A friend of mine from my church asked this question:
“Theological question: which do you think is more important in reference to communion: eating the elements or observing thru prayer/reflection?”
It is a good short question which seems simple. But it opens up a whole can of theological worship worms. Here’s my attempt at a short answer in three parts. The first part has to do with the meaning of the physical eating and drinking, the second part with eating and drinking unworthily, and the third part with potential danger is widespread observational practice in the eucharist. [Fair warning: I am getting far more theological in depth here than I normally do. Come back next week for more jokes and stuff.]
1) Something very real happens in the eucharistic act of eating and drinking. It is symbolic, but also beyond symbolic. [highlight class=”highlight_yellow” style=””]Eucharist means something, but it also is a means of something: grace.[/highlight] There is a tension in much of Christian worship between the physical and the spiritual. It is an excess, I think, to lean to far to one or the other. To mark the Eucharist as merely a physical transfer of magically transferred elements is too much. To mark the Eucharist as merely a spiritual transfer of energized particles via the ether is too much. The mystery of the Eucharist means a spiritual thing and a physical thing is happening. And the more we learn of ourselves, the world, and Scripture, we learn that it is unwise to too rigidly divide the spiritual from the physical, the soul from the body, the spirit from the mind. This move may be, in fact, heresy.
2) Scripture notes that participating physically in the Eucharist can be damaging to us spiritually, and even physically if we do so unworthily. Hard to sum this up in a few lines (I devoted my entire masters thesis on this claim by Paul: The Pauline Concept of Self-Examination in 1 Corinthians 11, so limiting this to a paragraph is painful). However, the most unworthy posture is that of relying on ones own righteousness to certify worthy reception–so mere confession in “self-examination” is all that is needed. None should refrain from participation in the Eucharist because of their sin… they can confess & receive right before they take. In fact, I have found that the Eucharist is the best “altar call” in any church. Whenever I lead this portion of the service, I offer an opportunity to confess one’s sins and receive Christ as one receives his body and blood in community. [highlight class=”highlight_yellow” style=””]The Eucharist is the best conversion opportunity of all[/highlight]. It is better than any other way to receive Christ, for in the Eucharist you can initiate and start to receive all else that comes from receiving Christ in the same moment, rather than having it sprung on you later in a colossal Christian bait-and-switch. It exceeds the prayer altar breakdown, the campmeeting high, the door to door coercion, the extreme-tract-evangelized, the force-fed-sinners-prayer, etc. All those other ways are permissible, no doubt. Indeed I came to Christ in one of those above ways. [highlight class=”highlight_yellow” style=””]Each of us comes to Christ in our own way, but each of us must submit to Him in His Way[/highlight]. However, I find that Communion is common to us all, regardless of our liturgical practice–and it is the best way to convert and immediately be drawn into the great tradition and fellowship of the Church. Quite simply: the Lord’s Table in a Church is the best place to join the eternal fellowship of the Table of the Lord for the first time. I have seen hundreds drawn to Christ for the first time through communion, who afterwards told me it was their “first believing communion.” Baptism should then follow, of course. But let’s save that for another day.
3) To sum up my advice in this matter, I think it can become problematic to encourage observation as some kind of standard part of the Eucharist. I am very open Church in the way I feel we should worship. Nothing is more diverse and more unified than Christian worship. [highlight class=”highlight_yellow” style=””]In the veneration of the singular Christ Christians have invented a billion blessed ways to venerate His singularity. [/highlight]This is part of the special genius of Christendom and I do not wish to hold back the diversity of application with undue dogma. But I am reminded of the excesses of the Middle Ages which included bizarre separations in the priesthood of all believers. Lest we forget to learn from history, we should be reminded that it became common practice to listen for the bell when the priest rang it (traditionally done prior to lifting the host) and then to glance over make sure one simply “observed the raising of the host”–even if it was a peasant at work in the village doing something else, one could “look over” at that most holy moment of an outdoor holy mass and “that was enough” participation to “count” (it was said). It is no coincidence that at this moment, in Latin, the priest would utter in the liturgy the phrase: “hoc est corpus meum” (this is my body). This is, of course, where the non-latin speaking masses derived the magical incantation “hocus pocus.”
