The Dangers of Communion.

Paul had received very terrible news in letters sent from those who were concern for their church in Corinth. Paul found the information so disturbing he wrote back marking his text with pop out statement in hopes of saving many from falling backward from Christ and into the cultic worship of the Greeks.

Their church was in great trouble, plagued by the enemy, as is any church who forms in the name of Christ; yet, the Corinthians were so complacent they did not see it.

In today's church we find many of the same attitudes these, whom Paul wrote to, were displaying. In today's church there are many who are board with their church experience; in order for these to stay awake they need grandeur, noise, and have itching ears for message with charisma.

Also in today's churches you have many who are becoming callused to being hurt by others in the church. They did not like the way they were spoken to or felt rejected. They wanted to fit in and gave up when things got tough. Expecting saints they found sinners and it made their church experience less than fulfilling. These focused on the shortcomings of people and took their eyes of the calling of God.

Paul had words of warning to these people and the same apply to us today. Thus we explore "the dangers of communion."

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 (NKJV)

Weak, sick, and asleep... This is the condition of many in our churches. Pastors struggle with how to wake people up to cause them to take the mission of redemption serious. Pastors see people come through the doors with a smile and leave with a smile, yet these never get involved beyond that. This means only one thing; these parishioners are sleep walking when they should be awake and active.

Everyone in the church takes communion when it is passed out; yet beyond hearing the words, what are people doing with the message? Do they not feel compelled to give their entire life to God as did Christ for the church?

Churches have a responsibility to communion. Done right, communion becomes a life changing power that Christ intended it to be. Done wrong it becomes a dangerous life condemning mistake and is as if taking the Lord's name in vain.

From these words of Paul’s it is obvious that God will hold people accountable for not letting communion become part of their life transformation in becoming a servant of God.

Some churches suffer needlessly and their pastors are busy putting bandages on wounds to large to heal on their own. They may bandage wounds, yet the infection spreads throughout the body. This is why Paul is taking medicine to the cause of the infection.

Many churches wonder why attendance is low, why contributions are low. They wonder why they have trouble finding teachers to help in the youth ministry. The truth is the people are not truly repenting from their old life and want to have a new life without becoming like Christ who was a servant.

When taking the communion bread, not only should be remember Christ's suffering, but why He suffered. Jesus was obedient in every aspect of His life so we might have a way to be saved from the way we were, lost in sin.

Reflecting on this, every Christians is to look inside their heart to see if they have let Christ fix every broken part and the measurement of restoration of our heart is Jesus Christ Himself.

The name Christian means "To be like Christ." Thus as we measure the restoration of our lives, looking to see if we are like Christ, we will see the areas which need healing.

Paul taught we are to let Christ's attitude, to serve, be in us. If we are like Christ, it should be all consuming and where it is not, we identify for healing. This is the analysis we are to perform in communion.

For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. 1 Corinthians 11:31-32 (NKJV)

Judgment has to begin in the house of God and communion is the tool. Thus if a person takes communion only to eat the bread and drink the wine without this analysis, they are asleep to the fact they are not being saved from their sin. They are missing their calling to be like Christ.

The wine or juice served in communion has purpose to. It is to remind us Jesus' blood was shed to cover our sins. Yet do not let the phrase, "cover our sins" lead you to think they are swept like dirt under a rug. Jesus spilled His blood that we may be forgiven and the measure of forgiveness is repentance.

Repentance occurs when we identify areas we fall short of and allow God to heal them, so they do not cause us to sin again. Repentance is turning away from the undesirable and restoring the desirable. Repentance is allowing God to change your life.

All of this is in communion. Identification of sin, identification of the need to change, a model of the way we should be, and a way to be forgiven. Coupled with the power to change, the church should be a unified servant, like multiple Jesus walking, serving, and ministering throughout the church.

Yet, the church is not like this. Like Paul says, people are a sleep. People are taking communion without seeing the importance it has for our salvation and that is as eating and drinking damnation to their souls.

Where many churches put communion up front in their services, it would be better if communion were put it last. If the service begins with worship and prayer, then the pastor delivered the word given to him from God, the hearts of the people will be ready for communion.

Then if the people are led to reflect on what salvation cost Jesus and led to reflect on their own response to God, every person attending that service will be powerfully touched, powerfully transformed, and the church would be awake!

Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 1 Corinthians 11:33 (NKJV)

So we had a good church service, what then? Paul says to wait for one another. We have had communion with God and now this communion needs to be shared with each other. When people talk about God's work in their life, others are encouraged to continue. Would it not be terrible to know a person left church brokenhearted, with a wounded spirit, to give up on themselves as if they failed the Lord?

It is our responsibility as servants - "like Christ," to fellowship, talk, discuss, and pray for each other. Though the church doors are open, the church service does not end there. Fellowship with each other is also a measurement of our understanding of our mission. This is where true ministry begins.

As Paul did here, people need to be reminded their ministry begins when they walk out the door of the church. Together in unity we build strong lives. We reach out to the needy, and we make plans to continue in fellowship throughout the week.

Some need help in their home ministries, others their work ministries. Then there are those who need assistance with life's demands. The palsied, the orphaned, the widower, and the parent, these we pray with, encourage, and find opportunities to help.

Every church needs to think about how their church is made and utilize areas to congregate in after the service. A court yard, a grassed area, and make it pleasant to tarry; for fellowship is a place where the change of our hearts after communion can be solidified.

However, in Corinth there were particular social problems to deal with; even as each of our churches have different problems. In Corinth, some came only for the food and the little bread with juice was not enough for them. These wanted a feast and Paul felt the only way to deal with them was direct and sternly. If they will not respect the reverence of the work of Jesus Christ then they will be judged and their soul in jeopardy.

But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come. 1 Corinthians 11:34 (NKJV)

We must teach our churches the importance of communion with God and with each other. We want to avoid people developing wrong understandings about what we are at church for. When we do, our people will become strong and our churches will be able to do more to further the gospel.