Worship and the Lord's Supper

Introduction

There are two dimensions to any worship assembly—a vertical dimension which is between the worshiper and God and a horizontal dimension which is between the worshipers. Both of these dimensions are well attested in the Bible. Any assembly which focuses strictly on the vertical ignores the importance of all the one another passages in scripture. Hebrews 10:24 calls us to spur one another on to good deeds and encourage one another as we see the day approaching. Ephesians 5:19 instructs us to sing to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

Any assembly which focuses strictly on the horizontal becomes enmeshed in emotionalism ignoring the passages in scripture which endorse the relationship that one has with God. Both dimensions are necessary and both are equally important. Both dimensions are clearly demonstrated in our taking of the Lord’s Supper. It is in the supper that we think about what God has done for us and it is at the supper that we also realize our togetherness. It is in the Supper that we demonstrate the vertical and horizontal relationships that we have. Today, our assembly will surround this significant event which takes place each Sunday. Our purpose is to grow in appreciation for the vertical and horizontal relationships we enjoy and demonstrate in the Lord’s Supper.

Familiar Scripture Has To Be Read More Carefully

There are only a few references to the Lord’s Supper in the New Testament. None illustrates the importance of the dual dimensions as 1 Corinthians 11. This letter was written to deal with a number of problems taking place in this congregation. In 1:10, Paul tells us what the main problem is. There are divisions among them. These divisions have broken unity. They are not careful in staying focused as a unit on bringing honor to Christ. They are dividing over preachers, sexual misconduct, legal matters, principles of marriage, old pagan ways, and worship. In chapter 11, Paul discusses two matters. The first is the necessity of gender distinction in the assembly. The second is the abuse which takes place at the Lord’s Supper.

We can piece together some information from the Roman letter and from archeology which will help us understand a bit more what Paul is writing about. We have to understand that Paul is writing to a specific group of people about specific problems; therefore, this letter is to be understood in its first century context first before we try to make a modern application. The letter which Paul wrote to the church at Rome was written from Corinth. In 16:23, Paul sends greetings from Gaius of whom it is said provided hospitality for Paul and all the church. No church buildings existed in the first century. Thus, congregations met in a house usually of one of its wealthier members. This is what Paul has reference to. Gaius is providing the place for the church to meet.

From archaeological digs, we know that the houses of the wealthy would have had a courtyard and a dining room available to accommodate guests. Together, the two areas would hold about fifty people but of course the rooms would have been divided by walls or partitions. Thus, a congregation could only grow so large before another house would have had to have been used. From the Roman letter, it appears that all are together and from what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11:18, that these folks are coming together as the body of Christ.

From the beginning of this text, Paul tells us what the problem is. There are divisions among them. When they come together as a church, they are divided. This word “church” means an assembly for the purpose of worship. How is this division seen? Beginning at verse 19, Paul puts in a bit of sarcasm. There must be divisions in order for all to know who has God’s approval. This is not a new comment. Back in chapter 4, Paul has sarcastically indicted their superior egos. Verse 20 states that you may come together to eat the Lord’s Supper but that isn’t what you are eating. The divisions are seen in the fact that some eat the meal without others being present. The dining room would have been for the wealthy and the courtyard for the late comers.

Part of the difficulty we have in understanding this text is that we no longer eat the Supper in the context of a meal. In the first century they did. Much like Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper in the context of a meal, the early Christians continued this practice. The scene is really very easy to understand. The church at Corinth was made up of different socio-economic groups. The wealthy got to Gaius’ house first. The slaves were the late arrivals. The wealthy would bring the food. The slaves would bring themselves. The wealthy would go ahead and eat the meal because they got hungry waiting for the slaves. The slaves would arrive and all they would get would be a bit of bread and wine. No meal. Just some crumbs. The wealthy were humiliating those who had nothing (verse 22). There was no thought of the horizontal dimension during the supper. It was every man for himself and if one couldn’t get to Gaius’ house on time, then they just lost out.

Paul then in verses 23—26 reminds the church of the vertical significance of the supper. But the vertical significance is not to the exclusion of the horizontal as seen in 10:15—17 and the prior verses. The bread represents his body; the cup his blood. Both are to be eaten in light of what Christ has done for us. He took our place. He is our atoning sacrifice. In verses 24 and 25 the phrase “do this” doesn’t just refer to the eating and drinking. It refers also to the blessing and distributing. The supper we eat is a continuation of the one which Jesus instituted. Notice verse 26 very carefully. Eating and drinking are a proclamation. What are we proclaiming? The death of Christ to be sufficient to take care of our sin. How long are we to proclaim? Until he comes. To whom are we making this proclamation? You see, Paul hasn’t forgotten the context of his writing. To eat this meal without celebrating the salvation of Christ which is what makes us all one, then we have not made a proclamation at all. There is no remembrance but a forgetting of Christ’s sacrifice not just for the individual but for the group.

