Open, close, or closed communion

[rsc2a]

[quote author=christundivided]On a side note, most congregation seem to do communion too often... Just seems some get carried away...[/quote]

[quote author=christundivided]Communion is a focus on Christ alone. It is not a means to a end. Whatever might replace that focus or whatever motives you to partake are in question. You're hung up "things"... when the verse is about a pure, rich, all consuming focus on Christ. [/quote]

One of these is not like the other.

 

[christundivided]

[quote author=christundivided]On a side note, most congregation seem to do communion too often... Just seems some get carried away...

[quote author=christundivided]Communion is a focus on Christ alone. It is not a means to a end. Whatever might replace that focus or whatever motives you to partake are in question. You're hung up "things"... when the verse is about a pure, rich, all consuming focus on Christ. [/quote]

One of these is not like the other.
[/quote]

In your mind maybe. When I say too often, I am refer to the fact... to some... it become ritual. Ritual, too often, carries very little meaning. It should "MEAN SOMETHING" to the participant.

 

[Recovering IFB]

castor is right here. if you read the following verses it was people  eating drinking unworthily by humiliating the poor;
1 cor 11:17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, 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. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.:

when this is all taken as whole, not just one verse, it is made very clear....

 

[Castor Muscular]

castor is right here. if you read the following verses it was people  eating drinking unworthily by humiliating the poor;
1 cor 11:17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, 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. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.:

when this is all taken as whole, not just one verse, it is made very clear....

^This.

Don't abuse the warning by turning a simple problem of acting like disrespectful idiots into an impossible task. 

 

[christundivided]

castor is right here. if you read the following verses it was people  eating drinking unworthily by humiliating the poor;
1 cor 11:17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, 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. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.:

when this is all taken as whole, not just one verse, it is made very clear....

^This.

Don't abuse the warning by turning a simple problem of acting like disrespectful idiots into an impossible task.

You're not getting to the root of the issue. The root of the issue is "focus" and "motives". The results came forth from their lack of focus and their misplaced motives. You missing the forest for the trees. Don't be a X-er and focus on the sin and not get to the root of what causes that sin. You're making the same mistakes.

Its not an impossible task. Some churches give alter calls before taking communion for people to examine their motives and find renewed fellowship with Christ.

 

[christundivided]

castor is right here. if you read the following verses it was people  eating drinking unworthily by humiliating the poor;
1 cor 11:17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, 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. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.:

when this is all taken as whole, not just one verse, it is made very clear....

So.... humiliating the poor is the only way you can drink of the cup unworthily? Really? I am certain God has issues with other "things".

 

[Recovering IFB]

You're not getting to the root of the issue. The root of the issue is "focus" and "motives". The results came forth from their lack of focus and their misplaced motives. You missing the forest for the trees.

Your right, the focus is squarely on Jesus, what He did on Calvary. I was taught at IFBX that we come with no sin in our heart before communion abusing the verses above, taking them out of context.

Its not an impossible task. Some churches give alter calls before taking communion for people to examine their motives and find renewed fellowship with Christ.

See here is what I was taught, the week before we were told" live Godly this week for next Sunday is communion"
Communion is the Gospel, what Jesus did for us, we come come confessing our sin because we cant be godly without Jesus.

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=christundivided]On a side note, most congregation seem to do communion too often... Just seems some get carried away...

[quote author=christundivided]Communion is a focus on Christ alone. It is not a means to a end. Whatever might replace that focus or whatever motives you to partake are in question. You're hung up "things"... when the verse is about a pure, rich, all consuming focus on Christ.

One of these is not like the other.
[/quote]

In your mind maybe. When I say too often, I am refer to the fact... to some... it become ritual. Ritual, too often, carries very little meaning. It should "MEAN SOMETHING" to the participant.[/quote]

So the issue isn't how often Communion is served at all....

 

[Recovering IFB]

So.... humiliating the poor is the only way you can drink of the cup unworthily? Really? I am certain God has issues with other "things".

read the whole chapter and book in its context. Besides, were all unworthy to partake......

 

[Castor Muscular]

You're not getting to the root of the issue. The root of the issue is "focus" and "motives". The results came forth from their lack of focus and their misplaced motives.

Yes, and that led to their disrespectful behavior.  Remember, the phrase is "unworthy MANNER".  It was the manner in which they were taking the communion.  So, again, I ask, Miss Manners, -- what manner are you preventing in today's church by giving the warning? 

 

[christundivided]

[quote author=christundivided]On a side note, most congregation seem to do communion too often... Just seems some get carried away...

[quote author=christundivided]Communion is a focus on Christ alone. It is not a means to a end. Whatever might replace that focus or whatever motives you to partake are in question. You're hung up "things"... when the verse is about a pure, rich, all consuming focus on Christ.

One of these is not like the other.

In your mind maybe. When I say too often, I am refer to the fact... to some... it become ritual. Ritual, too often, carries very little meaning. It should "MEAN SOMETHING" to the participant.[/quote]

So the issue isn't how often Communion is served at all....
[/quote]

It is to the point of man's natural inclination to find ritual in most any repetitive action.

 

[christundivided]

You're not getting to the root of the issue. The root of the issue is "focus" and "motives". The results came forth from their lack of focus and their misplaced motives.

Yes, and that led to their disrespectful behavior.  Remember, the phrase is "unworthy MANNER".  It was the manner in which they were taking the communion.  So, again, I ask, Miss Manners, -- what manner are you preventing in today's church by giving the warning?

