Sermon Notes for February 5th
February 5, 2006
I Corinthians 9:16-23
“All for the Sake of the Gospel”
1. As most of you know, a week ago I went to the Methodist pastors Mid-Winter Retreat at Cragan’s Resort. It’s mostly supposed for rest and relaxation, but being good Methodists – it can’t all be fun! So, we always have a speaker and some discussion around one topic or another every year.
Well, this year the subject was communion. Imagine that! Not something that is real high on your list of favorite or interesting subjects – perhaps. But somebody has to do it. After all it’s my job. Right? And the truth is that while we traditionally as Methodists have taken the Lord’s Supper fairly seriously, we haven’t exactly gotten into it very deeply.
In fact, it was only a few years ago in this church that we switched from having communion 3 times a year to doing it every month – more like the Lutherans, I guess. Actually, when I came here this church was a little behind the curve because the one I belonged to in St. Paul made the change to monthly communion back in the mid-80’s.
2. So, here were all us ministers listening to one of the top experts (if there is such a thing) on communion in the United Meth0dist Church – Dan Benedict. He was (until he retired last fall) the Director of Worship for the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tennessee.
Now, as I often point out, we Methodists are a diverse lot. And we don’t all agree on everything but, fortunately, it’s usually not a problem because we tend to have a rather broad and inclusive theological approach to most issues. As result, Methodists, in general, have a hard time really disagreeing about too many things because we don’t draw any hard lines around the things we believe. After all, John Wesley, himself was concerned less with what we believe and more with how we live out our faith.
In fact, this Methodist tendency toward broad minded inclusiveness is quite humorously expressed in two versions of the old light bulb joke. The first one goes like this:
How many United Methodists does it take to change a light bulb? Twenty-two. One to hold the ladder One to climb the ladder Ten to form a committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the old light bulb and Ten to form a committee for a pot-luck to welcome in the new light bulb.
You like that? Well, here is another:
How many United Methodists does it take to change a light bulb? The following statement has been issued: "We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own life journey you have found that a light bulb works for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship with your light bulb (or light source, or non-dark resource), and present it next month at our annual light bulb Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, three-way, long-life, and tinted--all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence."
3. Sounds a lot like our motto of “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” doesn’t it? And, while we may joke about it at times, there really is a “method in the madness.” (Which is also a play on words if you catch the reference the word “method” – to Methodism.)
What is the Methodist ‘method’ in the madness? It is, of course, what Paul, himself, talks about in the scripture for this morning.
20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
“All things to all people” … “Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds …” They both refer to the same thing. So, it’s really not just that we are confused or that we don’t know what we are doing as Methodists … it’s because we want nothing to stand in the way of anyone coming to faith in God through Jesus Christ.
4. So, when it comes down to trying to define communion in the Methodist Church, the whole process is really a lot like trying to screw in a light bulb!
But nowadays, because we are all aware of the immense changes taking place in the world and in ecumenical circles as well, it has become increasingly evident to many people that our denomination needs to become more educated and intentional about communion especially since we are doing it more often.
So, at the last General Conference in Pittsburgh in 2004 the general church approved a document called “This Holy Mystery” which lays out in some detail what communion is supposed to mean and how it should be practiced in the UMC. It was, in a way, an attempt to screw in the theological light bulb and shed some light on the subject. And naturally it was done by a committee. And Dan Benedict who took us through the document (section by section) was on the committee.
The whole thing sort of reminds me of the old adage that “a camel is a horse designed by a committee.”
5. Well, there isn’t time this morning to deal with all of it, but I would like to lift up for you some of the highlights on this communion Sunday. And I have also included some definitions of Holy Communion in the bulletin for you to read. Which is really a way of saying that I as the pastor of this church do think that this is something we should take more seriously now that we are doing it every month.
Now, overall, I must say that I did come away from this workshop with a sense that what we here in Bemidji are doing is pretty much in line with everyone else around the denomination. And, in fact, we are now actually a little ahead of the curve.
