Communion

[Shane Roach]

I guess a lot of Christians have felt at least at some time in their walk that they were left out at church. I have heard a lot of people advise getting involved to cure this, but at some point there are only so many chiefs needed, and not only that, but a lot of us little indians are not in a place yet to be able to jump into that. It seems we have ministries for all sorts of things, but yet still more and more people seem to be falling through the cracks. I don't know, maybe that's just me.

When I think of the communion supper, it strikes me as a get together almost like some of these gangland movies where you see a guy dump some beer on the ground in memory of some friend of his that died. Let me be clear about that, I am not comparing Christian communion with gangs. What I am saying, is that when Christ said, "Do this as oft as you will in remembrance of me," that implies something a lot more personal than once a week or, in a lot of protestant denominations, once a month walking down to take an impersonal bite of wafer and wine or juice. "Where two or more are gathered in my name, I am there also," he says at one point. Isn't that what the word "communion" really means?

So I guess the point of this post is to see if I can scare up some people in favor of a little revival on the concept of Christian communion in the very real sense of actually getting together, talking, spending time and making relationships that will help folk in their walk. I'm hoping maybe some ideas will come out of this huge online community on how to bring a little togetherness down to the local church level.

If there are other threads on this subject I have missed, or if this belongs somewhere else, I am sorry. Hope you will be gentle with me if it has to be moved or else point me in the right direction where to join another thread?

 

[HoT-MetaL]

Amen brother!

Communion was taken whilst Jesus was sitting there, chilling with some mates, it was a sombre occasion, everyone was just going with the flow.

Or in non-me terms, Jesus was relaxing (the bible says reclining) with his best friends, at a meal time, the occasion was sombre, and everyone was just enjoying fellowship.

Communion was not "And now we shall take a holy communion, to remember Jesus, please queque up in an orderly fashion, whilst we administer a holy law, in rememberance of Jesus."

COME ON WHY HAS COMMUNION BECOME SUCH A BORING THING?????

We should get together with friends, play some football, fellowship, and take communion.

Confess your sins one to another, take communion, remember youre meeting in rememberance of Jesus.

It doesnt matter whether or not you believe transubstination, you dont have to be in a church - Jesus wasnt!

Just chill out and relax - communion IS holy, im not saying it isnt, but God is omnipresent, it doesnt matter when and where or who with. Its in rememberance of him, for his glory.

God Bless, metal.

 

[KleinerApfel]

I agree, communion should be a lot more about fellowship with each other as well as with Christ, but bringing that about can be very difficult. I too get very frustrated at times by formal liturgy and tradition in my church.

However, one point in favour of formality is that everyone knows what's expected of them - what they should be doing/saying - at least once they've been a few times. There are no scary unknowns, no close contact and personal relationship issues to deal with. Yes, I know, that's awful, but sometimes I don't feel like interacting, or at other timesI wish I could find deeper fellowship, but can't always manage it.

The point is, a person can still go along to church and be among Christ's people, benefiting from the general worship, prayer and teaching, even when for some reason they are feeling "out of it" socially.

Maybe if it was all very pally that would be great, but I do think there are always people "on the edges" of any group, sadly even Christian groups.

As for "getting involved" as a means to feel included and valued - you can be very busy at church, maybe even have a high profile ministry, yet still find it really hard to develop close relationships with your brothers and sisters.

When we get to heaven one of the greatest things will be the joyful ease and transparency of all our relationships. No more "walking wounded" at the Lord's Wedding Banquet!

See you there!

Susana

 

[KleinerApfel]

I should add, housegroups/homegroups or whatever you call them, are the best place I've found for fellowship. You may even be allowed to combine these with an occasional "breaking of bread" just for your group, which can be very much closer to the original idea I would think.

 

[ThereseTheLittleFlower]

I don't think Communion is boring. You are in Church recieving Communion, I don't care whether your Protestant or Catholic, our Lord and Savior, died for us, and this is our way of remembering him, it's not a social picnic, nor should it be.

God Bless!

Renee

 

[Shane Roach]

I don't think Communion is boring. You are in Church recieving Communion, I don't care whether your Protestant or Catholic, our Lord and Savior, died for us, and this is our way of remembering him, it's not a social picnic, nor should it be.

God Bless!

Renee

Well, I think the "boring" comments were not meant to imply remembering Jesus is boring. I don't really agree that it shouldn't be a "picnic". It can be a picnic, or liturgical, either way.

I think my basic concern was how to get more into the spirit of fellowship together as a body of believers. I never meant this to become some sort of debate thread at all, and certainly I am not campaigning for doing away with liturgical communion. Rather, I was hoping to have some sort of thoughts on how to go a step further towards drawing ourselves together as Christians.

 

[looksgood]

Hehe...I never thought of that. But your right. Communioun is fellowship. It is shareing our bread and about thanking God for what was done. It is about being one body under the head of christ. AMEN!