Frequency of Communion

I think the scriptures say, As oft as you eat the bread and take the wine, this do in remembrance of me.............Now, that can be daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly........If one is to take this religiously, they will do that regardless of how often we partake of the elements.

Cheers,

Jim

 

This triggered in my memory a remark by a Romanian pastor, who told me that he never announces in advance when his church will have the Lord's Supper.

He explained that expected his members to always be ready to take communion, which meant that issues need to be dealt with. He said that if someone declines communion more than once because of unresolved issues, the church will consider discipline.

Oh, how often do they take it in Romanian Baptist churches? I don't remember.

 

It would almost seem that church would be encouraging folks to partake falsely. Seems like they forget they will be judged according to the way they judge.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom Butler
This triggered in my memory a remark by a Romanian pastor, who told me that he never announces in advance when his church will have the Lord's Supper.

He explained that expected his members to always be ready to take communion, which meant that issues need to be dealt with. He said that if someone declines communion more than once because of unresolved issues, the church will consider discipline.

Oh, how often do they take it in Romanian Baptist churches? I don't remember.

I don't think that was the pastor's intent. Those who did not partake had already judged (examined) themselves. I gathered that he was saying that continued refusal by a member to partake indicated sin not yet dealt with by the member. Sin which resulted in a continued refusal to take communion was causing a breach in the fellowship, and that was something neither the pastor nor the rest of the church could ignore.

I suspect that he would have answered your observation by quoting I Peter 4:17 "...judgment must begin in the house of God..."

 

I think we do it quarterly, but wish we did it monthly.

 

We gerneraly take communion2-4 times a year. Personnally, I prefer once a year, just before easter Sunday. It keeps a special place in my heart that way.

 

It's up to the church, that's not enough, that's too much, 4 times seems perfect...

 

Weekly

Looks most likely that weekly was the practice.

On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them, intending to leave the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight. Acts 20:7 (New American Standard Bible)

Others express concerns that weekly would become a ritual. Things become a ritual when they lose connection to the original first love and form is more important than substance. So as long as that connection is made every week to the original love, the Lord's Supper would not become a ritual.

 

I'm not sure this verse supports a weekly Lord's Supper, but at the very least it explains why Baptists are the masters of potluck meals and dinner on the grounds.

 

We observe the Lord's Supper on the first Sunday of even numbered months except for April when we observe it on Maundy Thursday.

Tim Reynolds

 

In my experience a weekly observance also makes the Lord's Table a very special time.

The key is that we do it according to the local church's decision and that we sue that time to remember the Lord's death.

 

Here is the other verse that speaks about frequency.

1 Corinthians 11 (King James Version)
24And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

1 Corinthians 11 (New American Standard Bible)
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 He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."


These seem to be the closest verses we have to go on and form an interpretation.

 

Renewing and celebrating a loving relationship with a spouse seems to be a model, a picture, or a foretaste of our relationship with Christ in heaven.

Remembering the Lord's Supper weekly is like renewing that loving relationship with a spouse.

Remembering the Lord's Supper is useless if it is done as a mechanical, forced march type of practice. It must be new, original, and fresh each time, drawing us closer and deeper in love with the One we will be in love with forever in heaven together.

 

The churches I've been in (Baptist of course) do it on the first Sunday of each month.

 

The Bible doesn't command a number of times. It does IMHO command regularity. We know the early church did it very often. I don't think every Sunday is too much. We preach every Sun, take up offerings every Sun, pray every Sun, but no one is in favor of jettisoning these because of fear of ritual. Do it right, and the ritual is gone. I'd love to do it every Sun. Someone who says otherwise has a hard time convincing me why we should NOT do something that points to the broken body and shed blood of our Savior (of course, no one wants that much anymore). Quarterly is not enough. Ideally, at least once every six weeks or so, while doing so on special occasions (Good Friday, Christmas Eve, etc.)

Remember, we're proclaiming His death and looking forward to His imminent second coming. How can we help but do this?

 

We have been doing this since the first of the year. It is a wonderful time of true worship and remembrance before the morning service. I personally think that it has enhanced the morning service greatly.

The only Sunday we don't do it is on a 5th Sunday when we have a church dinner after the service.