Lord's supper a meal?

[lynnie]

I go with what the Lords supper has become, but when I read scripture it sure sounds like they ate a meal together.

Tell me this instruction from 1 Cor 11 is talking about a thumbnail size piece of motzah and a thimble of grapejuice.



17But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part,19for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 21For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
23For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27(AB) Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died 31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

33So then, my brothers,[j] when you come together to eat, wait for one another— 34 if anyone is hungry let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.

 

[Skyler]

It seems to me like Paul was saying that the purpose of the Lord's Supper wasn't to provide sustenance, but as a symbolic act of remembrance. That being the case, it would seem to me that the Lord's Supper isn't to be celebrated as a meal.

 

[Rich Koster]

Wasn't Paul addressing the selfishness of those at the meal? Those who "had", ate and drank too much and those who "had not", had nothing.

SIDEBAR: I have eaten Passover with Christians of Jewish ancestry who eat the traditional Passover with one extra cup at the end that is done in the manner of 1 Cor 11. Unfortunately, if this tradition of the Lord's Table was held to, it would only be presented annually.

 

[MW]

When the Corinthians treated the bread and wine like a meal, the apostle specifically states that they were not coming together "to eat the Lord's supper," v. 20. The strong emphasis upon the significance of the original institution of the "elements," v. 23-26, as well as the importance of examining oneself as to the knowledge one brings to these elements, v. 27-29, indicates that the sacramental action of giving and receiving bread and wine according to Christ's appointment is what constitutes the proper administration of the Lord's Supper.

 

[Rich Koster]

When the Corinthians treated the bread and wine like a meal, the apostle specifically states that they were not coming together "to eat the Lord's supper," v. 20. The strong emphasis upon the significance of the original institution of the "elements," v. 23-26, as well as the importance of examining oneself as to the knowledge one brings to these elements, v. 27-29, indicates that the sacramental action of giving and receiving bread and wine according to Christ's appointment is what constitutes the proper administration of the Lord's Supper.

Is it improper to introduce the elements at the end of a meal between believers with an elder distributing the bread and wine with explanation?

 

[CharlieJ]

If my memory is correct, the second century church typically celebrated the Eucharist as an actual meal.

 

[MW]

Is it improper to introduce the elements at the end of a meal between believers with an elder distributing the bread and wine with explanation?

The apostle searchingly asks, "What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?" Distributing the elements after a meal does not affect the ordinance, but it does influence the way one views "the church," tending to reduce it to a social club.

The only person qualified to administer the ordinance is an ordained minister of Word and sacraments.

 

[Rich Koster]

Is it improper to introduce the elements at the end of a meal between believers with an elder distributing the bread and wine with explanation?

The apostle searchingly asks, "What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?" Distributing the elements after a meal does not affect the ordinance, but it does influence the way one views "the church," tending to reduce it to a social club.

The only person qualified to administer the ordinance is an ordained minister of Word and sacraments.

Doesn't that mean "elder"?

 

[MW]

Doesn't that mean "elder"?

No; the minister functions as an elder collectively with other elders; his primary function is a steward of the mysteries of God, which he is to diligently prosecute wherever he is.

 

[Rich Koster]

Doesn't that mean "elder"?

No; the minister functions as an elder collectively with other elders; his primary function is a steward of the mysteries of God, which he is to diligently prosecute wherever he is.

It's a little different here in NJ-USA in the Baptist tradition then. I was ordained in 2002 and served as a teaching elder. I also served communion as a chaplain when teaching off campus.

 

[MW]

It's a little different here in NJ-USA in the Baptist tradition then. I was ordained in 2002 and served as a teaching elder. I also served communion as a chaplain when teaching off campus.

This is the problem with present congregational polity, and it becomes more confusing when it is permitted to operate within Presbyterianism. If bodies are going to ordain teachers merely to the "eldership," and insist that it is the eldership which rightfully administers Word and sacraments, then traditional Presbyterian bodies will not be able to accept the claim that such men are "ordained ministers."

 

[Rich Koster]

It's a little different here in NJ-USA in the Baptist tradition then. I was ordained in 2002 and served as a teaching elder. I also served communion as a chaplain when teaching off campus.

This is the problem with present congregational polity, and it becomes more confusing when it is permitted to operate within Presbyterianism. If bodies are going to ordain teachers merely to the "eldership," and insist that it is the eldership which rightfully administers Word and sacraments, then traditional Presbyterian bodies will not be able to accept the claim that such men are "ordained ministers."

For clarification, I was ordained by the existing elders with congregational approval. Some go as far as to OK whoever gets elected in an annual meeting, but not where I'm from.