Communion?

[MystyRock]

Tomorrow is the first Sunday of the month; communion at our church.

I either avoid church on that day or leave early; I am still uncomfortable with communion. In the past 2 years, I've gone from a church drop out to semi-atheist (briefly) and then agnostic; now Methodist. Or at least mostly Methodist.

Is it a sin to not take communion?

 

[BryanW92]

Why don't you want to take communion?

 

[MystyRock]

Not exactly sure - It's an uncomfortable situation for me.

 

[BryanW92]

Well, its not a sin to not take it. It's actually more of a sin to take communion when you don't feel that you can take it worthily. But even in that case, "sin" may be too harsh of a word.

The real issue for you to ponder is why it is uncomfortable for you. I was functionally an atheist/agnostic for 30 years. The first time I took communion in my life was at age 45, and it was strange. I did not feel like I should, but then I realized that God had brought me to that point in time and in that place and now he's offering something that I've never had before. I listened to the words of the pastor as she did the Service as it is printed in the hymnal, waiting for the warning that I should not come forward because I wasn't a member or hadn't done an altar call or any of a dozen reasons. It isn't in there. It welcomes all. So, I took the bread and cup and told myself as I was doing it that "this is it. I'm all-in for this Jesus guy now." It was not a bad feeling at all!

 

[circuitrider]

MystyRock, Our United Methodist understanding is that communion is a grace gift from God. God doesn't need or ask you to be anything or anyone in particular to share at the table. All are invited. And in this cases all means all. Methodist, non-Methodist, Christian, Agnostic, and unbeliever.

Our Methodist founder John Wesley believed so strongly in the power of the sacrament he called it a "converting" element believing that someone might might Christ for the first time at the table of the Lord.

I would encourage you to accept the gift of grace as it is offered also knowing there is never any pressure to commune. But neither is there any reason not to.

 

[circuitrider]

Well, its not a sin to not take it. It's actually more of a sin to take communion when you don't feel that you deserve it. But even in that case, "sin" may be too harsh of a word.

I disagree. We never deserve communion. We should never gague our need for the sacrament based on feeling alone. Christ invites us to the table. We are there at his invitation. That is all the worthiness anyone ever needs.

 

[MystyRock]

I disagree. We never deserve communion. We should never gague our need for the sacrament based on feeling alone. Christ invites us to the table. We are there at his invitation. That is all the worthiness anyone ever needs.

Don't we need to be in an active relationship with God first?

 

[A Rhys]

If you believe baptism and the Lord's supper are ordinances, and that participating in the ordinances is a part of obeying Christ, then you should want to participate in them -- if you are uncomfortable with the ordinances, you are probably uncomfortable with Christ. Keep praying, and when you feel ready, take communion. Until then, keep evaluating your motives.

 

[GraceSeeker]

I disagree. We never deserve communion. We should never gague our need for the sacrament based on feeling alone. Christ invites us to the table. We are there at his invitation. That is all the worthiness anyone ever needs.

At my seminary, the professors always asked the students to pray at the beginning of each class. I can remember on one occasion, the student began...

"Lord, be gracious to us worthless sinners..."

The professor cut him off right in the middle of his prayer, "Mr. Smith, you may be a sinner and you may not be worthy, but you are most certainly not a worthless sinner. Jesus died because God saw not only your sin, but thought you were worth redeeming from it. Please begin again: 'Lord, be gracious to us unworthy sinners...' "

 

[BryanW92]

I disagree. We never deserve communion. We should never gague our need for the sacrament based on feeling alone. Christ invites us to the table. We are there at his invitation. That is all the worthiness anyone ever needs.

As usual, you assume extremism in everything I say. The bible says this: "Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves." (1Cor 11:28-29). That is what I and any rational person would think when someone says "if you feel that you deserve it".

 

[circuitrider]

Don't we need to be in an active relationship with God first?

No MystyRock. God provides grace for us. United Methodists call this "prevenient grace." God is persuing a relationship with you before you ever respond. One of the ways God is seeking a relationship with you is inviting you to the table.

 

[circuitrider]

If you believe baptism and the Lord's supper are ordinances, and that participating in the ordinances is a part of obeying Christ, then you should want to participate in them -- if you are uncomfortable with the ordinances, you are probably uncomfortable with Christ. Keep praying, and when you feel ready, take communion. Until then, keep evaluating your motives.

United Methodist theology is that the communion and baptism are sacraments rather than ordinances. The difference is that sacraments provide grace. Ordinance is a term that means "doing it because you are ordered to." Usually I primarily hear Baptists use the term "ordinances" because they don't believe in sacraments.

 

[circuitrider]

As usual, you assume extremism in everything I say. The bible says this: "Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves." (1Cor 11:28-29). That is what I and any rational person would think when someone says "if you feel that you deserve it".

