Come to the Table

Friends

Well, I have not spent a whole lot of time blogging or reading blogs this summer, as I have allowed myself to be distracted with too many other things -- for shame, I know. This is not necessarily a new subject, but it is an important subject.  Hopefully, there will be some ideas here to stir your thinking. For my friends who will be reading this, I hope that this message will be a blessing!

One of the things that I love about John's gospel is that it is not so much a chronology of many of the events in Jesus life, as related in Matthew, Mark and Luke’s gospels. Rather, it is more like picture frames of Jesus’ life…critical events that take place…some of them corresponding with the other gospels, while others that do not. For example, John gives us the wedding at Cana in Galilee (2:1-11), where Jesus changes the water into wine. He did this, ultimately, in order to reveal that He would shed the wine of His most precious blood on the cross. Also, Jesus took some time to feed 5000 men and likely women and children, as well (John 6:1-14)…a story found in all four gospels. However, only John expands upon Jesus message concerning the fact that He is the Bread of Life (6:26-40). What we come to understand when we consider what John is trying tell us is in relationship to fruit of the vine and bread…it is the foundation for what Jesus shares with His disciples on the night before His crucifixion – the Last Supper, which is seen in some form in all four gospels. It is also is the background for what Paul teaches the Corinthian church (1 Corinthians 11:23-34) concerning the Lord’s Supper which we partake of every Lord’s Day.

When we come to the table, it is an important time. Often, in our churches, it seems that the Lord’s Supper is something that we do as a part of our worship, but which has no more significance than anything else that we do…perhaps, even less. In writing to the Corinthians, Paul seeks to teach concerning this very misconception that affects even them. He wants them, and us, to understand the importance of the Lord’s Supper…and that it is not something that we should treat passively or frivolously in any way. For the Corinthians, the Supper was a source of disunity, rather than unity, as some were coming in and taking it early and not waiting for their brethren, while others were coming to the table having had too much to drink, and yet others were dressing in a way that was causing others to stumble…wrong, wrong, wrong. They were treating the Lord’s Supper with a lack of intent and seriousness…some of them simply were not taking it in a worthy manner. They may have had a certain commitment, but it was not sincere and secure in any respect, as their lack of focus revealed.

The Lord’s Supper is not a casual commitment, but is a participation in what Jesus has done in having His body broken and His blood shed on the cross. When Jesus, Himself, takes bread and the fruit of the vine, a common meal, He presents them in a way that is a meaningful spiritual experience for believers. As we often speak about it, the broken bread symbolizes and reminds us of the body of Jesus Christ broken for us; the cup of juice symbolizes and reminds us of His blood shed for us. This is a commitment of our hearts, souls and minds. We choose to do this as often as we come together, following the example of the early Christians (Acts 2:42, 20:7). The Lord’s Supper allows us an opportunity for spiritual growth and blessing...if we approach it with the correct mindset.

No worship assembly should be a time where we take a few minutes out of our service in order to fulfill our obligation to partake of the Supper. It should be the focal point and climax of our time together…whether we are partaking of it at the beginning, middle or end of our time together…although the end would seem to be most appropriate. The Supper should be what we are continually focusing upon as we worship in our praying, singing, hearing the message, contributing…and whatever else we choose to do in our worship time. I thank the Lord that He gives us the opportunity to come together on a weekly basis and “look around,” not to judge what others are doing, but in order to participate with the church family in our Lord’s Supper, building up the unity of the body. And not only this, but to look back…“to remember Jesus’ death burial and resurrection”, to look ahead…“to anticipate our Lord’s coming again”, and to look inside…“to consider your own situation as to whether or not you are in a right relationship with the Lord.” It is my hope that we will consider all of these things as we come to the Table. Blessings friends!

