An Unworthy Manner - The Lord's Supper and Me

There are many lessons that modern Christians can learn from Paul’s instruction to the Corinthians concerning their misuse and abuse of the Lord’s supper.  The latter part of 1 Corinthians 11 is set apart in two ways from the prior section; 1.) Paul goes from praising the Corinthians in their use of the covering (11:2) to rebuking their attitude and manner of partaking of the Lord’s Supper (11:17); 2.) by moving from the individual/assembly to the assembly (11:18).  During Paul’s instructions concerning the Lord’s Supper, it is evident that the predominant selfish attitude of the Corinthian brethren was overwhelming in this part of their worship of God.  In fact, it seems as though the majority of the Christians had forgotten even the very reason for which they were to partake of the supper.

While it does seem as though the majority of the Corinthians were partaking in an unworthy manner, the passage indicates that there were still some trying to follow the method set forth by Christ, but were being interfered with by those who had turned the Lord’s Supper into a common meal and, essentially, a circus.  In 1 Corinthians 11:19, Paul says that the factions among the Corinthians needed to be noted because through them those that “are approved” could be recognized for doing it correctly.  This is an important distinction to make because it teaches modern Christians that those adhering to the method set forth by Christ are the ones who are approved, but those who do not adhere to it are not approved.  

In the so-called “religious world” today (and even some Christians), many adhere to the idea that it doesn’t matter how or why we come together, only that we do it somehow.  Additionally, many assert that being in ANY church is better than nothing at all.  However, Paul states that if worship is not done correctly (according to the methods instituted and ordained by God), then it is to our detriment, not for our betterment (1 Corinthians 11:17).  If we come together, but do not worship in accordance with God’s will, then how does it help us?

In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul deals with how inappropriately the Corinthians were partaking of the Lord’s supper.  They were: 1.) Divided into factions; 2.) They were not coming together for the purpose of taking the Lord’s supper; 3.) They were NOT eating it together; and 4.) They were turning it into a common meal.  If, as many assert today, the manner and method are not necessarily important just so long as we worship God, then why does Paul then utilize the method set forth by Christ to correct the Corinthian’s abuse?

The pattern, as instituted by Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23; Matthew 26:20-30), was to partake together, to take unleavened bread and bless it before distribution, then take the fruit of the vine and bless it before it was divided among the assembly (in Matthew 26, the “assembly” was the twelve disciples; see also Luke 22:17).  From Acts 20:7, we inescapably conclude that this remembrance of the Lord is to occur every first day of the week.

Can we deviate from this pattern? Can we choose to alter the elements utilized during the supper? Can we choose to alter how much of the assembly partakes of it? Remember, we can only go as far as the Scriptures go and we must remember that Paul rebuked the Corinthians for their misuse of the elements and for only part of the assembly partaking.  Multiple times throughout 1 Corinthians 11, Paul rebukes the Corinthians for turning the Lord’s supper into a common meal and for not waiting for one another.  Should we, as modern Christians, not learn from this condemnation?

Consider what we learn from the instance in which Christ instituted this memorial feast; Christ sat down with the twelve (Matthew 26:20), they were eating together (Matthew 26:23), Judas dipped his hand WITH Jesus, not later (Matthew 26:23), Christ instituted the Lord’s supper as they were eating (Matthew 26:26), and Christ gave it to ALL of the disciples (Matthew 26:26).  Does only part of the assembly partaking of the Lord’s supper fit this pattern? It did not fit for the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 11:21), Paul rebuked them for this in 11:22b, and instructed them to wait for one another in 11:33.

Paul emphasized the importance of getting the method correct as we are partaking of the Lord’s supper.  It isn’t about how we like it or about how we feel as we partake, but rather it is about how God commanded that it be done.  If we eat or drink in an unworthy manner, then we are ourselves guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord (1 Corinthians 11:27).  It isn’t a generalized spiritual self-examination that Paul is commanding in 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, but rather an examination of how we are partaking of the Lord’s supper and whether we are doing it in the correct, Scriptural method or not.  By necessity, such a self-examination would force us to examine ourselves to ensure that we are walking correctly as Christians, but this is not the main purpose of this examination, but rather a secondary advantage or benefit.  The Christians in Corinth were “weak and sick” and many slept (1 Corinthians 11:30) because they were not performing these self-examinations and properly partaking of the Lord’s supper.   