Interestingly enough, when I went to Cragan’s I also brought along a copy of the liturgy that are using today just to see what Dan Benedict would say about it. (Incidentally, he is now retired and lives in Hawaii. So, we took him out for supper at Iven’s on the Bay and he had his first ever taste of Walleye. Mmmmm – good!)
6. Well, after sharing with Rev. Benedict how we have started using alternative liturgies and also revealing that we are now using lay people as part of the service, I discovered that while I wasn’t exactly in hot water-- it was getting a little warm! Benedict, it turns out, is a kind of traditionalist who likes the standard Methodist hymnal version of communion and thinks that we should not deviate from it. He also thinks that the pastor should be the sole presider at the table. So, much for that!
So, I explained to him that about a year ago I simply got tired of doing the same old, same old thing for five or six years and decide we needed a change. Also, I told him that I was also getting tired of having to do it all myself and now I very much like the idea of like involving members of the congregation in it. In addition, I said that I feel real good about having the men and women who do all the work behind the scenes preparing the communion actually come out in the open where they can be seen and can be part of the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. After all, I think it is not just about me – because it’s really about all of us together. Isn’t that right?
Well, in spite of his initial objections, Dan was a little curious, and eventually he allowed me to come up and actually demonstrate the liturgy in front of the whole group. After that he lightened up a little and really thanked me for doing it. That’s what I like about the Methodist Church … Open Hearts, Open Minds!
7. Now I want to lift up three things about the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist:
First is that of all the Christian denominations, the United Methodist Church is very adamant about practicing open communion. For today, and every time we celebrate the Eucharist, everyone is always welcome. You don’t have to be a member. You don’t have to be confirmed. You even don’t have to baptized. Although you should be! And if you are not, you should come and see me! In short, we believe in open communion because we strongly believe that Christ is open to everyone at his table. No exceptions.
Now I want to add to this one thought. It unfortunately seems that one of the theological words we often use in connection with communion is grace. We say – “the grace of God.” Or we say, “the means of grace.” Sounds good - maybe. But the trouble is -- no one ever uses that word in every day language any more. So it has become merely a kind of “churchy” sounding word which just doesn’t connect much with us anymore. So, at the retreat, at one point, I suggested that maybe we could occasionally substitute the word “acceptance.” Which is something we all understand. For we know what it is to be accepted. And we know what it is to be rejected. Right? And we do believe that God accepts each of us unconditionally. And that is what God’s grace really means and it should be a big part of what communion is all about. It’s about acceptance from God and from each other. It’s also called love. How important is this? Very important. Everyone should know and believe that they are accepted and loved by God through Jesus Christ.
What’s that old hymn: “Just as I Am, Without One Plea”
Just as I am, thy love unknown which hath broken every barrier down”
Well, it’s just another way of saying that there are no barriers to God’s redeeming love for all of us.
8. Another thing is frequency. For the founder of Methodism, John Wesley (who really never left the Church of England) believed that Methodists should actually celebrate communion every Sunday.
However, when Methodism came over to America around the time of the Revolution, it was the evangelistic circuit riding preachers who often carried the Gospel to the frontier. Unfortunately, these men were not fully ordained and therefore could not preside over communion. As a result, for many Methodists, communion had to wait until an ordained Elder occasionally came around to the community. This meant that the Eucharist was sometimes only celebrated 3 or 4 times a year. And it was this habit which continued in Methodism right up until about twenty years ago. Interesting, isn’t it?
Now, however, things are beginning to change. In fact, at the retreat I was surprised to learn that our UMC church in Montevideo has gone to weekly communion. I also emailed my clergy cousin, David Eichelberger, in Aurora, Illinois, who is a friend of Dan Benedict’s, and he told me that his church has been celebrating communion every week for the past four years. Things are changing, definitely!