Summary

Beginning in verse 27 Paul makes the application. Paul’s point in verse 27 has to do with the manner in which the supper is taken. To forget each other as seen in verses 17—22 or to forget Christ as seen in verses 23—26 is to take the supper in an unworthy manner. The KJV translated this word “unworthily” which has caused many to think in terms of themselves as worthy or unworthy to take the supper. This is not what Paul has in mind. The focus is not on the worthiness of the person but the participation of the believers. Ignoring the vertical or horizontal is to take the supper in an unworthy manner. Such a practice results in sinning against Christ.

Therefore, verse 28, a man ought to examine himself. This self-examination has to do with his thinking about what Christ has done and about those around him. This self-examination is not about how you have measured up during the week, but are you participating with Christ and with others in this meal. Paul’s warning is that the participant must make sure that he is bringing the intent and purpose of this meal into focus.

Verse 29 is a semi-summary statement. The NIV supplies the words “of the Lord” in this verse. This reflects an interpretative addition. Paul writes that we must discern the body. Does he mean here the body of Christ as the NIV renders or does he mean the body which is the church? There has been much debate about this verse within our own fellowship. Perhaps the answer is best given by Gordon Fee in his commentary when he says that Paul may be trying to be intentionally ambiguous so that both ideas are understood. The point then is really very simple. Both the body of Christ which hung on the cross and the body of believers must be recognized in the taking of the supper. This fits well with the context. But if that is not convincing enough, then go to verse 33. Here is the summation of what Paul is trying to say. He began with this idea in verse 18, now he is going to finish it in verse 33. In case you didn’t get the point, Paul writes, when you come together do not eat until everyone has arrived. In this manner you will bring honor to Christ who died for all and to each other who share in the salvation brought by Christ’s death on the cross. Failure to do so will result in judgment verse 34.

Familiar scripture must be read more carefully. Any one verse taken from its context can be made to say what you want it to say. In 11:17—34, Paul is concerned (as he has been throughout this letter) with the divisions which are evident among the Corinthians. The divisions seen in the supper are particularly detestable because they diminish the work of Jesus on the cross and do not show proper appreciation for the unity which God wants them to have.

Application

So what are we to do with this text? First, we must quit misapplying this text. To use only part of the text diminishes the impact that this text has. There is both a vertical and a horizontal element in the supper. To use this text only to speak about the vertical, which is clearly here, is to misuse the text. However, Paul portrays in this text that there is both a horizontal and vertical dimension in the supper. To ignore either dimension is to do so in an unworthy manner. For the Corinthians their ignoring both dimensions resulted in divisions among themselves and dishonoring the body and blood of Christ.

Second, we must not take our unity for granted. The Corinthians not only took their unity for granted they ignored and destroyed it. It is indeed a precious gift which God has given us. It is in the context of the Lord’s Supper that we not only can thank God for what he has done for us individually but thank him for what he has done for us collectively. The Lord’s Supper is an appropriate time to thank God for the salvation that we share in Christ (verse 26) and it is an appropriate time to thank him for his atonement for self (verses 24 and 25). The Supper is a time to celebrate how wonderful our Savior is. His actions were not done in isolation neither is our celebration in isolation. But together we commune with God. Let’s take the supper together.

About a year ago, the elders restudying this text and rethinking our evening assembly, wanted to invite all to share in the Lord’s Supper. Those who come together on Sunday night are invited to share for two main reasons.

First, an assembly that fails to acknowledge the vertical and the horizontal fails to honor the Christ who died for us all. Worship on Sunday is not done in isolation. God wants us to come together to worship. We cannot deny the presence of others any more than we can deny the presence of God. Worship has both a vertical and horizontal dimension.

Second, for those who assemble on Sunday night and have not been able to take the Supper with the Sunday morning assembly has every expectation that brothers and sisters will share with them in this Supper because we are one in the Lord. To not take the Supper together is to ignore the unity we share. The Supper makes a proclamation that we are together. Sharing the Supper with a brother or sister who was not here previously is to share in the proclamation of unity until Christ returns.

May God give us wisdom to appreciate his word and the beauty of unity.

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