Having called
for unity in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, Paul then went on to correct
the attitude of the believers in Corinth. He urged them not to participate of the
Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner. In other words, they ought to come to the
communion with a right attitude. This has nothing to do with whether a person
is worthy or not. This unworthy manner has to do with just one area i.e. the dissensions,
discords and alienations which were practiced. Surreptitiously, it was separating
the fellowship and wrecking the unity of the church. And when a person participates
of the Lord’s Supper with such an attitude, he is guilty of sinning against the
body and blood of Christ. Such attitude would promote the spirit of rift and faction
which Christ died to deal with. In Christ, though we are many, we are one body
and He wants us to reflect that.
For that reason anyone who partakes of the communion must examine
himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. What areas should one
examine in his or her personal reflection? One should examine to check if he or
she has harbored an unforgiving, factious or divisive spirit against anyone.
And whether he or she has alienated himself or herself from the other members
of the body. We must be mindful of other members of the church, the family of
Christ and be thankful that we are united to each other in Him.
A potential seed of physical illness could be planted into one’s system unconsciously
when a person refuses to forgive his or her brethren. It could also happen when
a person divides and separates himself from other believers in the Lord and
show hostilities towards them. These kinds of attitude have been known to cause
or enhance physical diseases. Our body is one complete unit. One part of the
body would affect the other. An unforgiving spirit could affect the glands, the
heart, the blood pressure, and many other internal parts of one’s body. That’s
why Paul said that the church in Corinth actually experienced sickness and death
because of all those attitudes. So he exhorted believers to partake of the
communion mindfully and discerningly.
It is necessary to judge oneself to ensure that what one does will not
bring anything that will keep divisions alive within the church. When one
habitually examines himself or herself, one can face God without any guilt or
condemnation. Be mindful that Paul was calling the Corinthians (and us also) to
celebrate the Lord’s Supper appropriately. It should be celebrated in the
spirit of unity. To the believers in Corinth, he said, when they come to share the
love meal and the Lord’s Supper, they should wait for each other. Waiting is a sign of accepting each other and not
demonstrating superiority or self-importance. Paul’s counsel to them was that if
any of them was hungry, they should eat at home first so as not to disrupt the
unity of the fellowship.
Here are some thoughts for our consideration: (1) Bear in mind that the
communion is not just about me and Jesus. It is also about us, the family of
God and Jesus. (2) Jesus died on the Cross to unite us to God and to each other
in the body. Don’t let issues divide us, let Christ unite us! We must not take
the matter of unity lightly. (3) Evaluate our attitudes and actions and be sure
to promote unity within the fellowship.
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