The tone surrounding the institution of the Lord’s supper denotes a seriousness with which we should partake (Matthew 26:22).  The Apostles, knowing that the betrayal and death of Christ was forthcoming, were “exceedingly sorrowful.”  Likewise, we should remember each Lord’s day that it is because of our sins that Christ had to be betrayed and had to be crucified; while we may be joyous that Christ was willing and able to save us from these sins through this sacrifice, we should approach the memorial feast in a solemn manner with the reverence due the great King and Almighty God.  Remember the words found in Leviticus 10:3, “By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.”  When we partake of the Lord’s supper, we commune with Christ and with one another.  In essence, we ARE drawing near to God and we MUST regard Him as holy.  The Lord’s supper isn’t about us, nor is it simply the “duty” of a Christian to take it.  Rather, it is something that should speak to us in an immensely powerful way every single Lord’s day and remind us of His sacrifice for OUR sins; a sacrifice for which we need to remember that we were not worthy.   

Take Heed Lest You Fall - I Have Performed the Commandment of the Lord

If you went into a restaurant and ordered a cheeseburger with everything on it, fries, and a coke, would you be happy with your waiter or waitress if they brought you a salad, baked potato, and an ice water? If they said to you, “Well, you ordered a burger with everything on it, and since lettuce comes on it, I assumed that you would be even HAPPIER with a salad.  And since fries are made out of potatoes, I assumed that you’d be even HAPPIER with a baked potato because you get a whole potato…and since Coke is a liquid, I assumed that water would be just as acceptable.”  Would you be happy with that? Or would you tell them that you didn’t order that food? What if they claimed that since they had brought you SOMETHING that they deserved not only to have the meal paid for, but for a very high tip?

Our society today has a lot of people who claim to be religious and act as though God ought to be pleased with whatever “service” they grace Him with.  And so, many people will ignore the commands that God actually gave to us in His word, but choose rather to claim that God ought to be happy with what they choose to do because it is “better” in some way.  They then claim that they have “performed the commandment of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:13).  Unfortunately, such a perspective can develop even in people who have been faithful to God in the past, but lose their love of truth. 

In 1 Corinthians 10:12, Paul wrote the following warning for Christians: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  This warning is issued following Paul’s utilization of Israel’s history of disobeying God and the consequences that they suffered because of it.  In verse 11, Paul wrote that “all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition…” 

With Paul’s warning in mind and his observation that we are to learn from past examples, let us consider the case of King Saul, particularly in 1 Samuel 15.  In 1 Samuel 8, Israel mistakenly believe that they desire a king in order to be like “other nations” (Israel did not realize how good they had it by having God as their direct leader), and in 1 Samuel 9, Saul is chosen to fulfill that role.  Saul was a “choice and handsome” man who was “from his shoulders upward taller than any of the people” (1 Samuel 9:2), and more importantly, he was chosen directly by God to be king over Israel (1 Samuel 9:16-17, 10:24).

Unfortunately, Saul’s character begins to falter by the 1 Samuel 13 where he offers an unlawful sacrifice to God (even as king over Israel, Saul had no right to offer sacrifices to God since that task was given only to the priests).  This occurred after Saul had reigned only 2 years over Israel (1 Samuel 13:1), and so we begin to see the demise of a chosen man of God into a man who would despise the instruction and commandments of the Lord (1 Samuel 13:13-14).

By the time we get to 1 Samuel 15, we see that Saul has essentially separated himself completely from the Lord.  Perhaps Saul had become the epitome of a person who the New Testament would classify as having received a strong delusion from God because they do not love the truth, but rather have pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).  In 1 Samuel 15:1-3, God clearly commands that the Amalekites be utterly destroyed and this commandment left no room for doubt in the mind of Saul.  However, when Samuel appears after the battle (1 Samuel 15:13), Saul claims that he had performed the commandment of the Lord (note: when Saul thought that he would get away with his disobedience, he was happy to take credit).  However, Samuel asks Saul why, if he had done the commandment of the Lord, did he hear the “bleating of the sheep” and the “lowing of the oxen” (1 Samuel 15:14). 

Saul’s response to Samuel’s question truly depicts how far from God he had already departed; in most other cases in which a king or person of God will use the phrase “the Lord my God” or some such variation (Deut. 4:5; Joshua 14:7-9; 1 Kings 5:3-4, etc).  Note, however, that as Saul passes the blame onto the people, he tells Samuel that the people had spared the flocks in order to sacrifice them to “the Lord YOUR God” (1 Samuel 15:15 - emphasis mine).  This phrase, along with the context, truly shows how Saul’s view concerning God had so dramatically changed. 