I would have concern about encouraging observation in a broad way over participation in the Eucharist. It is not wrong for a few who choose for some special exception. [highlight class=”highlight_yellow” style=””]Some worship practices are not sins of commission for the worshippers but may be sins of omission for the leadership.[/highlight] It should not be a standard practice, lest we develop our own abracadabras though distant separation in what is our most participatory part of Christian worship.
That’s my take. What’s yours?
Absolutely loved this, and I agree wholeheartedly. When I speak with anybody about Communion I decidedly lean toward’s Wesley’s position (as often as possible for the grace available… Got grace?).
How often might we receive such grace. 777 times 77 I think.
🙂
So, how does this fit with CS Lewis’ reminder that Christ did not say, “Take, understand” but “Take, eat.” ? I’m thinking he agreed with you.
Great reference, Jim… In that same section CSL talks about “taking the red coal out of the fire to examine it” and thus turning it into an ordinary lump of black coal. Some of the magic may die in examining it… in making what is mystical perfunctory. that’s why I’m glad I’m exhorted by 1 Cor 11 to examine myself… not to examine the eucharist.
Thanks for this reminder–had completely forgotten Lewis’s take on communion!
“Eucharist means something, but it also is a means of something: grace. ” I love that (and plan to steal it). This post reminds me of the prayer, “I believe. Lord, help my unbelief.” I wish we observed communion more often as a physical reminder of what we believe. I’m so glad to hear (but no a bit surprised) that as a pastor you stress coming to the table not as one worthy, but as one who is — at the very moment of confession, even repentance at that very moment coming to the table or kneeling at it — made worthy through the act we celebrate. Too often I’ve been distracted by a pastor not directing the congregation, “You who are walking in fellowship with God, and are in love and harmony with your neighbors; and you who do truly and earnestly repent of your sin and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from this time in His holy ways, draw near with faith and take this holy sacrament to your comfort; and meekly make your confession to Almighty God (Wesleyan Discipline para. 5615).”
Or, more often, that it is rushed through as if it needs to be checked off the list just in case some dicipline nut (like myself) is present. It’s no secret that I love liturgy — but I do so because of the theological richness present.
Which leads me to my first question…What say all ye out there about the accepted Wesleyan practice of lay people distributing the elements? To be clear, I’m not talking about being on a mission field without an ordained minister, of course. I am in agreement with the idea of the priesthood of believers, but I also subscribe to the idea of sacraments and personally include the Eucharist among those. I find it lends power and sanctity to this most important of all meals when my pastor offers it to me with they prayer, “Take this, and remember me.” I don’t think it’s sinful to have John Doe the Laymember offer it, but I do feel it’s another step into forgetting its holy importance.
My second question is this…What say all ye out there about communion not being offered to the congregation as a whole, but only to a few? It makes me very uncomfortable to see this done in weddings because it celebrates the husband and wife’s first meal being that of unity in Christ (which I think is great), but it does not celebrate the unity of all beleivers in anticipation of Heaven’s banquet. I suppose in this instance I am “observing the raising of the host,” and my spirit can be united with their spirit, but I find myself longing to have a seat that table. I know a certain pastor who won’t do this if asked by a couple. Instead, he offers it immediately following the ceremony when just he and they (and the Spirit they are all in communion with) are present.
Love your thoughts here as usual, Jenny. When are you going to be a delegate to general conference for we Wesleyans? If its not this next time then its a crime and the nominating committee is just silly and stuck in the mud of yesteryear. Your command of such things exceeds most ministers, and several professors.
On your questions:
1) Yep–I’m for having a licensed minister present to lead the sacrament, if at all possible. I don’t recall ever declining the opportunity–even if it was a group of guys in a dorm at midnight.
2) I used to have the opposite view as you, back when I lived near Boston I took communion most every morning by myself at a wooded vespers altar ruins in a former Catholic monastery. However, after much study on the subject I became “converted” to a communal approach. I no longer administer the sacrament to just a couple, and have at times led it for a whole worshipping congregation at witness to a wedding. Beautiful.
You flatter me, Sir.
Nope. Just truth tellin
Thanks. Wow. This gives me a lot to “chew” on.
Thanks, Lisa… for the great question in the first place.