seeing the glory of God in the ordinary things of life
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On a forum

by richard

Here’s a post (verbatim, emphasis and all) from a forum, in response to the statement that the Sacraments are not for individual use, but instead are for the church, to be received and celebrated together…

well…perhaps there’s something wrong me then,
perhaps i’m in grievous error.
communion is such an emotionally intense time for me,
i’m really not focusing on other people,
only what’s in/what has been in my heart,
the agony Christ suffered for me before His crucifixion,
and how each and every one of my sins drove nails into His flesh
before they raised Him on His cross…
and how overwhelmed and grateful i am that He chose me for His own,
how He reached down and pulled me from a cesspool of hell on earth,
and seated me as one with Him in the heavens.
i usually can’t get through communion without breaking down.
you know, maybe i am just a self-absorbed jerk,
but in all honesty…i’m not actively communing with the congregation during communion. i’m focuing on my relationship with Jesus Christ, what He has done and continues to do for me, my strengths and weaknesses as a Christian, asking for forgiveness, asking for sustenance, praising His name, thanking Him for His provision, compassion, and mercy. i thought that was the point…self-examination and recognition of Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior…being joined with Him by His body and His blood.

5 comments

1 Trevor Acorn { 08.30.06 at 1200 }

yikes.

I missed that one.

2 Valerie (Kyriosity) { 08.31.06 at 0839 }

I think the Lord can do something with that attitude if this person is truly focuding on his relationship with Christ. Perhaps next time, in this writer’s self-examination, the Holy Spirit will prod him (or her?) with “he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?”

3 Rae { 08.31.06 at 1117 }

That’s an appreciable sentiment, I think, Richard. Not as fully-orbed a picture of the Lord’s Supper as one should have, sure, but this is probably better than what about 80% of churchgoers – evangelical ones, even – think when they partake.

4 richard { 08.31.06 at 1319 }

There’s no doubt that God can use that kind of attitude, and that there is an element to it that can be appreciated.

However, hearing someone describe their participation in the Lord’s Supper by saying, “i’m really not focusing on other people” or “i’m not actively communing with the congregation during communion. i’m focuing on my relationship with Jesus Christ” should be striking and jarring to us. It is inconsistent with the nature and symbolism of the Supper.

I didn’t post the quote to make any commentary about the individual that wrote it. Rather, because it is such a common understanding of the Supper among believers, I posted it as commentary about the corporate church, particularly in north america.

5 Valerie (Kyriosity) { 09.06.06 at 0031 }

It is striking and jarring to me now, but a few years ago the idea that the Supper was about more than me and my personal Jesus would have been striking and jarring. No idea where this person is, of course, but I just wanted to inject a hopeful note. :-)

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