14 Apr 1999

Confessing sins before Communion?

Submitted by theshovel

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Hello all you little diggers!! :)

This is a question I was asked by a fellow believer this afternoon:

Do we have to confess our sins before Communion?

I know there are verses that come to mind that demand our attention to answer this question, but here is the first thing that came to me (and is how I answered her). How is it that Jesus spoke of this event as being done "in remembrance of Me" but we are usually told to do this in remembrance of SIN?

Any thoughts? :)
the shovel
Have a "shovelacious" day! :) :)

Shoveletter:

shoveletter 1999

Comments

Remembrnace of Me

Visitor - February 16, 2010 - 9:49am

Hi Jim!

Quick question.[but loaded none the same] Christ said it, Paul acknowledges it and the flesh perverts it. What is the usefulness of "communion"? Chore, ritual, obligation, or is it a time of remembrance and thankfulness...? Would it be beneficial to engage in this ? I guess the same question[s] could be asked of prayer, fasting, and baptism/repentance.

Adam

Remembrance

theshovel - February 17, 2010 - 6:18pm

The original meal, upon which this is based, had great significance in Jewish history, where the reality of Jesus Christ as the bread of life and the shedding of his blood had been unknowingly celebrated for centuries in the Passover meal. I think much of that meaning has been lost in the Communion ritual over the years, especially when so many use it to remember sins, rather than the one who caused sins not to be remembered any more.

Having said that, I have witnessed great times of thankfulness and remembrance of Christ in the midst of a "Communion" meal. On the other hand, I have experienced more such times of thankfulness and remembrance of Christ as the bread of life and as the remover of sin without such a meal.

I think the sharing of meals together in thankfulness and remembrance of Christ among believers may have been stimulated by what has been called Communion. After all, it is the sharing of our union together in him. I see no reason to disregard anything that would encourage such times of sharing.

Jim

Re: Confessing sins before Communion?

Visitor - July 1, 2011 - 2:30pm

My father taught me that it is wrong to tell people they can not take communion because of sin in their lives. I agree. The cross is the place we run to when we sin. The very act of communion is a reaffirmation that His blood and body is a finished work. Taking it unworthily is to take it lightly as though it is of no value. The scriptures bear this out when it indicates communion is not a social gathering but a time to reflect on the awesome price Jesus paid for all of our sins. He who knew no sin became sin so that we who knew no righteousness could become the righteousness of God through Him. We are not condemned anymore. God is not mad at us! Jesus paid the full price. Communion is an honor to take!

Re: Confessing sins before Communion?

theshovel - July 1, 2011 - 5:09pm

Hello, my worthy friend in Christ! :) Thanks for adding in your excellent comments. By suggesting that those with sin in their lives make them unworthy to partake of the Lord's Supper, the Church has created the illusion that those who are allowed to partake are somehow better. There is a dilemma here for those who partake of the communion. For in taking the bread and wine (or juice), these folks have made a public statement that they have either kept themselves free of sin or that they have taken the proper measures to deal with their sins. No doubt there are many who feel quite justified in thinking themselves better than others, but I suspect there are far more who approach the whole thing with a sense of condemnation and heaviness. I have written a bit more on the subject of taking the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner that you might enjoy: Jim :)