A famous quotation taken from the bible in the Gettysburg Address is: “A house divided against itself cannot stand!” In our pledge of allegiance unity is amplified: “One nation, under God, indivisible.” Without God, there is no life, liberty, happiness or unity. In our increasingly secular society, we see that the sanctity of life is fading, liberty is threatened, and happiness is eroding into hedonism. But as followers of Christ, we are one in the Spirit, one in the Lord, with one hope in our calling to the faith through one baptism. Christ established a new covenant, rooted in unity, and reaffirmed in the “prescribed meal” of the Lord’s Supper, also known as Communion.
1. What Is Important Is Not Personalities But The Passion Of Christ. The Corinthians were divided over personalities, claiming to follow Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas. Like some today, they failed to understand they were united by the sacrifice, crucifixion or the Passion of Christ. That is the fundamental element of Christian life, and the focus of Communion.
2. Should Increase Our Compassion For Christ And Others. The Lord’s Supper was intended to be a shared meal for all members of the Body of Christ. But the wealthy Corinthians came early, eating and celebrating among themselves, and turning the sacrament into a love fest. By the time the poorer members, who were perhaps slaves, arrived, the fest was over and food gone. This was shameful since the Passion of Christ speaks of His generosity in giving His life. His example was what the Corinthians missed.
3. Frequent Communion Should Cause Our Disputes, Arguments, And Disagreements To Be Short Lived. In Acts, the Lord’s Supper was originally celebrated on the first day of every week. It was a table of reconciliation, forgiveness and love, with the table and elements symbolizing Christ’s sacrifice on the altar of the Cross for our sins. As Christians, we are therefor expected to drop our grievances, disputes, resentments, comparisons and judgmental attitudes against one another.