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Reflections on the Lord's Supper, pt. 2

Do we really consider what's going on when we partake of the Lord's Supper?

Often times it feels like we don't take the Lord's Supper seriously. It's that time on Sunday mornings where we say a few words about Jesus' death, pass come crackers and juice, and sit in silence. While many do use this as a time of prayer and reflection, as a collective it feels like a necessary inconvenience. It's just something we have to do because we are commanded to do it.

The highest praise we can offer the one presiding over communion is, often times, that they kept their thoughts brief. The Lord's Supper is best when it is done quickly and efficiently, leaving more time for the sermon. We take it because we must.

Again, I know many Christians who use this time to focus on Christ. The problem, I think, lies in the way we treat it as a community. At the heart of this problem is, of course, a theological issue.

We don't know what the Lord's Supper is.

Traditionally the Churches of Christ consider the Lord's Supper as a symbol designed to help us remember Jesus' death. It's primarily a focusing tool that helps us think about the Cross of Christ. It is one in a host of things we do that help us remember Christ.

This view is not wrong. Jesus commanded us to take communion in remembrance of him. However I believe that this view is incomplete. There is more to it than a simple time of remembrance. The Lord's Supper has so much more to offer the Christian life than being a simple reminder of something we are supposed to live out in every moment.

Next time we will look at how the Lord's Supper is the new Passover feast; a celebration that does more than just provide an opportunity to remember. It connects the people to the salvific event and defines their identity.

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