Evidence for God from Science

What is going on in these Scriptures?

1 Corinthians 11:17-34

17In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God's approval. 20When you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper you eat, 21for as you eat, each of you goes ahead without waiting for anybody else. One remains hungry, another gets drunk. 22Don't you have homes 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 praise you for this? Certainly not!

Questions: Is Paul objecting to the practice of the Corinthians of combining the Lord's Supper with their meals?

Is Paul further objecting to what seems like the rich not sharing their meals with the less fortunate?

Is Paul saying that they should not combine the meals and eat their meals at home and then come together to celebrate the Lord's Supper?

23For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night 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, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.

Questions: Is Paul speaking of the Corinthians combining their dinner with the Lord's Supper "an unworthy manner," or is Paul saying that Christians who do not come to the Lord's Supper with the right attitude — one of repentance — come in an unworthy manner and should not partake of the Lord's Supper until they repent?

29For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

Questions: Why are some people getting sick and dying? I don't understand what Paul is saying.

33So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for each other. 34If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.
And when I come I will give further directions.

Any comments from anyone would be appreciated.

Thank you.

In the early Church, what is referred to as the Lord's Supper was more than a ceremony in a church building as we think of it. There were no Church Buildings. There were no seperate denominations per se. The local Church was simply a collection of all the bellievers who lived in that community.

It was common for the church to get together for the Lord's Supper or a Love Feast regularly. Rather than a ceremony they had an entire meal together.

Paul is addressing the Corinthian Church for some excesses and conflicts that they had among themselves.

Keep in mind that most of these believers were gentiles. They likely were idol worshippers before they came to Christ. Feasts were common in idol worship as well and involved some of the excesses mentioned here. It wouldn't be surprising at all if some of these believers had participated in the idol type feasts before and that due to ignorance and immaturity on their parts they modelled some of their behavior on those old events they participated in before they came to Christ.

Is Paul objecting to the practice of the Corinthians of combining the Lord's Supper with their meals?

I don't think so. I think he is objecting to their behavior in how they do it which focuses on themselves and not Christ.

Is Paul further objecting to what seems like the rich not sharing their meals with the less fortunate?

Yes. The focus is to be on Christ and honoring one another as well.

Is Paul saying that they should not combine the meals and eat their meals at home and then come together to celebrate the Lord's Supper?

He's saying that would be better than what they are doing now. I don't think he's saying they could not have a full meal like they are but that if they can't control themselves and honor Christ and respect one another, they should eat at home and then when they come together they won't be as selfish in their hunger and lack of self control.

Is Paul speaking of the Corinthians combining their dinner with the Lord's Supper "an unworthy manner," or is Paul saying that Christians who do not come to the Lord's Supper with the right attitude — one of repentance — come in an unworthy manner and should not partake of the Lord's Supper until they repent?

The latter I believe.

Why are some people getting sick and dying? I don't understand what Paul is saying.

Paul is saying that there can be physical consequences in this arena for their sin in how they are treating this sacrement. Remember Annanias and Saphira? Disrespect to Christ and the Holy Spirit who are present in some manner related to this important remembrance that Christ commanded is serious and can carry consequences to the believer. This is not a matter of salvation. This is a matter of obedience and reverence to Christ and respect to one another and it is a serious matter.

In short, Communion is a time to pause, remember and reverence Christ. When we do so, we have to realize that Christ is present in out brothers and sisters in Christ who are present with us. Therefore, if we do not honor and respect one another, then we are disrespecting Christ.

I think the focus here is on the heart attitude of the participants and how that plays out in their treatment of one another.

Thank you Canuckster1127.

I appreciate your help.

Canuckster1127 wrote:

Why are some people getting sick and dying? I don't understand what Paul is saying.

Paul is saying that there can be physical consequences in this arena for their sin in how they are treating this sacrement. Remember Annanias and Saphira? Disrespect to Christ and the Holy Spirit who are present in some manner related to this important remembrance that Christ commanded is serious and can carry consequences to the believer. This is not a matter of salvation. This is a matter of obedience and reverence to Christ and respect to one another and it is a serious matter.

In short, Communion is a time to pause, remember and reverence Christ. When we do so, we have to realize that Christ is present in out brothers and sisters in Christ who are present with us. Therefore, if we do not honor and respect one another, then we are disrespecting Christ.

I think the focus here is on the heart attitude of the participants and how that plays out in their treatment of one another.

Oh, you came so close Bart. I still agree with everything you said, although I would have stopped at the highlighted .

We agree on more than we disagree upon, and in this area, anyway, I think it's safe to say in terms of practice, our disagreement as to the technical means of Christ's presence, doesn't amount to anything that should keep us from participating in communion with anything less than full respect for the Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of Christ, who dwells within us, which is more important relative to the presence or non-poresence in a physical element.

Canuckster1127 wrote:We agree on more than we disagree upon, and in this area, anyway, I think it's safe to say in terms of practice, our disagreement as to the technical means of Christ's presence, doesn't amount to anything that should keep us from participating in communion with anything less than full respect for the Holy Spirit, also known as the Spirit of Christ, who dwells within us, which is more important relative to the presence or non-poresence in a physical element.

Without a doubt.