Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 8/16/2010

Question
HI i was wondering if you could tell me if a person eats the Lords supper in an unworthy manor in ignorance not understanding there could be judgement will he be judged?1  corinthians 11
27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood[d] of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner[e] eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s[f] body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

thank you

Answer
Hi Simon,

Thanks for this great question.  This passage would seem to indicate that people were suffering consequences for thiir sins involving the Lord's Supper and that they didn't really realize why.  That is why Paul had to tell them that people were sick and dying because of what they did with comuntion.  So, it looks like in that situation at least, it was possible to not fully realize what you were doing and suffer for it.  As to any specific situation, I cannot say for sure.  I do believe that one can sin and fall under God's hand because of a lack of understanding.

Hosea 4:6
6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.  
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.

I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don