Question
What is the deeper meaning behind meeting in homes and remembering Our Lord Jesus Christ in breaking bread, remembering His Body that was broken for us and His Blood that was shed for us?
...Answer
It's a meal
The act of breaking bread to remember the Lord's death is known in many places as "holy communion" or "the Lord's supper". Traditionally, most congregations around the world perform this act during a Sunday service once a month; some congregations do it more frequently, others less. In the ceremony, small cups of juice along with bread that has been sliced into tiny pieces are passed around the congregation, and each member is to take a tiny piece of bread and one of the small cups of wine (or grape juice). Then, some distinguished member of the congregation proceeds to read a portion of 1 Corinthians 11:23-30, and every one waits for the instruction to place the tiny piece of bread in their mouths and for the instruction to quickly drink down the wine or grape juice. Everything is done in a solemn tone, and everyone feels more spiritual after the act.
The problem with all of this is that the Lord's supper has been turned into a rigid ceremony in which most believers fail to understand God's intended meaning behind the supper. For starters, Scripture never portrays the Lord's supper as the eating of tiny pieces of bread and the drinking of a small cup of wine or juice. In Scripture, it is portrayed as an actual supper, i.e.- an actual meal where people would eat actual food and drink actual wine. The very verses before and after the ones that are traditionally read clearly bear this out:
"20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drin...k in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not." (1 Corinthians 11:20-22)
"33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come." (1 Corinthians 11:33-34)
Notice that verse 21 speaks of some believers being left hungry and others getting drunk. If the Lord's supper was celebrated by the Primitive Church as it is now, why would Paul speak of people being left "hungry"? No one today goes to church on "Lord's supper Sunday" expecting to satiate his or her hunger. Why? Because everyone knows that all they are going to eat is a tiny piece of bread. The reference to believers "getting drunk" shows that more than a tiny cup of grape juice was being passed around during the Lord's supper. It was a moment when believers "came together" (v33) to eat a formal meal.
"33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come." (1 Corinthians 11:33-34)
Notice that verse 21 speaks of some believers being left hungry and others getting drunk. If the Lord's supper was celebrated by the Primitive Church as it is now, why would Paul speak of people being left "hungry"? No one today goes to church on "Lord's supper Sunday" expecting to satiate his or her hunger. Why? Because everyone knows that all they are going to eat is a tiny piece of bread. The reference to believers "getting drunk" shows that more than a tiny cup of grape juice was being passed around during the Lord's supper. It was a moment when believers "came together" (v33) to eat a formal meal.
"Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon." (John 13:26)
[Notice that the Lord "dipped" a morsel of food and gave it to Judas... Iscariot. This shows that they were eating a formal meal.]
"20Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." (Matthew 26:20-21)
[Notice that verse 21 says, "As they did eat", meaning that the Lord's supper was not a one-minute intake of a bread fragment but rather a regular meal that took the amount of time that a regular meal would take]
Some might say, "Well, I know this, but it would be impractical nowadays to celebrate the Lord's supper as a formal meal, especially in large congregations". The problem with saying that is fourfold:
Very small congregations also celebrate the Lord's supper with bread fragments and small cups of juice, meaning that they are not doing it out of "practical" concerns.
The "practicality" argument fails to understand the historical roots behind the way the Lord's supper is celebrated today. This way of celebrating communion is derived from the Medieval catholic church's methodologies, and the catholic church is known for its rigid ceremoniousness. Today's way of celebrating communion, therefore, was not inspired by believers who were attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit but rather by a religious hierarchy that believed in turning everything into a "ceremony". Why? Because orchestrated ceremonies are more "orderly" and look more "pious and reverent" to the natural eye.
[Notice that the Lord "dipped" a morsel of food and gave it to Judas... Iscariot. This shows that they were eating a formal meal.]
