| Author | Message | ||
| Hallanvaara Registered user Username: Hallanvaara Post Number: 46 Registered: 1-2004 |
I史e got so much wisdom and bright, fresh views to different issues from you, my friends, about which I humble thank you. I have now this issue on my mind: Holy Communion. As an SDA I mostly felt embarrassed and quilty because of the foot wash. I didn另 like that part at all. It didn另 seem to me any demonstration of humbleness and service but hypocritical act only. You just splashed a little water on someones foot and then tapped it with towel. No conversation, no eye contact to a your partner. Some ladies just hummed some hymn. I felt nothing, fewest love. Jesus said about communion that doing it for His memory. I haven另 take part to communion for many years and now began to long for it. But there are things I don另 understand about Holy Communion. How, when and why? Elementary things and I叮 a little bit ashamed to confess this. But SDAs never teached those questions. Holy Communion were organized regularly few times a year and that叫 it. Can you tell me how you understand and do with Holy Communion. Praise Lord for His Son! Tuija | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 666 Registered: 11-2002 |
We take part in the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ in rememberance of His sacrifice, his blood and body on the Cross. At the Lutheran church where I attend Communion is served twice per month and on special occassions. I know some people who honestly believe Communion should only be served once per year, on Passover as Christ is our Passover lamb. I don't believe this way because the Bible says, "as oft as ye do this do in rememberance of me" and in those words no limitations on how frequently it can be taken is mentioned. Some people just have great desire to get the O.T. rules into just about everything having to do with Christianity. I just love taking part of Holy Communion. It truly is the most wonderful and profound time of worship. The minister has asked me if I would like to assist as a Communon server. So far this just seems yet too holy for me to offer to others. I don't feel ready for this responsibility. Yet, I understand in the Lurtheran understanding anyone who is a regular partaker has the grace and forgiveness of God and therefore can feel free to offer Communion to others. I guess I just don't feel that self assurred yet. That will be my next big step. I say, "Just do it!" Go for it! | ||
| Esther Registered user Username: Esther Post Number: 22 Registered: 5-2004 |
The church I just started attending is an Evangelical Free, and before I started going I visited the pastor with many questions. One of the biggest was on communion. I think that was even what pushed me to think of attending a sunday church. After coming out of Adventism, I had just such a burning desire to take communion. But the pastor explained to me that they take it once a month. And it's only the bread and wine. I found this funny as in SDA we do the footwashing to (also something I wasn't too fond of) but the Pastor Phil explained to me that when Christ washed the disciples feet, he was trying to show them the attitude He had for them, and how they should treat each other...and it still valid as a lesson for us as our attitudes for each other should be, but it's not something that is actually part of the ceremony. That what Christ said to do in remembrance of Him, was the bread and wine. My first communion after this whirwind of a journey to truth God's taken me on was so very meaningful. And Amen! Praise the Lord for Christ! | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 18 Registered: 6-2004 |
I agree with Esther 100%. Foot washings were set as an example of how we are to serve others. But communion is what we are to do as a remembrance. Today's culture in America doesn't really require foot washings as we do not travel about by foot through dusty roads wearing sandals as they did in Jesus day. It was a way to refresh a guest who traveled a great distance. I also found the foot washings to be a rather uncomfortable service because it really wasn't serving any purpose other than knowing who uses Dr. Scholl's foot powder. | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 378 Registered: 7-2003 |
Communion is detailed in many passages, the gospels, 1 Corninthians, but footwashing is only mentioned in John. As Esther's pastor said, it was about an attitude, not a ceremony. Frankly, when I'm caring for my retarded daughter's physical needs I think that is far more what Christ was talking about than the specific act of service he was doing for them. I had never heard of people literally doing footwashing until B, not as a corporate body. I don't think I'd like it either. I attend a Christian church and we do communion literally everytime we gather. Only exception is special productions (Easter, Christmas, etc.) | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 20 Registered: 6-2004 |
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think when I did communion in the SDA, it was every quarter (as they called it). Which usually was about 4 times a year. | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 679 Registered: 11-2002 |
