Might I suggest a different take on communion? In 1 Corinthians 11 where it speaks of commuinion it speaks of it as the Lords supper....well hearing tapes about his subject through the years I recall many saying to the effect,
"You know in that day they took it as a big banquet supper...and then they brought out the bread and the wine..."Well after many years I begain to ask the quesiton....yes they had it as a supper...and that's why they called it the Lords Supper....that's good...but why don't we do it that same way today?? And I got thinking about this after hearing some other teaching on it concerning having it as a supper....where everybody brings something....the world has the term pot luck? Well reading then through the verses about communion something made sense which many wonder
about....what did Paul mean when he stated that if we judge ourselves we will not be judged....Now I know that can have various true meanings....for sure....but in the actual text what was being referred to....I found this interesting......1 Corinthians 11: 21,22 its speaking about people who were coming to the Supper, and not understanding a certain important thing...they didn't want to wait until everyone got there....they were more concerned about filling their stomachs then what the Lords Supper really represented and that is the rich fellowship in the spirit we have between each other....then we hear the verses about if we judge ourselves...we will not be judged....and the chapter ends off what it was speaking about in the actual context....
verse 34 states, Wherefore my brethren when you come
together to eat, tarry or wait for one another...And if any man hunger let him eat at home....that you come not together unto condemnation....so the thing people could come under judgement about was walking out of love towards brethren by not being nice and waiting for them....Now after the meal....you have the wine or grapejuice whatever one uses....and I believe they used the one loaf that is not being broken....one loaf....held up before them all....representing that we are one body....but the way many take communion is on a platter with all the bread broken already in pieces....well doesn't that signify division? Well, you take the one loaf hold it before all the people....you declare we are one.....and everyone starts feeling apart of the oneness....Christ is the head and we are the body...and we are one....then
you break the loaf and everyone eats a part of the oneness.....well the gathering of believers I go to now do it this way....im not saying doing it the other way is wrong doctrine or sin or whatever....but I suggest this way is a little more precious....we also know as well...whenever you might go to a pop luck supper at say your work....everybody brings something....what does it create? A feeling of belonging to the group....they begin to feel this meal is us.....we are one and we are sharing something of ourselves....well I do feel doing it this way in church does create a feeling of unity and harmony like the other way doesn't quite do the same....well that's my opinion anyway.... Have A Nice Day....