Bryan, I just read what you write. Could it be that you take a more extreme position in your writing than you mean to? The written word often comes out differently than the spoken word.

And as to "that is what any rational person" would mean by "deserve." No it isn't Bryan. There is a big difference between "taking worthily" and "deserving." We never deserve God's grace. That's why it is called grace. If we waited until we felt we deserved it then we'd be committing the sin of pride and wouldn't deserve it either.

Oh, and thanks for calling me irrational.

 

[circuitrider]

At my seminary, the professors always asked the students to pray at the beginning of each class. I can remember on one occasion, the student began...

"Lord, be gracious to us worthless sinners..."

The professor cut him off right in the middle of his prayer, "Mr. Smith, you may be a sinner and you may not be worthy, but you are most certainly not a worthless sinner. Jesus died because God saw not only your sin, but thought you were worth redeeming from it. Please begin again: 'Lord, be gracious to us unworthy sinners...' "

Amen!

 

[GivingMyAll4Him]

MystyRock, it sounds like you and I have had a similar experience. I traveled a path a lot like yours. (Me: Christian, questioning-everything Christian, atheist, Christian who still asks a lot of questions).

As a pastor, if I notice someone who is not receiving communion, I only find it curious. No judgment, no condemnation, no pity, nothing more than curiosity. So if you want to attend, and choose not to receive communion, that's okay. Really.

If you want to receive communion, you are no more or less worthy to receive it than any of us. The meal is symbolism of a life, death and resurrection that has already taken place, and as a Christian, you have already received the benefits of communion. The meal is a way of participating with Christ in His new order of creation.

I'm certain that I'm reading more into what you said than you intended, but you asked if it is a sin not to "take" communion. There is nothing about communion to be "taken," only to be received. And the meal is only a means of participating in the gift that you, as a follower of Jesus, have already received.

Communion is special and beautiful, and shouldn't make anyone feel uncomfortable. But if you do, you are under no obligation. You may choose not to participate in the meal.

RE: 1 Cor 11:28-29, when Jesus offered the first meal, he offered it to Judas, who he knew was betraying him. In the 1 Cor passage, what does it mean to "discern the body"? And what is the judgment? The judgment of God? Of the community of faith? Of humans? Of self?

In 1 Cor 10:16-17, Paul has already referred to the Church as "the body." He'll do it again, and more in-depth, at 12:12–31.

So what does it mean to discern the body? It means that we are called to recognize the communal significance of the meal, and that we mustn't receive it selfishly.

The Eucharist is not to be feared, but to be received with joyous gratitude. Should we "take" it in selfishness, we are casting judgment upon ourselves. But should we receive it as a community-shaping gift, which reminds us of the awesome self-sacrificial love of Jesus, we should feel nothing but joy and gratitude.

 

[BryanW92]

Bryan, I just read what you write. Could it be that you take a more extreme position in your writing than you mean to? The written word often comes out differently than the spoken word.

And as to "that is what any rational person" would mean by "deserve." No it isn't Bryan. There is a big difference between "taking worthily" and "deserving." We never deserve God's grace. That's why it is called grace. If we waited until we felt we deserved it then we'd be committing the sin of pride and wouldn't deserve it either.

Oh, and thanks for calling me irrational.

I had never heard the term "taking worthily" until today so I'm sorry if I confused you with my laity-speak.

 

[circuitrider]

Bryan, I have no idea what this has to do with you being a layperson. The word "worthily" or "unworthily" is often used about this passage.

If you look at 1 Cor. 11:27 and following the headline many NRSV bibles is "Partaking of the Supper unworthily." Worthily is simply the opposite of unworthilty. The text says, "in an unworthy manner."

What the text is actually talking about is taking communion without taking it seriously not about personal worthiness. It is about worthy or unworthy actions not personal worthiness.

 

[BryanW92]

Bryan, I have no idea what this has to do with you being a layperson. The word "worthily" or "unworthily" is often used about this passage.

If you look at 1 Cor. 11:27 and following the headline many NRSV bibles is "Partaking of the Supper unworthily." Worthily is simply the opposite of unworthilty. The text says, "in an unworthy manner."

What the text is actually talking about is taking communion without taking it seriously not about personal worthiness. It is about worthy or unworthy actions not personal worthiness.

OK, Reverend. I agree completely. I'll edit my post.

 

[circuitrider]

Bryan, I know lay people who are also Bible scholars. Please don't ever feel that not being among the ordained makes your views any less valuable.

 

[BryanW92]

Bryan, I know lay people who are also Bible scholars. Please don't ever feel that not being among the ordained makes your views any less valuable.

I don't. I just learned a new church term today, so I fixed the post. Thanks.