What should I do?

[Neoma]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I need someone to answer a question I have.

I don't know any Christians IRL at the moment. I'm a teenager and there are no real Christians in my family. I can't go to church at the moment because no one will take me.
So my question is, would taking communion alone be alright, since I can't do it with anyone else at the moment? I would love to do it with other people, but I have no one to do it with.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

You ain't alone.... there's you, holy spirit and Jesus.

 

[John Hyperspace]

So my question is, would taking communion alone be alright, since I can't do it with anyone else at the moment?

"This do in remembrance of me." It's okay to remember someone while you're alone. Maybe it's even more helpful then?

 

[Greg J.]

I believe it is supposed to be a shared experience, but there is nothing wrong with doing the same thing by yourself. Be sure you are not neglecting studying the Bible or prayer.

 

[Neoma]

You ain't alone.... there's you, holy spirit and Jesus.

That's true, but I was asking because I want to know if I need to do it with other people.

"This do in remembrance of me." It's okay to remember someone while you're alone. Maybe it's even more helpful then?

Yes, but they always seemed to do it with other people in the Bible.

I believe it is supposed to be a shared experience, but there is nothing wrong with doing the same thing by yourself. Be sure you are not neglecting studying the Bible or prayer.

I believe that too, I would rather do it with other Christians because I think that's what I should do, but I can't yet.
And THANK YOU for telling me to be sure I'm not neglecting studying the Bible. I have been distracted by so many issues (mostly problems with my health, I had to go to the hospital a few days ago and that really distracted me), so I keep not being able to spend time studying the Bible. I needed someone to tell me that.

 

[John Hyperspace]

Yes, but they always seemed to do it with other people in the Bible.

If it causes you this much concern, probably best not to violate your conscience.

 

[LoricaLady]

Well, maybe you can find some online people who are having communion broadcast and take it with them simultaneously. It is great that you want to take communion and are persevering in your Christian faith though isolated.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I need someone to answer a question I have.

I don't know any Christians IRL at the moment. I'm a teenager and there are no real Christians in my family. I can't go to church at the moment because no one will take me.
So my question is, would taking communion alone be alright, since I can't do it with anyone else at the moment? I would love to do it with other people, but I have no one to do it with.

You can't take communion by yourself. It won't be communion. If you read the account of when Jesus did the Lord's Supper with his disciples, the first thing he did was wash his disciples feet and teach them to wash each other's feet as a symbol of renewing and being washed clean by his blood. The symbol of humility is also demonstrated here. Now you can't wash your own feet or else it would not be a demonstration of what Jesus did. In the same way, Jesus was baptized of John the baptist as an example to us. You cannot baptize yourself either. So, don't worry about not being able to do that now. God is not going to hold that against you. Focus on finding a way to connect with a congregation that teaches and believes the bible and then take part in communion with them after you have been baptized.

 

[Neoma]

If you read the account of when Jesus did the Lord's Supper with his disciples, the first thing he did was wash his disciples feet and teach them to wash each other's feet as a symbol of renewing and being washed clean by his blood.

How do you know it symbolized that? I've read that in the Bible several times, did I miss something?

The symbol of humility is also demonstrated here.

I agree with this, I think Jesus was teaching us to humble ourselves by doing that, and we're supposed to follow His example.

Now you can't wash your own feet or else it would not be a demonstration of what Jesus did.

I don't think we have to wash each other's feet when taking communion, I think we're always supposed to demonstrate that humility. You can correct me if I'm wrong though.

So, don't worry about not being able to do that now. God is not going to hold that against you. Focus on finding a way to connect with a congregation that teaches and believes the bible and then take part in communion with them after you have been baptized.

Thanks for the advice, I'll try to do that, except for the being baptized part because I have already been baptized (I found someone to baptize me right after I was saved, but that was a while ago).

 

[Neoma]

Well, maybe you can find some online people who are having communion broadcast and take it with them simultaneously. It is great that you want to take communion and are persevering in your Christian faith though isolated.

That's actually a really good idea, I can try that. Thank you, it is hard but I'm glad God led me to understanding the truth even though I'm surrounded by non-Christians.

If it causes you this much concern, probably best not to violate your conscience.

Yes, but it seems like I'm violating my conscience by not doing it too, so it gets confusing.

 

[PROPHECYKID]

How do you know it symbolized that? I've read that in the Bible several times, did I miss something?

The footwashing is like a mini-baptism. In Matthew 13:10 Jesus said to Peter that he who is washed doesn't need to wash their entire body again except their feet. This is basically saying that when you have gone through water baptism and have been "washed" you do not need to be baptized over again, but the washing of the feet will suffice.

I don't think we have to wash each other's feet when taking communion, I think we're always supposed to demonstrate that humility. You can correct me if I'm wrong though.

Actually, you're right about that. There is no where that says that the two must be done together. This is just how they do it in my church but its not instructed to do them together in the bible.

Thanks for the advice, I'll try to do that, except for the being baptized part because I have already been baptized (I found someone to baptize me right after I was saved, but that was a while ago).

Technically, you aren't saved yet. What you have is an assurance of salvation.[/QUOTE]

 

[Goodbook]

That's true, but I was asking because I want to know if I need to do it with other people.


Yes, but they always seemed to do it with other people in the Bible.


I believe that too, I would rather do it with other Christians because I think that's what I should do, but I can't yet.
And THANK YOU for telling me to be sure I'm not neglecting studying the Bible. I have been distracted by so many issues (mostly problems with my health, I had to go to the hospital a few days ago and that really distracted me), so I keep not being able to spend time studying the Bible. I needed someone to tell me that.

Yes you can, find some grape juice and crackers and eat and drink to remember Jesus. I do that by myself sometimes when cant make it to church but I know i am not alone in this! Because the holy spirit is with me.

 

[Neoma]

Well, I did try to do it alone, but I could not. I wanted to and I didn't "feel" guilty about it, I just couldn't get myself to do it and I don't know why. So I guess I'll wait until I can do it with other Christians. I think if I have so many doubts about this it would be wrong for me do it alone, even if it isn't wrong for other people.

 

[fm107]

Hi Neoma,

The Lord's supper is something to be done when christians are assembled together, not in isolation. Acts 2:42 and Acts 20:7 are just some examples demonstrating that.

The Lord is understanding of your circumstances and he knows your heart.

..................................

Regarding feet washing, here is what the scripture says:

John 13:10
Jesus says to him, He that is washed all over needs not to wash save his feet, but is wholly clean; and ye are clean, but not all.

He that is washed all over is cleansed from sin once and for all by the death of Christ.

That being said, as we pass through this sinful world, we can get defiled along the way, our feet can get dirty. When the Lord was here, people wore sandals and your feet would get dusty and dirty from walking.

The washing of our feet therefore needs to be done continually.

John 10:14-15
If I therefore, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet; for I have given you an example that, as I have done to you, ye should do also.

The Lord says wash one another's feet. As brothers and sisters, it is our loving duty to each other, that when we see a defilement, to wash it off by the word.

So practically, we have the Bible (the word of God) which we use to help bring our brother or sister to the knowledge of whatever it is that they are doing that is defiling them.

The way in which we show a brother or a sister their sin, is not in a harsh way, I'm sure the Lord washed his disciples feet gently and with love and it is in that manner, we also point fault out to a brother or a sister:

Galatians 6:1
Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.

When we go to break bread, we want to be breaking bread free of any defilement.

1 Cor 11:28
Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

Before breaking the bread, any sin we have should be confessed and repentented for.

So, washing one another's feet is an act of love but remember, we are washed all over once only, and that was done at Calvary.