Like many people today who only partially obey the commandments of God, Saul argues with Samuel that he had indeed completed God’s task.  Note that in 1 Samuel 15:19-21, Samuel asks Saul why he had not done the commandment of God, but Saul says:

But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

Somehow, in Saul’s mind, he thought that partial obedience was acceptable to God.  Likewise, many people today believe that whatever service they choose to offer to God should be accepted by God and counted as sufficient.  However, in this passage, Saul didn’t get “partial credit” for what he had done; God did not accept the partial obedience of Saul and count the task as being completed.  In fact, Samuel himself does not even count Saul’s partial obedience as being acceptable; rather he says that Saul had “rejected the word of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:26).  Samuel didn’t say, “Well, you got it MOSTLY right and I can’t judge your heart,” nor did he say, “You only made a mistake.”  No, Samuel counted Saul’s partial obedience as a REJECTION of the commandments of God.

The downfall of Saul stands out as an example of someone who believed a lie because he had rejected obedience to God as being necessary, and Christians today need to learn from this and be admonished to greater obedience by it.  We need to remember the words and admonition of Paul who wrote to us not to become prideful, nor think that we are too strong to fall.  While some Christians think that because they have been faithful 20, 30, 40+ years that they cannot fall, they, like Saul, can become separated from God if they lose their love of truth and diligence in their obedience of God’s commandments.  Those that receive a “strong delusion” only do so because they do not have a love truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10).  If we have that love of truth and we are determined to do the will of God no matter what He requires of us, then we will not receive such a delusion, nor will we believe a lie.

The Greatest is "Unconditional" Love

This article was written a few years ago and posted on the Summersville blog.  I've done some edits to it and am reposting it.  Hope that it helps!

In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul talks in detail about how unconditional Godly love is and how we ought to love with the same love.  In 1 Corinthians 13:13, Paul says that we are to abide in “faith, hope, love, these three,” but the greatest is unconditional love.

Unfortunately, while that isn't exactly what Paul wrote or taught, that is often how people read it.  Love is defined (even by those claiming to be religious) as unconditional, non-judgmental, and without stipulation or consequence.  By this definition, we cannot convince or rebuke (2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:15) because we would be judging another person to have sinned, and those that advocate this definition of “love” are adamant about not judging (a very misapplied Matthew 7:1).  If we truly love someone, then we accept them the way that they are!

Let us examine some of these concepts and see if the previously defined version of “love” is the Biblical definition of “love.”  In 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, Paul says that even if he does great deeds (speaking in tongues, prophesying, great understanding of mysteries, feeding the poor, and even being burned) but doesn't have love, it profits him nothing.  Paul then defines the characteristics of love for us: it is long-suffering and kind, it does not envy, it does not parade itself, it is not puffed up, it does not behave rudely, it does not seek its own, it is not provoked, it thinks no evil, it does not rejoice in iniquity, but it does rejoice in truth, it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things, and it never fails.  How many of these characteristics fit into the definition of love found above? Many people that advocate this definition will say to someone they perceive to be judging them, “You need to love more!” What does this typically mean? The insinuation is that they have perfected love and that you need to love as they love.  Question: is this not “puffed up” and parading? Does a refusal to accept chastening fit with rejoicing in truth, or does it fit more with rejoicing in iniquity?

What about other passages that help us define love? Hebrews 12:5-8 tells us that those whom the Lord loves He chastens (in other words, He judges their activities/lifestyle/choices to be a transgression).  Do we dare tell the Lord that He doesn't know how to love because He has chastened us?

How is love defined in 1 John? With the flighty, wishy-washy definition that we utilized at the beginning of this study, or is it defined as something of substance, something worth having? In 1 John 4, he writes that we are to love one another because love is of God (4:7-8).  How was God’s love for us made manifest? Through the sacrifice of His Son for our sins (4:9-10).  This is God’s definition of love! How are we to love one another? In the same manner that He loved us (4:11)!

There are many other passages, even in 1 John, that we could look at to further substantiate the true definition of love, but we will consider only a few more.  In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (which is the commandment spoken about in 1 John 1:7-8).  Did Christ come to the world to tell us that we are all fine in our current spiritual state? Did He come and die so that sin wouldn't be judged as sin? No, Christ loved us and came to earth and died for our sins that we can have hope in eternal life. There is substance to this love, not simply a phrase.  True love is all the things found in 1 Corinthians, plus the willingness to tell someone something they don’t want to hear in order that they can be saved.  If you are unwilling convince, rebuke, and exhort for the saving of their souls, then YOU DO NOT LOVE THEM.

In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep my commandments.”  What can we inescapably conclude from this passage? If we do not keep His commandments, then we do not love Him! We cannot claim to love God, but keep the ways of the world.  We cannot claim to love God, but walk in darkness (reference 1 John 1; Galatians 5:16-26; and Ephesians 5:1-21)!