eats and drinks. In one of the very few New Testament prophecies regarding Israel's future, Paul reveals God's mysterious redemptive plan benefiting both Jew and Gentile alike. In 1 Corinthians 11:27, Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians to not take Communion in what he calls an "unworthy manner". If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. Romans 9:1-12 - It's About God's Promise, Not Individual Salvation. Let's take a look. - 1 Thess 5:24, Then Moses said, I pray You, show me Your glory! - Exo 33:18. Even the lillies of the field will testify to this truth. 2:21). For we could always be doing better. The Apostle Paul in Romans, a letter written some 23 years after he became a Christian wrote that there was nothing good in his flesh (Rom. Families outside the prison adopt an inmate to work with during and after his term. When we take communion we are testifying of His success and proclaiming His death. When you put your trust in Jesus and cling to Him, you transfer responsibility of your well-being onto Him (Isa. 1 Corinthians 11:28-29NKJV, This morning we look at Westminster Larger Catechism Question 174, which asks, What is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lords Supper in the time of the administration of it? It gives the answer, It is required of them that receive the sacrament of the Lords Supper, that, during the time of the administration of it, with all holy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance, diligently observe the sacramental elements and actions, heedfully discern the Lords body, and affectionately meditate on his death and sufferings, and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their graces; in judging themselves, and sorrowing for sin; in earnest hungering and thirsting after Christ, feeding on him by faith, receiving of his fullness, trusting in his merits, rejoicing in his love, giving thanks for his grace; in renewing of their covenant with God, and love to all the saints.. . I've heard many call Christianity a crutch. The bread At the Last Supper Jesus handed out the bread, said it was his body, and told the disciples to eat it in remembrance of him (Luke 22:19). Dear Jesus, Please Save Me From Your Followers. What do I need from the kid, I need them to trust me, to cling to me, to let me carry them through the raging waters. Love bears all things (1 Cor. 27:46) it is because God couldn't in that moment look at Him in His sin-ridden state. For Christians, often enters the idea that while grace was for them once and it was unmerited, that now the body and the blood only apply if they somehow maintain it. So, Paul warned them of the risk they were running. Your salvation has nothing to do with your performance but it has everything to do with His. . (Matt. Hallelujah, you're finally getting it!". They'd subtly pass the plate down the row but they themselves don't partake. Taking Communion and Judgment: Exposing a misunderstanding Taking Communion and Judgment One of the beliefs that I disagree with in many churches today, is their understanding of being worthy to take communion. And yes, I am assuming that genuine Christians can have moments like this. If you came here feeling wretched then I implore you to look around the room and know that we are too! The demands of the law have been fulfilled (Matt. It's like when Jesus held His arms out on the cross it was like He was saying to all the courts of heaven "these are My sins, this is My guilt". While you are indeed not worthy in the eyes of the law (or even your own made up Christianese laws), you are immeasurably valuable in the eyes of God (Zeph. But I'm speaking to my brothers and sisters in Christ that maybe previously participated but now are not. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment on himself, not discerning the Lord's body. This fact is why the Lords Supper is the ongoing sacrament, otherwise having communed once would be sufficient. They had taken something previously consecrated and used it as an opportunity for the flesh.