Don

The Amazing Power of Unity

Friends,

Lyn Chaffart offers this – “I would have loved to have been there, to have seen those 3000 people coming to the Lord as a result of one sermon, to have witnessed the miracles that resulted, and how the church of Jesus Christ grew in leaps and bounds. I'm sure there are many important reasons why the early church grew so rapidly, vital things like faith and love and prayer, and it could be argued that our churches today lack all three of these things. But I would like to suggest there might be something more. Let's consider for a moment how the earliest believers spent their time between the Resurrection and Pentecost: "These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication . . ." (Acts 1:14 NKJV). The key operative here is "one accord". These believers were in unity with one another! We are also told these early believers sold their belongings and pooled their resources, and it wasn't uncommon for them to spend hours, even days in prayer together (Acts 4:23-31, Acts 12, etc.). But is unity really what made the difference? In John 17 alone, Jesus asks the Father that we would be "One". Not once. Not twice. But FIVE times!” (17:11, 20, 21, 22, 23). I say that this is significant.  What seems to be the most important matter to the Lord…so much so that it would be the very last thing that Jesus would share with His disciples? It is this principle of unity…even though there can, and even necessarily should, be diversity.  I have preached on this subject from Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 4…it is important to keep it in front of us. And not only this, but to explore what Jesus’ statement means and how it is that we should interpret it.  So, we move forward…

In this final portion of His High Priestly prayer (John 17:20-26), Jesus focuses His disciples’ attention on the future…and even more particularly, on His disciples in the future – that would be us. He has already prayed for the security and sanctity of His disciples, and now He prays for unity. The disciples often exhibited a spirit of selfishness, competition and disunity. This had to sadden the Lord on many occasions. He is genuinely concerned that His people experience a spiritual unity that is like the Oneness of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Christians belong to the Lord and to each other. What is the basis for Christian unity? It is not based upon externals and other man made dogmas or philosophies…these, rather, create discord and division. John reveals that unity is in and through the person and work of Jesus Christ and His glory (17:2ff). Paul teaches that unity is of the Spirit (Ephesians 4:1ff), and the result of believers’ commonness in seven principles -- body, Spirit, hope, Lord, faith, baptism and God the Father. So, it is indeed not external...it is internal.

As we grow in the Lord, His glory begins to grow and to reveal itself in what we say, as well as the way that we say it and do it…we live to exemplify, glorify Jesus in our lives by loving one another and others to the glory of God. Jesus assures us that some people will believe in Him as the result of our faithful witness (v.20). What Jesus makes very clear is that one of the things that impresses some people is the way that Christians love each other and live together in harmony.  Why is it important? “That the world will believe that His Father sent Him.” The converse is also true.  Some believers operate as critics and judges instead of faithful witnesses, and this complicates matters significantly for the Lord and His body. If we do not love one another and promote “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,” then we will turn off those who are seeking the Lord. Nevertheless, we belong to the same Father, and seek to do the same work…witnessing to the lost world that Jesus saves us from our sins.  This is the message. And one day, all who believe are one day going to enjoy the same heaven.

I offer a poignant illustration from our past to help us understand our present (and future). Back in early 1800's there was a preacher in Western Pennsylvania named Thomas Campbell. He was a preacher for the Old-light, Anti-burger, Seceder Presbyterian Church. Each of those phrases described a political division within the Presbyterian Church of that day. Thus, the Presbyterians were divided over many things, and each group sought to maintain the purity of their positions. So they opted for "closed communion" to make sure that only those who clung to their standards could take communion at their churches. In the Presbyterian churches of that time, it worked like this: the Lord's Supper was taken once every month or so... but on the Saturday night before Communion Sunday members were required to come in and answer a series of questions. If they answered the questions correctly they received a "Communion coin" and the next day they would drop their coin in the box and partake. This didn't sit very well with Campbell -- who believed that the Lord's Supper belonged to Christ rather than to him - and on at least one occasion he opened the Communion table to all who belonged to Christ. Word got back to denominational headquarters and they sacked him. He was branded a heretic and eventually left that group. About that same time, Thomas's son, Alexander, was shipwrecked on his way over from Scotland. He stayed in Scotland another year, and while he was there attended worship services at a Presbyterian congregation in the neighborhood. On Communion Saturday night he dutifully went in to answer the questions required of him for the coin...and was shocked to find that the questions were different than he was accustomed to. However, being well versed in Scripture and the obligatory thinking, he was able to answer the questions correctly and received his coin. The next day he walked in, put his coin in the box and walked away without taking of the Lord's Supper. When Father and Son got back together they both had come to the conclusion that the church had way too many HUMAN rules and regulations. Christians were being segregated from God (at the communion table) and from other Christians because each denomination insisted on clinging to their own distinctive denominational names, creeds and practices.  They were soon joined by Methodist and Baptist groups who were struggling with their own denominations' teachings. They were tired of all the divisiveness and they just wanted to be "Christians Only." What these people were upset about was the tendency of churches to change the rules…to change the oil in the machine of the faith once delivered to the saints. They began to believe they needed to do was go back and "restore" -- as best they could -- the concept of a New Testament Church and to only practice and believe what that first group of believers held to. Because they were attempting to "restore" what the early church did, they began to refer to themselves as a "restoration movement" (from which the churches of Christ, Disciples of Christ and Christian Church were “born”). From a sermon by Jeff Strite, Restoration! (5/9/2011)