"20Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. 21And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me." (Matthew 26:20-21)
[Notice that verse 21 says, "As they did eat", meaning that the Lord's supper was not a one-minute intake of a bread fragment but rather a regular meal that took the amount of time that a regular meal would take]
Some might say, "Well, I know this, but it would be impractical nowadays to celebrate the Lord's supper as a formal meal, especially in large congregations". The problem with saying that is fourfold:
Very small congregations also celebrate the Lord's supper with bread fragments and small cups of juice, meaning that they are not doing it out of "practical" concerns.
The "practicality" argument fails to understand the historical roots behind the way the Lord's supper is celebrated today. This way of celebrating communion is derived from the Medieval catholic church's methodologies, and the catholic church is known for its rigid ceremoniousness. Today's way of celebrating communion, therefore, was not inspired by believers who were attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit but rather by a religious hierarchy that believed in turning everything into a "ceremony". Why? Because orchestrated ceremonies are more "orderly" and look more "pious and reverent" to the natural eye.
The "practicality" argument fails to understand the spiritual reason why the Lord's supper was celebrated as a formal meal during the days of the Primitive Church. This reason is related to the very essence of why the Lord called us to cele...brate the Lord's supper in the first place. When the Lord's supper is turned into the brief and rigid ceremony it is today, much of the essence behind the act is lost. The essence behind the Lord's supper can be understood as we carefully study 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.
The practicality issue can be easily solved by making a small modification to the way the Lord's supper is celebrated today. However, the reason why this small modification is never implemented is related to deep roots of iniquity inside the Church.
In order to understand the spiritual essence behind the Lord's supper, we must first understand two important characteristics in the Primitive Church
The practicality issue can be easily solved by making a small modification to the way the Lord's supper is celebrated today. However, the reason why this small modification is never implemented is related to deep roots of iniquity inside the Church.
In order to understand the spiritual essence behind the Lord's supper, we must first understand two important characteristics in the Primitive Church
<< A time of fellowship in apostolic judgment >>
The Primitive Church possessed a very "interesting" trait, as shown by the following verses:
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread,... and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." (Acts 2:42-43)
The word "doctrine" in verse 42 is a poor translation of the Greek word didache, which literally means "teaching". The word "doctrine" is a loaded term, because it has the connotation of being a rigid set of rules and regulations found in a book or manual that tells people all they cannot do, whereas "teaching" (the original word in the Greek) speaks of a person sharing with others and training them so that they may be perfected and may fulfill all of their potential. The "person" who teaches us is, in essence, the Holy Spirit of God through the Anointing in us:
"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (1 John 2:27)
The Primitive Church possessed a very "interesting" trait, as shown by the following verses:
"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread,... and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." (Acts 2:42-43)
The word "doctrine" in verse 42 is a poor translation of the Greek word didache, which literally means "teaching". The word "doctrine" is a loaded term, because it has the connotation of being a rigid set of rules and regulations found in a book or manual that tells people all they cannot do, whereas "teaching" (the original word in the Greek) speaks of a person sharing with others and training them so that they may be perfected and may fulfill all of their potential. The "person" who teaches us is, in essence, the Holy Spirit of God through the Anointing in us:
"But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him" (1 John 2:27)
the apostolic ministry is the ministry most related with the making of judgments. Therefore, the "apostles' doctrine" that verse 42 refers to speaks of teaching rooted in judgments and justice. This explains why "fear came upon every soul" ...(v43). Another time when "fear came upon every believer" is right after God killed Ananias and Sapphira (for telling a half-truth) through the judgments of the apostle Peter:
"8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch." (Acts 5:8-12)
"8And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. 9Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. 10Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. 11And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things. 12And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch." (Acts 5:8-12)
(Ezekiel 22:25-26)
ReplyDeleteThe CONSPIRACY of HER PROPHETS in HER MIDST is like a roaring lion tearing the prey, they have DEVOURED people, they have taken treasure and precious things, they have MADE MANY WIDOWS in HER MIDST. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they MADE KNOWN the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have HIDDEN their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am PROFANED AMONG THEM.