Miss Manners....

Its not "manners"... its "manner". You know the difference.

I didn't say prevent anything. It might or might not. Nothing more than a reminder. Make your choice CM.

 

[rsc2a]

[quote author=christundivided]It is to the point of man's natural inclination to find ritual in most any repetitive action.[/quote]

It is to the point of man's natural inclination to find ritual in most any repetitive action.

 

[Castor Muscular]

Miss Manners....

Its not "manners"... its "manner". You know the difference.

I didn't say prevent anything. It might or might not. Nothing more than a reminder. Make your choice CM.

Manners IS manner.  It's just the plural.  In this case, it was unworthy social conduct.  They were taking the Lord's Supper in a disrespectful way, in an unworthy manner, which showed that they were not mindful of the meaning of the Lord's Supper. 


MANNER

1 a : kind, sort <what manner of man is he>

b : kinds, sorts <all manner of problems>

2 a (1) : a characteristic or customary mode of acting : custom (2) : a mode of procedure or way of acting : fashion (3) : method of artistic execution or mode of presentation : style

b plural : social conduct or rules of conduct as shown in the prevalent customs <Victorian manners>

c : characteristic or distinctive bearing, air, or deportment <his poised gracious manner>

d plural (1) : habitual conduct or deportment : behavior <mind your manners> (2) : good manners

e : a distinguished or stylish air

 

[Castor Muscular]

[quote author=christundivided]It is to the point of man's natural inclination to find ritual in most any repetitive action.

It is to the point of man's natural inclination to find ritual in most any repetitive action.


[/quote]

It is to the point of man's natural inclination to find ritual in most any repetitive action.

 

[christundivided]

Miss Manners....

Its not "manners"... its "manner". You know the difference.

I didn't say prevent anything. It might or might not. Nothing more than a reminder. Make your choice CM.

Manners IS manner.  It's just the plural.  In this case, it was unworthy social conduct.  They were taking the Lord's Supper in a disrespectful way, in an unworthy manner, which showed that they were not mindful of the meaning of the Lord's Supper. 


MANNER

1 a : kind, sort <what manner of man is he>

b : kinds, sorts <all manner of problems>

2 a (1) : a characteristic or customary mode of acting : custom (2) : a mode of procedure or way of acting : fashion (3) : method of artistic execution or mode of presentation : style

b plural : social conduct or rules of conduct as shown in the prevalent customs <Victorian manners>

c : characteristic or distinctive bearing, air, or deportment <his poised gracious manner>

d plural (1) : habitual conduct or deportment : behavior <mind your manners> (2) : good manners

e : a distinguished or stylish air

I'm not trying to set forth and establish a repetitive "social conduct". A simple "warning" isn't the same as claiming I'm being "Miss Manners".... a socialite seeking to establish eloquent ritual. In fact, I'm proclaiming the opposite.

 

[Castor Muscular]

I'm not trying to set forth and establish a repetitive "social conduct". A simple "warning" isn't the same as claiming I'm being "Miss Manners".... a socialite seeking to establish eloquent ritual. In fact, I'm proclaiming the opposite.

It was a joke. 

EDIT:  Nobody needs to be a Miss Manners at today's communion.  It's such a synchronized ritual these days, it would be almost impossible to be impolite.  Heaven forbid someone accidentally drinks the thimble of grape juice 5 seconds before everyone else!  Gasp!  What would Martha Stewart think?

 

[Smellin Coffee]

I'm not trying to set forth and establish a repetitive "social conduct". A simple "warning" isn't the same as claiming I'm being "Miss Manners".... a socialite seeking to establish eloquent ritual. In fact, I'm proclaiming the opposite.

It was a joke. 

EDIT:  Nobody needs to be a Miss Manners at today's communion.  It's such a synchronized ritual these days, it would be almost impossible to be impolite.  Heaven forbid someone accidentally drinks the thimble of grape juice 5 seconds before everyone else!  Gasp!  What would Martha Stewart think?

When I attended FBC Hammond, there was a college guy who would sit near me and every time they had communion, would refrain from eating the bread until the juice came by. At that point, he would put the little wafer in the shot glass of juice, push it down beneath the surface with his finger then partake as if he were taking a shot in an old-time western saloon!

 

[Castor Muscular]

I'm not trying to set forth and establish a repetitive "social conduct". A simple "warning" isn't the same as claiming I'm being "Miss Manners".... a socialite seeking to establish eloquent ritual. In fact, I'm proclaiming the opposite.

It was a joke. 

EDIT:  Nobody needs to be a Miss Manners at today's communion.  It's such a synchronized ritual these days, it would be almost impossible to be impolite.  Heaven forbid someone accidentally drinks the thimble of grape juice 5 seconds before everyone else!  Gasp!  What would Martha Stewart think?

When I attended FBC Hammond, there was a college guy who would sit near me and every time they had communion, would refrain from eating the bread until the juice came by. At that point, he would put the little wafer in the shot glass of juice, push it down beneath the surface with his finger then partake as if he were taking a shot in an old-time western saloon!

Yeehaw!!!

 

[Izdaari]

I've never been in a church that attempted synchronization. That would be a novelty to me, and a very odd one at that.

We don't use the shot glasses, but a common cup filled with real wine. We don't drink from it (at least most of us don't - I think it's allowed), but rather dip the bread in it (intinction is the word). It's a substantial chunk, so that isn't hard to do. I'd guess the alcohol in the wine takes care of any sanitation issues.