SDA's generally will have communion every quarter. My mom told me this is just a tradition and it started back in the early days of the SDA denomination because back then they had circut riding ministers. Most Asventist lived far out in the plains states and in rural areas. As such the ministers only got to preach at a little country church every three months so communion would be held at every service a real, bonified, ordained minister held the service. The weeks a minister was not at the church the congreation would hold their own Sabbath School and someone from the congreation would give a talk. Then as Adventism spread to the cities, other lands, etc. this tradition just stayed. I thought this explanation made sense. However, at the same time most SDA's will tell you that their church does not practice traditions of man. My mom though will not partisipate because she beliees Commuion shoud only be once per year on Passover. | ||
| Freeatlast Registered user Username: Freeatlast Post Number: 193 Registered: 5-2002 |
Heaven forbid that you remember Jesus' sacrifice for your sins too often... (sarcasm) | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 386 Registered: 12-2003 |
One of my most vivid memories the first time we attended our church was of communion. I remember seeing a middle-aged man down the row from me crying as he passed the bread. I was crying myself--something that had never happened to me during communion before!--and I remember realizing that when people are committed to Jesus, they are able to feel, even men, who would have never shown emotion during an Adventist service! About a year after we started attending our church, I went on my first-ever women's retreat (I had previously thought that I didn't like "women's gatherings" because I thought they were either superficial and boring, or clique-y and competitive), and being astonished again. On Saturday afternoon, they had one room set up with quiet music, basins, and water so ladies could wash each other's feet if they wished to do so. It was set up during "free time" and was not connected to a service or to communion. There were three of us "formers" who were there, and we decided we had to "redeem" footwashing. We went to that room and washed each other's feet, and it was a most moving and memorable exprience. It was a completely different thing from footwashing connected to SDA communion. Wow! When the Holy Spirit is present, everything is different. The three of us were overcome with the very tangible realization that God had called us and redeemed us from a terrible bondage and had given us Himself. I'll never forget that afternoon and the way God redeemed even that ceremony that had so much "cringe factor" associated with it before! Colleen | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 21 Registered: 6-2004 |
I don't believe that you are restricted to having communion at certain times like many churches practice. Jesus said to do this in remembrance of him but didn't regulate how often. However I think doing it every week can become more of a traditional practice and lose the emphasis of it's true meaning. | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 382 Registered: 7-2003 |
You know, I was afraid of that as well (traditional practice), but it's not so in our church. Every week it is different scripture read, but usually talking about the sacrifice Christ made for us and cup/bread are taken as the plate is passed, but then the individual decides when to eat as he examines himself. It is very individual as well as being somewhat corporate. I can't say there have been too many times in the years I've been there (since 96) that I've taken it for granted or not spent time in quiet reflection prior. There have actually been times I have not taken it because I haven't felt "right". If you take the time to reflect as our services allow, it is a very personal and spiritually renewing. I've actually been in communion services that were quarterly that were less meaningful than our weekly remembrance. I guess you get out of it, to some degree, what you put into it. | ||
| Sabra Registered user Username: Sabra Post Number: 129 Registered: 10-2001 |
Tuija, In 1 Cor. 11 the Corinthians were not discerning the Lord's body, they were there to eat and not realizing what they were there for. v.26-whenever you do this, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. It says to do so in an unworthy manner is to sin agains the body and blood ofthe Lord, that we must examine ourselves and discern what the Lord's death means and understand it! verse 30 says that because some do not discern the Lord's body they are sick and even die. It is serious stuff and I feel, an act of worship. There is no set time or place for communion, you can proclaim the Lord's death in your house with some grape juice and crackers if you want to. I've heard many miraculous healing stories of people taking communion daily and being healed because they believed "by His stripes they were healed." Everything Christ's death represents is proclaimed in the Lord's supper. As SDA's we didn't realize what all that means, we didn't understand that His death paid all and that is it, so of course it didnt' mean as much. Our church has communion corporately 3 or 4 times a year, but there is a table with a deacon available weekly for anyone that wants to partake. We don't wash feet, but I think it is a good practice, the Church of God does it, that is the only other denomination I know of that does. Sabra | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 230 Registered: 3-2004 |
