Missing Communion

[DanielRB]

Peace, all :wave:

Currently, my family and I are looking for a Church home, and I've been thinking a lot about "returning home" to the Christian Church (that's where I was raised).

Yesterday my son and I (my wife stayed home with my daughter) went to a Bible Church. The worship was Christ-centered and the preaching was spot-on...but, no communion.

Maybe I'm just a creature of my upbringing, but without communion, it doesn't seem like worship. The New Testament doesn't give many details on the form of worship, but it does emphasize communion.

Frankly, when I've visited liturgical Churchs that in some ways are far different from the Christian Church, they seem more "at home" than other non-liturgical Churches because communion is central to worship.

Any one else feel that way? Any one led primarily to the Christian Church because of weekly communion?

In Christ,

Daniel

[HeyHomie]

I think weekly communion is a good idea, but there's no Biblical mandate for it. And before someone says "...on the first day of the week they gathered together to break bread," let me remind you that that is an example, and not a command.

I like weekly communion, but as far as church goes, it's not a dealbreaker for me.

[Splayd]

It's not a dealbreaker for me... but it really is one of the things that I most appreciate about RM churches.

[cremi]

I hear you on this one. I ws raised in a variety of other denominational backgrounds where communion was served once a quarter or on special occasions, like Easter or Christmas. When it was served, it was a BIG DEAL and was taken very seriously. I always loved the services where communion was served.

When I was introduced to church of Christ, the idea of commuinion every Sunday mornng was foreign to me, but I soon grew to love the "tradition". However, for a long time, it lost its meaning. It became something we did every Sunday and if you didn't, you just didn't feel quite right. When my children were very little, especially, it became a game of how to hold the wiggly child in one hand, balance the tray and pass all at the same time. It was hard to put much faith, feeling or worship into the act. That being said, I found myself longing for the days when I didn't take the Lord's Supper every Sunday. I longed for it to mean more to me and felt as if the act had become nothiing more than a ritual.

My children are still all home and are older now, but sometimes still serve as a distraction. It's much easier now, to put some thought, prayer and supplication into the communion portion of the service now, but some days, it still just feels like another ritual.

Though it is my prefernce to attend a church where the Lord's supper is served weekly, it is no longer a deal breaker for me. However, like you, it is uncomfortable to go elsewhere, where the church doesn't practice that tradition.

We feel God lead us to where we are currently attending. God will lead--jsut keep seeking.

[annie1speed]

It is easy to let the Lord's Supper part of the service get to be old hat. When you are wrestling with kids I know they can be quite a distraction. But remember what you are teaching them by your example.

When I hear people talk about the routineness of weekly communion, I wonder how routinely we treat public prayer. We do that every service. Are we really being led in prayer, or do we just have someone praying out loud :)? . Think about it. Prayer, preaching, Lord's Supper, all of these things we can be present in body only, and the person next to us doesn't know a thing. Worship is what we make it including communion.

Jesus said :wave: "This do in remembrance of me." That sounds like a command to me. But how often. The first day of the week is specifically mentioned, and every week has a first day .... Hmmmm.

There is not a quarterly example given of communion or a monthly one. You could make a case for only once a year at Passover/Easter, because that's when Jesus instituted it. BUT, when the disciples met on the first day of the week, had Passover/Easter come around again? - I don't think so.

From what I have studied on the subject, weekly is the way I think we should go here.

As for the criteria for the church I attend, the Bible is a pretty good yardstick.

[Col]

The Bible doesn't stipulate that Communion must be celebrated each time we come together in worship at church.
Jesus stated "....do this in rememberance of me"
Each time we eat and drink we are called to remember Jesus and we do this in many ways, such as saying grace at home or corporately as a congregation. In effect we have the opportunity to "remember" Christ at every meal.
The tradition of, and procedural timetables for, taking communion in church were developed by man not by
God. Jesus' simple statement to his disciples to remember him in this tangible way have been in many instances greatly and tragically mis-interpreted to the point that people are made to feel less than worthy of Christ if they do not partake on a specified regular basis. I doubt that this was Jesus' intent.
God knows our heart. The intervals of which communion is taken has no bearing on ones salvation.

[annie1speed]

Hey there,

When Jesus said "Take, eat this is My body ... Drink this is My blood", He wasn't saying everytime you sit down to eat a meal do this is remembrance of Me. I believe He instituted the Lord's Supper at that time.

:) The question is when should we, and how often should we. It is true there is no 'Thou shalt take the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week, every week', but from my study that is what I believe we should do.

You are so right. God does know our hearts. Regardless of how often we take the Lord's Supper we should be sure to have a spirit of reverence and thankfulness to God and remember Jesus and His sacrafice.

[DanielRB]

Peace, Col :wave:

The Bible doesn't stipulate that Communion must be celebrated each time we come together in worship at church.
Jesus stated "....do this in rememberance of me"
Each time we eat and drink we are called to remember Jesus and we do this in many ways, such as saying grace at home or corporately as a congregation. In effect we have the opportunity to "remember" Christ at every meal.
The tradition of, and procedural timetables for, taking communion in church were developed by man not by
God. Jesus' simple statement to his disciples to remember him in this tangible way have been in many instances greatly and tragically mis-interpreted to the point that people are made to feel less than worthy of Christ if they do not partake on a specified regular basis. I doubt that this was Jesus' intent.
God knows our heart. The intervals of which communion is taken has no bearing on ones salvation.

I'm in full agreement that it's not a salvation issue. All I am saying is that I, personally, miss it when it is not offered. It keeps me focused on exactly why I'm there.

In Christ,

Daniel

[Splayd]

Yeah I agree Daniel. It almost doesn't feel like a service without communion and as much as I disagree with many of the liturgical churches take on it all, I still appreciate that communion is central to their services.

[cremi]

:) The question is when should we, and how often should we. It is true there is no 'Thou shalt take the Lord's Supper on the first day of the week, every week', but from my study that is what I believe we should do.lol! And from my study, I've come to the conclusion that the beleivers broke bread together far more often than one day a week. They often broke bread together whenever they met. Knowing that has set me free from the idea of "have to--first day of week--every week" kind of thinking.

I enjoy the Lord's supper now--for the most part, but there are those occasional Sundays when the distraction are overwhelming and I wonder what I'm doing....:sigh: I think that is the important part...to commune with other believers and remember what
God has done for us.

[Mick116]

Peace, all :wave:

Currently, my family and I are looking for a Church home, and I've been thinking a lot about "returning home" to the Christian Church (that's where I was raised).

Yesterday my son and I (my wife stayed home with my daughter) went to a Bible Church. The worship was Christ-centered and the preaching was spot-on...but, no communion.

Maybe I'm just a creature of my upbringing, but without communion, it doesn't seem like worship. The New Testament doesn't give many details on the form of worship, but it does emphasize communion.

Frankly, when I've visited liturgical Churchs that in some ways are far different from the Christian Church, they seem more "at home" than other non-liturgical Churches because communion is central to worship.

Any one else feel that way? Any one led primarily to the Christian Church because of weekly communion?

In Christ,

Daniel
Hi Daniel!

I know exactly what you mean. When I first became a Christian, I was involved with an Open Brethren assembly, and we emphasized weekly communion. I am now at home in a traditional Anglican church, and again, the center of our worship is the eucharist.

When I've visited Baptist or Presbyterian churches that share communion once a month, I must say, something seems to be missing... and yes, I agree, it doesn't feel much like worship (though I respect those who feel otherwise, of course).

Michael