In a story found in Mark’s gospel, when the apostle John has a concern that some “other believers” are casting out demons in Jesus name, Jesus says this -- "Do not stop him…for the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward." (Excerpted from Mark 9:39-41) It is critical that there be truth and love in the church, but this must be found, discerned and practiced in the right matters, and the right ways in order for genuine unity to work. What many in our fellowship (as well as in other fellowships) have been taught, including myself, has been a “truth” not founded on Scripture, but according to human reasoning. Thomas and Alexander Campbell recognized this for what it was and wanted a “fresh start.” I once believed that we could have unity as long as we all believed the same precise teachings. I believed, “As long as people have the doctrine of the churches of Christ, then they can be Christians and I can accept them and fellowship with them.” But, this is not a New Testament or biblical concept…it is a humanistic concept called – uniformity.  It is what the Campbells wanted to break away from, and what our fellowship became and represented, in many respects, after another 40 years or so had passed by the turn of the 20^th century.

We believe much the same truth that genuinely matters as believers in other tribes. First and foremost, we should live as Jesus commanded: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) I can already hear the “Yeahbuts” coming, but when we break through our “shibboleths,” many believers (most that I have known) have experienced a conversion similar, if not exact, to what is practiced in our fellowship…contrary to the negative propaganda and fear-mongering of certain folks. They love Jesus…they are sorry for their sins…they are immersed...and they receive the Holy Spirit. We do have certain doctrines in common with all people, which are seen in the Ephesians 4 passage. As we have seen, believers do have some differences of traditions and opinions, but we have much more in common in the big picture – as Paul says, we have the same Holy Spirit who unites us. Paul teaches there, as well as in 1 Corinthians 12 and Romans 12, 14 that believers may have varying gifts, processes and beliefs, but that believers are united in Christ through His Spirit. If we can get past our own prejudices and incomplete, in not inaccurate, understandings concerning uniformity and unity, then we can truly build up the Kingdom of God to the glory of God, and people will not be turned off, but turned on to what Jesus is doing in our lives.

Blessings, Don

Truth or Consequences concerning the Lord’s Supper

Friends,

From the beginning of the church, the custom was for Christians to eat together (Acts 2:42, 46). This was an opportunity for fellowship and for sharing with those who were less privileged. At the end of the meal, they would partake of the Lord’s Supper. They would call this meal, “the agape feast,” which comes from one of the Greek words for “love,” since the purpose was to show love for one another. The “agape feast” was an important part of the worship service in the church at Corinth, but some significant abuses had crept in (1 Corinthians 11:17-34). One of the difficulties was that some of the members there were getting preferential treatment over others in relationship to the Lord’s Supper. The communal meals there were doing more harm than good for the church, because selfishness was at work – the rich people were bringing large amounts of food for themselves, while the poorer members were going hungry. The “agape feast” was the only good meal that some of the poorer members were going to get, so to be mistreated hurts not only their stomachs, but their pride as well. It should have been edifying, instead it was embarrassing. Some of the difficulties also just might have to do with the fact that some of the members were coming to the feast drunk...thus the clouding of judgment. The divisions at dinner were evidence of much deeper problems in the church. They were indeed prideful themselves, thinking that they were "advanced believers"…when they were actually "little children." Paul does not suggest that they abandon the feast, but that they restore its proper meaning. He says, “Let the rich eat at home if they are hungry"...but, everything should be shared when all come together.

