What’s the Deal with
The Lord’s Supper?
Presence
Sunday, I begin a new series on What’s the Deal with the Lord’s Supper? This will be similar to my recent series on Baptism.
While we usually use the terms The Lord’s Supper or Communion to describe or denominate this memorial, it is also true that the Lord’s Supper can be described (along with baptism) as a sacrament. Sacrament (as defined by the Anglican Book of Common Prayer) is
“An outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace given unto us, ordained by Christ himself, as a means whereby we receive the same, and a pledge to assure us thereof.”
We traditionally not been comfortable using sacrament in our faith tradition, but you must admit, when it comes to baptism, this definition is more than accurate. As we begin our present study of the Lord’s Supper, I believe the term, sacrament, so defined, is also an accurate description of our Communion with Christ.
In the taking of the Lord’s Supper, we experience the presence of Christ. The outward and visible signs are the bread and the wine (juice in our tradition). The spiritual grace is the presence of Christ in that special moment of participation. This is no more a mere symbolic participation than being immersed in water is a mere symbol of our union with Christ. No, the taking of the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper is a means whereby we experience the presence of Christ in that moment and a pledge to assure us of his continuing presence within the church and throughout our lives. Paul explained this to the Corinthian church.
1 Corinthians 10:16-21 Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.
I know language such as this may be uncomfortable, especially for those familiar with the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. What the scripture affirms has nothing to do with this false view of what happens to the bread and wine. However, the Lord’s supper is also not merely a memorial of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Among other things, it is an invitation to participate in the presence of Christ himself.
I’ll say more in my lesson! Joey
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