Where all of this comes from is difficult to say … perhaps there are many factors. One possible reason I think that finally people in America are finally getting over their fear of Catholics! For, I personally can remember very well growing up in the 1950’s. Back then whatever the Catholics did, by golly, we would just do the opposite!!! Which while it doesn’t mean we agree with the Catholic Church on all matters – it simply means that we can be free to learn from and emulate some of the many good things they do without somehow feeling we are loosing a sense of who we are and what we believe.
9. Now, the reality is that back in the first century in the very early Christian communities worship was usually held in people’s homes. And the common practice back then was to gather for a meal and to include the following things as part of the celebration:
First - there was a reading of the Scriptures.
Then - there was the exhortation by the leading elder. In other words: the sermon.
This was followed by the offering of prayers.
Then came the offering of bread, wine and water
Which was followed by the long thanksgiving, Eucharistic prayer of sanctification by the elder and the partaking of Holy Communion.
After that there was a collection for charity.
So, from the very beginning there was a more equal combining of the preached word and the sacrament of Christ’s presence. Now today, of course, whether we will all, as Methodists, actually get to the point where we celebrate Christ’s Presence in Holy Communion every week still remains to be seen.
10. Which brings us to the final question “Why should we even think of doing it every week?” Well, the answer hinges on what we actually believe we are doing in celebrating the Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper.
For, as we all know, during much of Methodist and Protestant history the idea of communion has been closely linked with what is called atonement theology. This idea tends to make the ritual of communion a solemn and sacred experience in which people come forward to repent of their sins -- with very little emphasis on the celebration of God’s grace or the Presence of Christ in our midst today. This older form of communion is sometimes called memorialism in which the primary emphasis is about merely remembering Christ’s death on the Cross. And in its most extreme form it becomes a kind of memorial service. I suspect many of us were raised in that kind of understanding.
The newer Methodist view which comes out the document “This Holy Mystery” seeks to bring out the larger idea that in the Eucharist Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is truly present with and for the Church. Yet, at the same time, I should also point out that as Methodists we do not believe that the Divine Presence is specifically located in the actual elements of bread and grape juice (as we often understand Roman Catholicism to teach). Nor, I should add, does the experience of Holy Communion entirely depend on the faith of the worshiper. Rather it is truly a spiritual act of God which exists independently of our capacity to make it happen. It is finally a Mystery of our faith. For (in the communion) we do believe and yet cannot fully understand, that God is simply and actually present here and now.
11. The new Methodist document “This Holy Mystery” goes on to say that in the post-modern world of the twenty first century, our ways of perceiving reality are gradually changing. What this means is that for the past two centuries the ideas of the rationalistic eighteenth-century Enlightenment completely dominated our ways of understanding God. Yet, today, it seems, in the contemporary world, complete dependence on reason is gradually being supplanted by the recognition, even in the scientific community, that much of reality is indeterminate and inexplicable. So, we must realize that it is not just in matters of faith that we must learn to accept and celebrate the mysteriousness of life and spiritual matters.
Therefore it now becomes possible for us to believe that Christ can actually be spiritually present in the Eucharist here and now – even though we cannot explain it rationally.
What this changed way of thinking does, of course, is to alter the meaning of the Lord’s supper to include several new ideas or themes including the possibility that when you come forward to participate in the Eucharistic meal it may be for a number of different reasons (in addition to the standard one of seeking forgiveness). Among these other possibilities are:
To seek god’s help in healing both for physical and for emotional conditions and also for other forms of brokenness in our lives.
To seek spiritual nourishment for our soul.
To seek be empowered and transformed for ministry and mission in the world in our daily life during the week.
And, also to be reconnected with the eternal presence of God in Christ and with our neighbor – as Jesus taught us to do.