How important is it that Christians prepare their hearts before we come to the Lord’s Table? According to Paul, it is a serious matter to come to the table with an unprepared heart. Because the Corinthians had been sinning in their observing of the Lord’s Supper, God disciplines them. “That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep (that is, have died)” (11:30, NIV). The partaking of the Lord’s Supper is to be a valuable experience, but whether it is a good or bad experience depends upon the hearts of those who participate. Paul indicates that we should “look back” when partaking of the supper. The broken bread reminds us of Christ’s body given for us…the cup reminds us of His blood that was shed. This may not be popular for some people…remembering Jesus' “death;” it is not simply a recalling of historical facts, but a participation in spiritual realities. We have fellowship with a living Savior as our hearts reach out to Him in faith. We also “look ahead,” as we observe it “until He comes again.” This is the blessed hope for every believer and for the church as a whole. We are to “look within.” We must partake “in a worthy manner," that is, we need to examine ourselves to see whether or not our hearts are in the right place. We need to come to the Lord blameless…having our sins confessed and forgiven. Finally, we are to “look around,” which has been the primary thrust of this message. We must be critical or condemning of one another in out attitudes or actions…remembering that what we are doing is a partaking together of the Lord’s Supper. This is also why we call it “communion” or our “common union.” The Lord’s Supper provides for us an opportunity for spiritual growth and blessings if we approach it with the right heart.

What we see taking place in Corinth is unique with respect to the culture of the time…but nothing new under the sun with regard to the spiritual heart of man. Understand this…the Lord’s Supper is not about one cup or many...whether we dip the morsel of bread in the cup or not...whether we do it one day a week or many days...whether we do it Sunday morning and Sunday evening or just Sunday morning...whether we eat it with a potluck meal (our “agape feast”) or not...whether we take it in our seats or go forward to do it...or whether women serve it or men (as happens in some cultures). It also is not about whether the servants and the emblems are in the front or the back...whether the grape juice is purple, white or wine...Seneca, Welch’s or Great Value...whether the bread is Matzos or homemade…or whether someone adds a little honey to the homemade bread. It is not even about whether we have a kitchen in our church buildings or not (as some have pulled this text out of context in order to make that argument). It is a spiritual concern…it is about the heart. The Lord’s Supper is about the “spiritual” function, not the form or package that it comes in. It is easy to get so tied up in the “form” or the package, that we truly miss the meaning concerning the “function.” It is as much about freedom as any other spiritual matter that we observe. We do not need to allow ourselves to become hidebound or “rigid” with it or with any other issue for that matter.

As we have been studying the letter to the Galatians on Sunday morning, Paul strongly admonished the Galatians for allowing their freedom to be taken away by self-righteous Judaizers (cultural and religious Jewish Christians). Paul understood the issues of the day...as a Pharisee of Pharisees he had been there, done that, so to speak. As he shares with the Corinthians (chapters 8-10), he is keenly aware of causing a new Christian to stumble. At the same time, he will not allow anyone to rob him of his freedom (1 Corinthians 10:29-30, Galatians 5:1). The last time that I checked, we don’t have meat being offered to idols in our culture...during the potluck, Lord’s Supper or at any other time…this was a cultural concern for the early church. However, it does underlie the principle...we would not want to cause a young Christian who has come from a pagan background to stumble. What would this look like today? We would not purposely serve wine at the Lord’s Supper to a recently converted alcoholic, for example. At the same time, we should not allow our freedom concerning how we do the Lord’s Supper to be robbed by people. Remember, the problem with the Judaizers is that they were so hidebound by tradition that they were really of no spiritual value…and Paul admonishes them for causing others to stumble. This is the real issue.

Many of the problems that take place in our church culture today have to do with current "Judaizers" who steal our freedom. It has little if anything to do with causing “younger Christians” to stumble. In fact, what does cause young Christians to stumble today is the rigid in relationship to traditions church culture that has been cultivated in many churches over the past 100 years...it was unacceptable to Paul, to the Lord…and it should be to us, as well. Something is terribly wrong when people who have been church members for 20…30…40 years or more are the ones “being caused to stumble” and the baby or young Christians are the ones more so with “spiritual common sense.” This ought not be so. Thankfully, this has been gradually changing over the past couple of decades. We must remember “the big picture.” We need to be believers that are learning, growing and prospering spiritually. If the primary focus in coming together is to get upset because “things are not going precisely how I think they should go," whether it is concerning the Lord’s Supper or some other matter…then we are not learning, growing and prospering, spiritually. We need to be blessed by the heart or the true purpose of the Lord’s Supper and not be troubled by what form it should take. I want to close with a quote by a 19th century English minister, J.C. Ryle, “The benefit of the Lord’s Supper depends entirely on the spirit and frame of mind in which we receive it. The bread which we eat, and the wine which we drink, have no power to do good to our souls, as medicine does good to our bodies, without the co-operation of our hearts and wills.” From Day By Day with J.C. Ryle, “Lord’s Supper”, 168.

Blessings, Don