The Table (Matthew 26:17-29)
It is interesting to consider the context of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus establishes the tradition at a meal, not during a worship service. So why has Christendom almost entirely divorced the practice from an actual meal at a table? Part of the reason may be that we have lost the “shared life” aspect of church.
To be fair, a lot of churches are still good at doing fellowship. But those moments tend to be quite distinct from the more ceremonial aspect of the worships service. We think about God and are used to hearing from Him and His Word during more formal, mostly theatrical experiences. When we meet to eat, the focus is more on us and the food. We might need to rediscover the mixture of these elements of church.
Worship services could use more fellowship and shared life qualities. Why not worship at the table, or around a family room atmosphere. Why not discover God together in a circle with a lot of participation and not seated in a theater focused on a stage. And when we meet to fellowship, why not incorporate worship and sermons and… the Lord’s Supper?
I think Jesus and Paul would have a hard time recognizing the Lord’s Supper the way most churches practice it today.
To be fair, a lot of churches are still good at doing fellowship. But those moments tend to be quite distinct from the more ceremonial aspect of the worships service. We think about God and are used to hearing from Him and His Word during more formal, mostly theatrical experiences. When we meet to eat, the focus is more on us and the food. We might need to rediscover the mixture of these elements of church.
Worship services could use more fellowship and shared life qualities. Why not worship at the table, or around a family room atmosphere. Why not discover God together in a circle with a lot of participation and not seated in a theater focused on a stage. And when we meet to fellowship, why not incorporate worship and sermons and… the Lord’s Supper?
I think Jesus and Paul would have a hard time recognizing the Lord’s Supper the way most churches practice it today.
Comments
Post a Comment