12. What is also interesting to note (which I did not realize) is that with the Protestant and evangelistic over emphasis on the atonement aspect of religion and the subsequent de-emphasis on Holy Communion there arose in many churches an alternative form of religious expression known as the “altar call.” While not widely practiced around these parts it is still quite common in the Midwest and south in some churches. What was happening, of course, was that the human desire to participate in meaningful religious rituals cannot entirely be suppressed and the altar call was in a way a kind of alternative form of communion. However, nowadays, with the increased frequency of the Eucharist in this and other churches we are merely pushing the pendulum back toward the center where it belongs. For outside of evangelistic rallies and gatherings, the altar call is becoming a thing of the past. Yet, in a way now, once a month, not just some of you, but all of us are invited (in the word’s of the TV preacher) to “come on down!”
Only now in the celebration of Eucharist we do it in a broader and more joyful fashion for we are not merely asking to be forgiven for our sins … but also to be joined together spiritually as the Body of Christ.
13. And this, then, is the central point of the Eucharist, which is the spiritual uniting of us all-together into the church – the community of faith. For we must realize that, while the minister may preach a good sermon, everyone who hears the word hears it within their own thoughts and experience and it still remains a purely individual thing. But, when we actually come forward out of our seats to participate in the Lord’s Supper -- we do it together and it becomes a force which unites us all in and through Jesus Christ. Which is what the church is supposed to be all about – the body of believers.
Therefore, we should not see communion any more just through one eye only – namely that of penitence and forgiveness – although these are very important parts of it … But, also as a ritual which may involve:
Thanksgiving
Fellowship
Remembrance
Sacrifice
The Action of the Holy Spirit
And as a Foretaste of the Future when we all will one day be united in God’s Eternal Kingdom.
All of these things then are part of God’s plan for our salvation and toward which we turn now in faith as we celebrate today “this Holy Mystery.”
Let us prepare now for the Eucharist by praying the prayers of the people. (Hymnbook p. 877)
I Corinthians 9:16-23
“All for the Sake of the Gospel”
1. As most of you know, a week ago I went to the Methodist pastors Mid-Winter Retreat at Cragan’s Resort. It’s mostly supposed for rest and relaxation, but being good Methodists – it can’t all be fun! So, we always have a speaker and some discussion around one topic or another every year.
Well, this year the subject was communion. Imagine that! Not something that is real high on your list of favorite or interesting subjects – perhaps. But somebody has to do it. After all it’s my job. Right? And the truth is that while we traditionally as Methodists have taken the Lord’s Supper fairly seriously, we haven’t exactly gotten into it very deeply.
In fact, it was only a few years ago in this church that we switched from having communion 3 times a year to doing it every month – more like the Lutherans, I guess. Actually, when I came here this church was a little behind the curve because the one I belonged to in St. Paul made the change to monthly communion back in the mid-80’s.
2. So, here were all us ministers listening to one of the top experts (if there is such a thing) on communion in the United Meth0dist Church – Dan Benedict. He was (until he retired last fall) the Director of Worship for the General Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tennessee.
Now, as I often point out, we Methodists are a diverse lot. And we don’t all agree on everything but, fortunately, it’s usually not a problem because we tend to have a rather broad and inclusive theological approach to most issues. As result, Methodists, in general, have a hard time really disagreeing about too many things because we don’t draw any hard lines around the things we believe. After all, John Wesley, himself was concerned less with what we believe and more with how we live out our faith.
In fact, this Methodist tendency toward broad minded inclusiveness is quite humorously expressed in two versions of the old light bulb joke. The first one goes like this:
How many United Methodists does it take to change a light bulb? Twenty-two. One to hold the ladder One to climb the ladder Ten to form a committee to evaluate the effectiveness of the old light bulb and Ten to form a committee for a pot-luck to welcome in the new light bulb.
