Sunday, 17 March 2013

COMMUNION: TO CELEBRATE OR NOT?



If we have not gone for a medical examination (the minimum being blood and urine tests, a CXR and an ECG) to detect any abnormalities, how can we celebrate beforehand, thinking we have a clean bill of health?  What will happen to our jovial mood if it turns out later we have some serious condition? *

Some say we should treat the Lord’s Supper as a celebration and not be so serious about it.

Let us consider what the Bible says. “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. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves” (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).

It is very clear from the above that, before we can think of any reason to celebrate, we need to adopt a serious attitude – examine ourselves – when we come to the Lord’s table.

Before we sing, “Don’t worry, be happy”, we have to be serious – do some soul-searching – lest we be judged.


By all means, celebrate what Christ has done for us at the cross: His body which was broken for us, His blood which was shed for the forgiveness of our sins.

But we have to examine ourselves first as we are sinful by nature, needing constant reminders to live worthily – in keeping with the heavy price paid by Christ to reconcile us back to God.

RELATED POST:
SELF-EXAMINATION: HELP OR HINDRANCE?

Footnotes:
* A "normal" medical examination does not invariably mean that all is well with our health. There is a high probability that all is well. If the tests do reveal an abnormality, then perhaps early intervention might help.

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