YEAR 2023 SYNOD THEME: AN EXTRACT FROM THE BISHOP'S CHARGE
Biblical Teachings
In 1 Cor 10:16, the apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthians for their involvement with idolatry. He referred to the cup as ‘the communion of the blood of Christ" and the bread as "the communion of the body of Christ.’ The Greek word for communion has the meaning of ‘fellowship, participating, and sharing.’ From the context, Paul is saying that when Christians partake of the cup and the bread, they are participating in the benefits of Christ's death and resurrection life. The most important of these benefits are the assurance of sins forgiven (through Christ's blood) and the assurance of Christ's presence and power (through His body). The ‘one body’ (the universal church) in 1 Cor 10:17 connects with the ‘body of Christ’ in verse 16 in the sense that the entire church of Christ is organically related to the living, glorified human body of Christ now in heaven. Therefore, when we partake of the Holy Communion, we are re-enacting the mysterious connection of Christ’s body in heaven, and His body (the Church) on earth.
That is why negative things befall those who partake of it unwholesomely. In 1 Cor 11:17-34 Paul rebuked the Corinthians for their pride and greed during the meal that accompanied the Eucharist (vv. 17-22). Then (vv. 23-25) he described the institution of the Lord's Supper and emphasized the need for Christians to partake in a worthy manner. Many of them who had not been doing so were weak and sick, and many had even died because of God's judgment (vv. 27-34).
Why does Paul use such strong language when speaking of the abuse of the Lord's Supper? The Corinthians were not properly discerning or recognizing the Lord's body. The wealthy Corinthians who shamed their poorer Christian brothers and sisters by their selfish eating practices (vv. 21-22) were not discerning the true nature of the church as Christ's body in which all distinctions of social class, race, etc. were blotted out (Gal 3:28).
On the other hand, Christians who received the bread and the cup after behaving disgracefully were failing to discern that Christ would not automatically bless and empower those who received the sacrament in this manner. Such persons were guilty of sin against the body and blood of Jesus (v. 27).
Eucharist for us Today
When we ask how the Lord's Supper should be meaningful to the Christian today, three concepts - relating to the past, present, and future - can be helpful.
First, the Lord's Supper is a time of remembrance and Eucharist. Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of Me’ (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor 11:24-25). This is not to be so much our dwelling on the agonies of the crucifixion as it is to be our remembering the marvellous life and ministry of our Saviour. The Eucharist is to be an occasion for expressing our deepest praise and appreciation for all Jesus Christ has done for us.
Just as one step in the Jewish Passover meal was to proclaim the Hebrews’ deliverance from Egyptian bondage (Ex 12:26-27), so in the Supper Christians proclaim their deliverance from sin and misery through the death of "Christ, our Passover" (1 Cor 5:7; 11:26).
Second, the Supper is a time of refreshing and communion. As we participate in the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection life (Rom 5:10; 1 Cor 10:16), we are actually being nourished and empowered from the risen Christ through the Spirit.
John Wesley knew of this strengthening. On the average, he received communion every four or five days throughout his long and fruitful ministerial career. It is not that God cannot empower us without the Lord's Supper, but that He has instituted the Supper for us, even as He has designated prayer and the hearing of Scripture as means of communicating His grace.
Third, the Supper is a time of recommitment and anticipation. We are to examine (literally "prove" or "test") ourselves and partake in a worthy manner (1 Cor 11:28-29). In so doing we renew our dedication to Christ and His people, in hopeful anticipation "till He comes" (1 Cor 11:26). After Christ's return, we shall partake with Him-in His physical presence-in the kingdom (Matt 26:29).