You like that? Well, here is another:
How many United Methodists does it take to change a light bulb? The following statement has been issued: "We choose not to make a statement either in favor of or against the need for a light bulb. However, if in your own life journey you have found that a light bulb works for you, that is fine. You are invited to write a poem or compose a modern dance about your personal relationship with your light bulb (or light source, or non-dark resource), and present it next month at our annual light bulb Sunday service, in which we will explore a number of light bulb traditions, including incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, three-way, long-life, and tinted--all of which are equally valid paths to luminescence."
3. Sounds a lot like our motto of “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” doesn’t it? And, while we may joke about it at times, there really is a “method in the madness.” (Which is also a play on words if you catch the reference the word “method” – to Methodism.)
What is the Methodist ‘method’ in the madness? It is, of course, what Paul, himself, talks about in the scripture for this morning.
20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
“All things to all people” … “Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds …” They both refer to the same thing. So, it’s really not just that we are confused or that we don’t know what we are doing as Methodists … it’s because we want nothing to stand in the way of anyone coming to faith in God through Jesus Christ.
4. So, when it comes down to trying to define communion in the Methodist Church, the whole process is really a lot like trying to screw in a light bulb!
But nowadays, because we are all aware of the immense changes taking place in the world and in ecumenical circles as well, it has become increasingly evident to many people that our denomination needs to become more educated and intentional about communion especially since we are doing it more often.
So, at the last General Conference in Pittsburgh in 2004 the general church approved a document called “This Holy Mystery” which lays out in some detail what communion is supposed to mean and how it should be practiced in the UMC. It was, in a way, an attempt to screw in the theological light bulb and shed some light on the subject. And naturally it was done by a committee. And Dan Benedict who took us through the document (section by section) was on the committee.
The whole thing sort of reminds me of the old adage that “a camel is a horse designed by a committee.”
5. Well, there isn’t time this morning to deal with all of it, but I would like to lift up for you some of the highlights on this communion Sunday. And I have also included some definitions of Holy Communion in the bulletin for you to read. Which is really a way of saying that I as the pastor of this church do think that this is something we should take more seriously now that we are doing it every month.
Now, overall, I must say that I did come away from this workshop with a sense that what we here in Bemidji are doing is pretty much in line with everyone else around the denomination. And, in fact, we are now actually a little ahead of the curve.
Interestingly enough, when I went to Cragan’s I also brought along a copy of the liturgy that are using today just to see what Dan Benedict would say about it. (Incidentally, he is now retired and lives in Hawaii. So, we took him out for supper at Iven’s on the Bay and he had his first ever taste of Walleye. Mmmmm – good!)
6. Well, after sharing with Rev. Benedict how we have started using alternative liturgies and also revealing that we are now using lay people as part of the service, I discovered that while I wasn’t exactly in hot water-- it was getting a little warm! Benedict, it turns out, is a kind of traditionalist who likes the standard Methodist hymnal version of communion and thinks that we should not deviate from it. He also thinks that the pastor should be the sole presider at the table. So, much for that!
So, I explained to him that about a year ago I simply got tired of doing the same old, same old thing for five or six years and decide we needed a change. Also, I told him that I was also getting tired of having to do it all myself and now I very much like the idea of like involving members of the congregation in it. In addition, I said that I feel real good about having the men and women who do all the work behind the scenes preparing the communion actually come out in the open where they can be seen and can be part of the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. After all, I think it is not just about me – because it’s really about all of us together. Isn’t that right?
Well, in spite of his initial objections, Dan was a little curious, and eventually he allowed me to come up and actually demonstrate the liturgy in front of the whole group. After that he lightened up a little and really thanked me for doing it. That’s what I like about the Methodist Church … Open Hearts, Open Minds!
7. Now I want to lift up three things about the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist:
First is that of all the Christian denominations, the United Methodist Church is very adamant about practicing open communion. For today, and every time we celebrate the Eucharist, everyone is always welcome. You don’t have to be a member. You don’t have to be confirmed. You even don’t have to baptized. Although you should be! And if you are not, you should come and see me! In short, we believe in open communion because we strongly believe that Christ is open to everyone at his table. No exceptions.
