The Lord's Supper

[CooL_Genesis]

I've often wondered what other's take on these scriptures might be. Paul is seemingly telling the Corinthians that the partaking of the Lord's Supper in the Church building itself is not a good idea. Since Jesus and the disciples did this in a private ceremony, do you suppose that we should be doing the same?

1 Corinthians 20-22

20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

It could also be interesting to note that maybe the fellowship dinners, etc. that go on in the Churches today aren't the best idea either? That's what is being revealed to me in these passages. How about the rest of you?

May God bless you,

-Genesis

[rainbowpromise]

I have not studied this myself but one message I heard from the pastor who retired from our church was that the people at Corinth had turned the communion table into a fellowship meal. They were bringing food, just about like a fellowship dinner, only they were not sharing with those who did not have.

I don't know if this is the right answer.

[HumbleMan]

I do think that the way we do communion these days (for the most part) is more ritualistic than symbolic.

We are not sitting together as a group having dinner and fellowshipping. We don't laugh, or share with others what's on our minds. We sit in pews and raise the cracker and raise the dixie cup and "do this in remembrance of Him". And when it's done, we put the cups down and turn back to the pulpit and wait for the next part of the service.

I don't for one minute doubt the true sincerity of most believers when they partake, but I think we could celebrate His life and His sacrifice so much more than what we do today.

[Katakalupto]

I think in those verses he was telling believers that the Lord's Supper wasn't to be an actual meal. You aren't eating the bread or drinking the wine/grape juice in order to have appetite or thirst sated. You are partaking to remember Christ and His sacrifice for you.

[TwinCrier]

I think in those verses he was telling believers that the Lord's Supper wasn't to be an actual meal. You aren't eating the bread or drinking the wine/grape juice in order to have appetite or thirst sated. You are partaking to remember Christ and His sacrifice for you.This is my understanding of the verses as well. That's why Paul makes note to say "What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? " This ordinance was meant to help us remember the sacrifice Christ made, not to bring a picnic lunch or get drunk. It doesn't mean to not have communion in church.

[Gerry_NY]

I have not studied this myself but one message I heard from the pastor who retired from our church was that the people at Corinth had turned the communion table into a fellowship meal. They were bringing food, just about like a fellowship dinner, only they were not sharing with those who did not have.

I don't know if this is the right answer.

This is how I have heard it explained as well. Almost like a first come first served type of thing, leaving the most needing still needing.

[JPPT1974]

It is recognizing who Jesus is
And for what His blood and body
On the cross stands for throughout
These past 2,000 years of communion!