Too close for comfort - 9 June 2011 |
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The Lord’s Supper is just ordinary bread and ordinary wine, but it’s not just an ordinary meal. When we eat the Lord’s Supper, we’re present with Jesus in heaven by faith (though not, of course, by sight – we can’t “see” Jesus physically). Those who love and trust Jesus personally therefore encounter Jesus in a more close and intimate way than usual, which is good.
However, those who don’t love and trust Jesus also “encounter” him in another more close and intimate sense, which (precisely because they don’t trust and trust him) is bad. You don’t want to go meeting Jesus unless/until you’ve repented and put your trust in him. That would be too close for comfort.
Indeed, the apostle Paul explains to the Corinthians that the reason why some of them were ill and others had died was because they had been eating the Lord’s Supper “in an unworthy manner” (1 Corinthians 11:27) – that is, not showing faith towards Christ and love towards other members of Christ’s body.
It’s appropriate to explain this briefly if there are unbelievers present at church. However, the aim is not to exclude people. On the contrary, the aim is to include them, but on the right terms – to encourage them to repent and trust in Jesus, and then to eat the Lord’s Supper with the rest of us.
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Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Minister's Blog