Thursday, August 30, 2018
Discerning the body
1 Corinthians 11:29
For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.
As we continue to focus on the Lord’s Supper and conduct as we observe it, we have to confront this difficult verse that’s our key verse today. It Is difficult because it is not clear what body is being referred to and we could get into long and difficult textual arguments for which I am unqualified. Certainly, though, there must be some sense in which the reference to the Lord’s body implies us, the body of believers.
Let us look at some of the options presented to us by the scholars. The first option is of course that the apostle was referring to the Lord’s physical body. We did say a few days ago that there are many who believe that at the Lord’s Table the bread becomes the actual body of our Lord and the beverage His actual blood. In that case, the believers are being told that at the Lord’s table they should be conscious that the elements that they are consuming have become something else and they should be conscious and respectful of that.
Then there are the others, like we also observed, who believe that the elements don’t become anything else, rather, they remain representative of the Lord’s body and blood, broken and shed for us at Calvary. If this latter understanding is intended by the passage we are then under pressure to interpret the apostle’s admonition differently.
Of course, the former interpretation would seem to challenge those partaking to greater piety and reverence, while the latter not so much. That, however, ought not to be the case. The Lord’s body, in any of its interpretations and manifestations, should be given the highest respect. It may well be that many of the problems we have as the church rest upon the failure to properly respect the body of our Lord. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.
The context would seem to suggest that Paul does have in mind the body of believers. From the time he begins to address the subject of the Lord’s Supper, in 1 Corinthians 11:17, he challenges the conduct and relationships among the believers when they come together for worship, the word, and the meal. In the second sentence he writes, “For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it.” 1 Corinthians 11:18.
The entire discussion of the observance and participation in the Lord’s Supper remains focused on the behaviour and relationships among participants. It is, therefore, reasonable to interpret our key verse in this context. That when we, together, are the body of our Lord and we should be conscious of that, we should discern that. When we are discerning of the fact that we are His body we would conduct ourselves differently and relate with each other differently.
Sometimes when we break the New Testament letters into verses we lose the thought if we are not careful. As a standard practice, we should read the letters as letters to get the gist, only using the chapter and verse numbers for ease of reference.
So, for example, if we take the three verses after the key verse as one here is what we get, “For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.” 1 Corinthians 11:30-33. In other words, the dire consequences of participating in the Lord’s Supper stem from us not bring ourselves under discipline in our conduct and waiting for and taking care of others in the body as we assemble for the Supper. It is not a mystical thing but a practical thing.
This concept of us being the body of our Lord remains in the apostle’s mind even after he leaves the subject of the Lord’s Supper in the next chapter. “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:13. Then later in that chapter he wrote, “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” 1 Corinthians 12:27.
There is a lot to be said about the need for us to take a greater interest in each other and better care of each other. Self-centred, self-righteous even, conduct is too pervasive in the church. Believers are focused on their own interests sometimes to the detriment of other’s, in direct contrast to the New Testament teaching. Here is what Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:4
Jesus Himself laid this out clearly, establishing a standard of conduct in His body that we now can exemplify starting with the care we show for each other at the Lord’s Supper, by discerning His body there as us, the believers. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34,35.
Think on these things:
- Do you feel that you are a member of one body at church in a way that is different to a club or other organisation?
- What could you do to better demonstrate love for others in the church?
- What could your church do to encourage a greater demonstration of love among members, particularly among those of different social standing?
Prayer focus:
Let us pray today that we would do better at loving one another.
In His Grace
Pastor Alex