The Power of the Lord's Supper

I was recently blown away by the Apostle Paul's instructions regarding the Lord's Supper in 1 Cor 11. Paul told the Corinthian Church that it wasn't really the Lord's Supper that they celebrated when they gathered together to eat.

When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. Don't you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Should I praise you for this? Certainly not! (1 cor 11:20-22)

In fact, there were some significant problems that arose when this gathering occurred. This remembrance instructed by Jesus should have served to unite Christians in reverent thanksgiving for God's gift of His son. Instead, these folks seemed to focus on their own flesh, consuming wine and bread without consideration of each other. This is in direct opposition of the hearts of the apostle Paul, who on multiple occasions exhorted Christians to act in unity. For example, he wrote to the church of Phillipi, "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but out of humility consider others better than yourselves" (Phil 2:3). Of course, this vision of Christian unity came from Jesus Christ, who prayed that his future followers would "be brought to complete unity" to let the world know that he was sent by the Father (John 17:23). Instead, these distortions of the Lord's Supper did more harm than good, creating division in the church of Corinth (1 cor 11:17-18).

That part isn't terribly shocking. Unity in the Church is, was, and will be important to Jesus' heart. The part that surprised me followed shortly afterward when Paul wrote...

Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body and the blood of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment.

Whoh! Paul said that abuse of the Lord's Supper resulted in sickness and death among the Corinthian church. There is something very powerful about this rememberance of Jesus Christ's body and blood. I'm not talking about trans-substantiation here - whether or not the bread wine actually become flesh and blood. What I am saying is that there is something very powerful about the Lord's Supper. Beyond the symbolism of the elements, there is something spiritual and something physical about the act. It actually carries weight, and it actually affects you!

Christian Entertainment & "Socialtainment"
If Jesus had come in a more technicalogically privileged context, do you think that he would ever sit at home alone watching a TV show? I can't imagine this happening. Might he go to the theater with the disciples once in a while? Perhaps. Would he be on Facebook or MySpace? Probably not. Would Jesus 12 closest disciples be into social networking? Probably. I could see Peter tweeting about the latest thing that blew his mind while following Jesus.

It's fun to imagine this scenario of Jesus in a tech-savvy world, but God sent his Son when and where He did on purpose. It doesn't make sense whatsoever to think of Jesus coming for the first time in today's context - because today's context and the way we think today were deeply shaped by Jesus' first coming.

There's a point to these ramblings though. Our generation (teens, single 20-somethings and 30-somethings) has greater opportunity for entertainment in more convenient ways than ever before. At the same time, God's kingdom and Satan's earthly dominion are simultaneously growing more powerful every day. I fear that much of the Church in the USA and other wealthy, western countries will be left in the dust as the tension between these kingdoms grows.

God's heart is for those who are desperate. Jesus listed as "blessed" those who are poor in spirit, those mourning, the meek, the hungry and thirsty, the merciful, pure in heart, the peacemakers and the persecuted. WHY? These are the ones who either ARE desperate for God's help or ARE HELPING those who are desperate for God's help. These are the ones who take part in Christs revolutionary kingdom, the ones who have the greatest inheritence.

He or she with the largest church doesn't win.

Of course, poor people aren't necessarily close to God, and rich people aren't evil, but "it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven," and it is the one who is desperate for Jesus who gets Jesus in the greatest measure. I, David Carl Enders, can testify from my personal experience that it is when I am most entertained that I am the least hungry / thirsty / desperate for Jesus.

Maybe we Christian young adults should be less concerned about entertaining ourselves and each other, and more concerned about hunger for Jesus. More concerned about having His heart for those in desperation.

If you are reading this post, you are probably rich. You are probably one of my friends, you probably have enough food, clean water, clothes and transportation. I do too. That puts us in the top 15% of the world's wealthiest - automatically (Radical, David Platt 115). If you're reading this you are literate and have access to the internet too. You and I are the upper crust whether we like it or not.

And like Pastor Steve says, can the lame excuses :)

I want to be part of a revolutionary community that lives out. Let's set social trends in our sphere of influence that emphasize the Word, service, giving, and the supernatural over hanging out, eating, watching movies and playing games? I really enjoy celebration and having fun - but it's like dessert, and I'm kind of in sugar shock. I need a real meal. Jesus said that his food was to do the will of the One who sent him and to finish his work (John 4:34). Jesus finished his part, but there is much left to be done. We, disciples of disciples, were sent out by Jesus 2000 years ago to make disciples (Matt 28:19), to be united (John 17:23), to love God and to love people. We the Church of the USA do not love people if we ignore the suffering of the masses while we enjoy comfort and entertainment. "'Everything is permissible for me' but not everything is beneficial" (1Cor 6:12). Enjoy a movie, some games, and some hanging out here and there. Don't be legalistic. But do not be mastered by anything.

To those who have much, much will be required (luke 12:48). A life that prioritizes entertainment is not what the Lord requires - instead let's embrace just action, a love for mercy, a humble walk (Micah 6:8).

I say all of this for my own benefit more than anyone else's.
I have not yet perfected any of it.
Thanks for reading :)