Communion

07/01/08 05:34 PM

I just read the following question on somebody’s Facebook status:

Did Jesus intend communion to be shared in an institutional church setting? Or in the context of relationships?

That’s one of those stir the pot questions that automatically makes me want to ask about forty other questions, the first one being, “What do you mean by the term ‘institutional’?” It’s also one of those ‘either/or’ questions which, unfortunately, end up pitting one thing against another, in this case, creating a dichotomy between the (institutional) church setting and relationships.

To be fair, I’ve been in some church settings that were more institutional than relational. But I don’t think the original ‘either/or’ question about communion fits the we way we “do communion” at Christ’s Church. I love it that we celebrate the Lord’s supper as a part of our weekly worship celebration, i.e. within the corporate church setting. I also love it that it is celebrated in an significantly relational context.

I think I understand what was intended by the original question. Communion has become little more than a ritualistic ceremony in some places. And in that context, it is possible to “take” communion without necessarily experiencing it. Have you ever stopped to consider some of the descriptions for communion and the verbs employed to implement them?

For instance, we often speak of observing the Lord’s Supper. . . or celebrating the Lord’s Supper. We speak of receiving or serving the elements. When we use the word “communion” we often say that we take it or receive it. But what do we mean?

I raise those questions simply to get you thinking about the term communion itself. It comes from a wonderful Greek word (koinonia) which means to fellowship... to partnership... to participate... to be in community together. Think about it. . . you can do many things to fellowship, but you can’t really “take” it or “serve” it. . . It is meant to be experienced.

I love the way the late Jamie Buckingham expressed it in an article he wrote on sharing the Lord’s Supper:

Real fellowship is coming together like grapes... crushed... knowing each other’s sins and failures and weaknesses... with the skins of ego broken... the rich, fragrant exhilarating juices of life mingling with the wine of sharing, understanding, accepting, forgiving, and caring. Fellowship is the fusing of personalities in the Presence and Person of Jesus Christ.

Amen!