You are eating and drinking in an unworthy manner if you do not know the reason for the bread and wine. I did not know the meaning of communion back then, so I did Communion in an unworthy manner. The bread and wine will not make us holy when we eat and drink them, they simply represent the body of Christ and the blood He shed in His death.
When I was a non-believer, I participated in Communion (The Lord’s Supper) without knowing the purpose and reason for it. The servers passed the crackers and grape juice around to everyone. So, we all participated in Communion
Some people partake in the Lord’s Supper (Communion) simply because it is being served, and everyone else is participating in it. And no one tells us there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. There are probably more people like me, not knowing the meaning of communion, so, we bring judgment on ourselves.
I had no idea what the lord’s supper (communion) was all about, but I took it every time it was served in the place of worship. I remember a pastor saying something about participating in communion in an unworthy manner, but I had no idea what he was talking about.
Before you partake in Communion, you should believe the bread (cracker) is “Christ’s Body” (Jesus) and the cup (wine) is his blood, and not just another cracker and grape juice for the “Body of Christ” (The Church). You should know the difference between “Christ’s Body” (Jesus) and “The Body of Christ” (The Church). We must focus on Jesus’ sacrifice, or we eat and drink “damnation.”
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Corinthians explaining the consequences of partaking in the Lord’s Supper when you do not understand what the meal represents. If you do not know what the bread (cracker) and (wine) grape juice represent, you can refuse to participate without consequences.
1 Corinthians 11: 23-31 NIV – For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24. When he gave thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”25. In the same way, he took the cup after supper, saying,
“This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26. Whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
27. So then, 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. 28. Everyone should examine themselves before eating the bread and drinking from the cup. 29.For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.
30. That is why many of you are weak and sick and many of you have fallen asleep. 31. But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such a judgment. I have been weak and sick, but I had no idea of the damage I caused, because I didn’t know, but that is no excuse.
by: Staff
Christian Briefs 