Expert: Dr. Ronald E. Shultz - 5/14/2009

Question
I am a Christian and have been baptized. Sometimes, however, I do not partake in the Lord's Supper. My understanding from 1 Cor 11 is that I need to analyze self and if I am not taking sober judgement of myself I should not take it. I have recently been talked to about this, that I should take it every week regardless of how "I" feel that it is remembrance of Christ.
What are your thoughts?

Answer
Look at the whole context of the passage. What was going on?  They were getting drunk and selfishly pigging out without sharing with the poorer brethren. They viewed the Lord's Supper as a Christian version of the average pagan party where you ate and drank until you had to remove yourself to the vomitorium so that you could move to the next party and do it all again.  That is true gluttony.  People have a wrong view of that and pick on the fat kids unbibically.

So because they just thought this was a party or orgy dedicated to Christ instead of Zeus, Venus or Bacchus, Paul got in their face.  The Lord's Supper is a memory of what Christ did for you and is a testimony to the world that He is coming back.  Those are serious issues and the ordinace should not be taken lightly or abused.  

The only ones that I know do the Lord's Supper every week are the Church of Christ and Catholics. If you are a Baptist, I would be curious as to what branch?  Regardless, we are told to do it as oft as we do it and in the early Church it may have been a daily thing as they met to eat daily.  

Our particular method is not really how it should be done.  As you see in the original story of the Last Supper and in I Cor 11 there is a full meal involved, not a streamlined process with a bit of cracker and a taste of juice.  I think that has taken away from the meaning and atmosphere of the ordinance.  We don't get the complete feel of the moment, if you know what I mean.  

Taking it every week can make it mundane and uneventful or unmeaningful. Taking it because it just something you do like brushing your hair or shining your shoes is as bad as if you had some sin you have not confessed.  

It isn't really about feeling, but obedience since we are commanded to partake BUT if you take it just because it is there but not truly involved with it then which is the greater sin; disobedience by abstaining or taking it robotically?  From looking at the text, we don't know if there were any abstainers but those who did not partake in a worthy manner or in the right frame of mind and heart got sick, laid up and some died.  

Thus contrary to what you have been advised, if you cannot properly be appreciative of your salvation and are eager to tell the world He is coming again then I say do not take it until you can.  On the other hand, you wll never be worthy to take it for no one is worthy.
Except for His mercy, grace and salvation, we would only be worthy to eat at the table of satan.  We are declared sons and daughters and thus worthy to partake of the Supper because He said so, but He does not want apathy or robotic partaking of it. Yes, confess any sins and realize that without Him this would be meaningless and without Him you would not be worthy to partake.  In that heart and mind you can partake and you will be doing so in the worthy manner the passage is saying that it must be done in to avoid chastisement.

I hope that helps!  Blessings to you as you seek Him through His Word and as you seek and find you will find the feeling you need to joyfully partake of His Supper no matter how often that you do it!  Peace be unto you!!!