Since we’ve moved to a new place, we’ve been visiting churches. It’s been a family joke that every church we go to is having communion that day. Last Sunday, we had another communion service.
One child of ours, who has a sensitive conscience, has expressed concern about taking communion. We’ve chatted about it, and talked about assurance of salvation. That’s not the problem; the problem seems to one of a clear conscience. What if I’ve sinned, and I haven’t dealt with it? What if there’s sin I don’t know about?
We’ve talked about God’s faithfulness to forgive sin (1 John 1:9, etc.), and talked about making things right when we’ve sinned against someone. Last night, the pastor of the church we attended made a comment that was both wise and gentle. I think it was helpful for our ongoing conversation.
He acknowledged the place for introspection during communion. It’s biblical. But Jesus instituted communion for a purpose, and that purpose wasn’t introspection.
And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” Luke 22:19
What if we celebrated communion with the same emphasis that Jesus gave it? Remember. The time for examination seems to be what we do at other times (See I Corinthians 11:17-34). The prospect of communion might lead us to talk with our children about having a clear conscience, but when the communion service happens, it makes sense for that time to be primarily remembrance and thanksgiving.
I’m thankful for God’s Word, and how it teaches us at just the right time. I think it was helpful. We shall see!
Leave a Reply