Now I want to add to this one thought. It unfortunately seems that one of the theological words we often use in connection with communion is grace. We say – “the grace of God.” Or we say, “the means of grace.” Sounds good - maybe. But the trouble is -- no one ever uses that word in every day language any more. So it has become merely a kind of “churchy” sounding word which just doesn’t connect much with us anymore. So, at the retreat, at one point, I suggested that maybe we could occasionally substitute the word “acceptance.” Which is something we all understand. For we know what it is to be accepted. And we know what it is to be rejected. Right? And we do believe that God accepts each of us unconditionally. And that is what God’s grace really means and it should be a big part of what communion is all about. It’s about acceptance from God and from each other. It’s also called love. How important is this? Very important. Everyone should know and believe that they are accepted and loved by God through Jesus Christ.
What’s that old hymn: “Just as I Am, Without One Plea”
Just as I am, thy love unknown which hath broken every barrier down”
Well, it’s just another way of saying that there are no barriers to God’s redeeming love for all of us.
8. Another thing is frequency. For the founder of Methodism, John Wesley (who really never left the Church of England) believed that Methodists should actually celebrate communion every Sunday.
However, when Methodism came over to America around the time of the Revolution, it was the evangelistic circuit riding preachers who often carried the Gospel to the frontier. Unfortunately, these men were not fully ordained and therefore could not preside over communion. As a result, for many Methodists, communion had to wait until an ordained Elder occasionally came around to the community. This meant that the Eucharist was sometimes only celebrated 3 or 4 times a year. And it was this habit which continued in Methodism right up until about twenty years ago. Interesting, isn’t it?
Now, however, things are beginning to change. In fact, at the retreat I was surprised to learn that our UMC church in Montevideo has gone to weekly communion. I also emailed my clergy cousin, David Eichelberger, in Aurora, Illinois, who is a friend of Dan Benedict’s, and he told me that his church has been celebrating communion every week for the past four years. Things are changing, definitely!
Where all of this comes from is difficult to say … perhaps there are many factors. One possible reason I think that finally people in America are finally getting over their fear of Catholics! For, I personally can remember very well growing up in the 1950’s. Back then whatever the Catholics did, by golly, we would just do the opposite!!! Which while it doesn’t mean we agree with the Catholic Church on all matters – it simply means that we can be free to learn from and emulate some of the many good things they do without somehow feeling we are loosing a sense of who we are and what we believe.
9. Now, the reality is that back in the first century in the very early Christian communities worship was usually held in people’s homes. And the common practice back then was to gather for a meal and to include the following things as part of the celebration:
First - there was a reading of the Scriptures.
Then - there was the exhortation by the leading elder. In other words: the sermon.
This was followed by the offering of prayers.
Then came the offering of bread, wine and water
Which was followed by the long thanksgiving, Eucharistic prayer of sanctification by the elder and the partaking of Holy Communion.
After that there was a collection for charity.
So, from the very beginning there was a more equal combining of the preached word and the sacrament of Christ’s presence. Now today, of course, whether we will all, as Methodists, actually get to the point where we celebrate Christ’s Presence in Holy Communion every week still remains to be seen.
10. Which brings us to the final question “Why should we even think of doing it every week?” Well, the answer hinges on what we actually believe we are doing in celebrating the Eucharist or the Lord’s Supper.
For, as we all know, during much of Methodist and Protestant history the idea of communion has been closely linked with what is called atonement theology. This idea tends to make the ritual of communion a solemn and sacred experience in which people come forward to repent of their sins -- with very little emphasis on the celebration of God’s grace or the Presence of Christ in our midst today. This older form of communion is sometimes called memorialism in which the primary emphasis is about merely remembering Christ’s death on the Cross. And in its most extreme form it becomes a kind of memorial service. I suspect many of us were raised in that kind of understanding.