This brings to mind one of the foot washing services at the SDA church I attended. I had taken my son out of the local SDA church school because the teacher did not like me and was taking it out on him. When communion Sabbath come around, and I knew it was coming, I wanted to wash this woman's feet, just to make her feel bad. I wanted to make her sqirm. I knew that was not the attitude that God wanted me to have. I prayed about it, a lot. I, after talking to God about it, decided to wash her feet as a sign that I loved her, in spite of her attitude toward my son. He was no longer under her teaching, so I knew she could not go after him. I was really surprised at myself at the change of attitude I had toward her. And she let me wash her feet. She did not say a thing to me as I did it, but I was not doing it for her. I was doing it for God and me. Diana | ||
| Hallanvaara Registered user Username: Hallanvaara Post Number: 50 Registered: 1-2004 |
I was wondering if Jesus said that whenever we have Lord叫 Supper we do it for his remembrance so is it really necessary that a priest or minister gives it? And now Sabra said it! I can do it in my own home and don另 need somebody from some congregation to give it to me. Blessed freedom in Christ! As being SDA the communion were just one habit and something Christ told us to do. Sabbath is so superior to anything and it rolls over everything else, even Jesus. More and more I叮 getting to know Jesus the more and more I see the bondage of Sabbath. Everything is looked through Sabbath. Oh those poor souls in SDA denomination. I feel so pity for them but they refuse to open their eyes and see. They say they have freedom but actually they don另 know anything about it. Tuija | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 689 Registered: 11-2002 |
Tuija, In the Lutheran tradition any bapitized member of the Body of Christ can serve as a communion server. Last week the pastor told the story of a developmentally disabled man. From the way he told the story the man must have been well into adulthood when these events took place. The man insisted on keeping Coke and his favorite bread in the kitchen. When people would seem down he would get out the Coke, pour them a glass and get out the bread and give them a piece and at the kitchen table he would give his loved ones communion. An through the power of Jesus it worked every time. Seems as though when this man did communion people left in a better mood. After the pastor told this story there were a lot of people in the congregation saying such things as, "Praise be to God", etc. | ||
| Pw Registered user Username: Pw Post Number: 24 Registered: 6-2004 |
I think the SDA's really lost the true meaning of communion because they are so determined to win God's approval by Sabbath keeping that everything else falls by the wayside. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 400 Registered: 12-2003 |
Tuija, Hebrews explains that we, the church, are a generation of priests. We have direct access to the Father. We do not need clergy to administer communion to us. In fact, it always bothered Richard as an Adventist that the SDA church did not allow anyone except elders to serve the bread and the wine (which was, of course juice). At least a couple of times a year we have communion in our Friday night Bible study, and it's always a wonderful experience. Praise Jesus for making it possible for us to come directly into the presence of the Father! Colleen | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 12 Registered: 7-2004 |
At our church this evening we shared communion and it brought to mind my memories of communion in my home SDA church. First of all, the only ones allowed to take part were baptized members of the church. Everyone else was expected to sit quietly by while the qualified participated. There was a lot of factioning in the church and you could depend on certain pairings during the foot washing ceremony. I've since come to understand that in the OT, entry into fellowship was by circumcision, and the remembrance token was the weekly sabbath. In the NT, entry into covenant relationship is by baptism, and the remembrance sign is communion. Our day to celebrate being in covenant relationship is TODAY, and we are with Jesus "wherever two or more are gathered in His name." At our church communion is celebrated at unset times. In other words, it is celebrated at least once every month or so, but is usually celebrated when a sermon is on a topic that segways into the partaking of communion. Today's topic was about the particular Fruit of the Spirit -- Goodness, and it was stressed that none are good except God himself, but that He allowed His Son Jesus to die so that He could clothe us with His goodness, so we celebrated that fact. It was very moving. As for the foot washing thing, I once heard a pastor (not SDA) explain that if we were to perform that service today, we would be washing each other's cars. After all, that is our current form of transportation. In Christ's time, people traveled on their own two feet. | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 453 Registered: 12-2003 |
Isn't it wonerful to have communion become a meaningful, worshipful experience? I understand your feelings about it, Belvalew! Colleen |