The newer Methodist view which comes out the document “This Holy Mystery” seeks to bring out the larger idea that in the Eucharist Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, is truly present with and for the Church. Yet, at the same time, I should also point out that as Methodists we do not believe that the Divine Presence is specifically located in the actual elements of bread and grape juice (as we often understand Roman Catholicism to teach). Nor, I should add, does the experience of Holy Communion entirely depend on the faith of the worshiper. Rather it is truly a spiritual act of God which exists independently of our capacity to make it happen. It is finally a Mystery of our faith. For (in the communion) we do believe and yet cannot fully understand, that God is simply and actually present here and now.
11. The new Methodist document “This Holy Mystery” goes on to say that in the post-modern world of the twenty first century, our ways of perceiving reality are gradually changing. What this means is that for the past two centuries the ideas of the rationalistic eighteenth-century Enlightenment completely dominated our ways of understanding God. Yet, today, it seems, in the contemporary world, complete dependence on reason is gradually being supplanted by the recognition, even in the scientific community, that much of reality is indeterminate and inexplicable. So, we must realize that it is not just in matters of faith that we must learn to accept and celebrate the mysteriousness of life and spiritual matters.
Therefore it now becomes possible for us to believe that Christ can actually be spiritually present in the Eucharist here and now – even though we cannot explain it rationally.
What this changed way of thinking does, of course, is to alter the meaning of the Lord’s supper to include several new ideas or themes including the possibility that when you come forward to participate in the Eucharistic meal it may be for a number of different reasons (in addition to the standard one of seeking forgiveness). Among these other possibilities are:
To seek god’s help in healing both for physical and for emotional conditions and also for other forms of brokenness in our lives.
To seek spiritual nourishment for our soul.
To seek be empowered and transformed for ministry and mission in the world in our daily life during the week.
And, also to be reconnected with the eternal presence of God in Christ and with our neighbor – as Jesus taught us to do.
12. What is also interesting to note (which I did not realize) is that with the Protestant and evangelistic over emphasis on the atonement aspect of religion and the subsequent de-emphasis on Holy Communion there arose in many churches an alternative form of religious expression known as the “altar call.” While not widely practiced around these parts it is still quite common in the Midwest and south in some churches. What was happening, of course, was that the human desire to participate in meaningful religious rituals cannot entirely be suppressed and the altar call was in a way a kind of alternative form of communion. However, nowadays, with the increased frequency of the Eucharist in this and other churches we are merely pushing the pendulum back toward the center where it belongs. For outside of evangelistic rallies and gatherings, the altar call is becoming a thing of the past. Yet, in a way now, once a month, not just some of you, but all of us are invited (in the word’s of the TV preacher) to “come on down!”
Only now in the celebration of Eucharist we do it in a broader and more joyful fashion for we are not merely asking to be forgiven for our sins … but also to be joined together spiritually as the Body of Christ.
13. And this, then, is the central point of the Eucharist, which is the spiritual uniting of us all-together into the church – the community of faith. For we must realize that, while the minister may preach a good sermon, everyone who hears the word hears it within their own thoughts and experience and it still remains a purely individual thing. But, when we actually come forward out of our seats to participate in the Lord’s Supper -- we do it together and it becomes a force which unites us all in and through Jesus Christ. Which is what the church is supposed to be all about – the body of believers.
Therefore, we should not see communion any more just through one eye only – namely that of penitence and forgiveness – although these are very important parts of it … But, also as a ritual which may involve:
Thanksgiving
Fellowship
Remembrance
Sacrifice
The Action of the Holy Spirit
And as a Foretaste of the Future when we all will one day be united in God’s Eternal Kingdom.
All of these things then are part of God’s plan for our salvation and toward which we turn now in faith as we celebrate today “this Holy Mystery.”
Let us prepare now for the Eucharist by praying the prayers of the people. (Hymnbook p. 877)
posted by Anonymous at 1:04 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home