This Sunday will be my first partaking of the bread and wine at communion. Almost a year after having come away from the dubs and I'm just now feeling "safe" to partake. So for those of you who have experienced this already, what do I do if I drop the bread on the floor by accident?
Have you partaken?
by writerpen 11 Replies latest jw friends
-
-
Perfection Seeker
I hear you! I am not "officially" out of the organization, or at least they don't know I am-lol- the new church we go to has you take a course, 10 week classes before you can become a member- then once you're a member- you can partake. Well, we finished the class- put a hold on the membership- I am freaking out just a little- and the partaking- such a mental block about it! Yet, nowhere in the bible does it say only once a year, or only certain people should partake, yet when the day DOES come- I'll be scared to death! GOOD LUCK! Let us know how it goes!
-
revdrjohnson
I was also conflicted about taking Communion the first time I had the opportunity. But then -- as I said to the Church this past Sunday -- the Lord revealed to me that it is a Covenant MANDATE for us to do so ...
For as often as you may eat this bread, and drink this cup, you solemnly proclaim the death of the Lord, until He shall come.
-
scootergirl
I have partaken only a few times since 1987 (I think two to be exact) and each time I phsycially got sick to my stomach before hand! I think it was all those years of feeling "unworthy". I totally agree w/the "mental block"...it was very difficult for me to do so. Now I do feel worthy but I don't actively attend any b&m house of "worship"....
-
giantjason
LOL, if you drop it you simply ask for another one. This is simply a symbolic thing, yes the wafer is blessed, but I think the Preist would understand if you picked it up and asked for another. Being a catholic for many years in my younger days, and taking many communions I think it would be very difficult to drop the wafer. I never did.
-
Dawn
Mental Block Totally!!
I didn't partake the first few times it was offered at Church (the one I go to now does Communion a couple of times a year). First I felt uncomfortable even thinking of partaking - then I felt so funny passing the stuff on by when everyone else was partaking.....can't win eh?
The first time I partook was actually at home - I decided to do Communion myself in the safety of my own home - so I got a good bottle of wine (lost of Communion practice ) and unleavened bread at the store - said a heartfelt prayer to God explaining how uncomfortable I felt and why I wanted to do communion (basically - to break that cycle of control they had on me). It helped - the next time they offered it at Church I partook.
I NEVER feel worthy of partaking, so I just ask God to forgive me if I'm wrong and trust that he will.
-
revdrjohnson
Dawn:
I NEVER feel worthy of partaking, so I just ask God to forgive me if I'm wrong and trust that he will.
Even Judas was allowed to partake ...
"But, behold, the hand of My betrayer on the table with Me!" Luke 22:21 (LITV)
Notice, for example, the remarks in Brown and those that are bolded, below
Matthew Henry Commentary on Luke 22
II. The solemnizing of the passover, according to the law. When the hour was come that they should go to supper he sat down, probably at the head-end of the table, and the twelve apostles with him, Judas not excepted; for it is possible that those whose hearts are filled with Satan, and all manner of wickedness, may yet continue a plausible profession of religion, and be found in the performance of its external services; and while it is in the heart, and does not break out into anything scandalous, such cannot be denied the external privileges of their external profession. Though Judas has already been guilty of an overt act of treason, yet, it not being publicly known, Christ admits him to sit down with the rest at the passover. Now observe,
1. How Christ bids this passover welcome,to teach us in like manner to welcome his passover, the Lord's supper, and to come to it with an appetite (#v. 15|): "With desire I have desired, I have most earnestly desired, to eat this passover with you before I suffer." He knew it was to be the prologue to his sufferings, and therefore he desired it, because it was in order to his Father's glory and man's redemption. He delighted to do even this part of the will of God concerning him as Mediator. Shall we be backward to any service for him who was so forward in the work of our salvation? See the love he had to his disciples; he desired to eat it with them, that he and they might have a little time together, themselves, and none besides, for private conversation, which they could not have in Jerusalem but upon this occasion. He was now about to leave them, but was very desirous to eat this passover with them before he suffered, as if the comfort of that would carry him the more cheerfully through his sufferings, and make them the easier to him. Note, Our gospel passover, eaten by faith with Jesus Christ, will be an excellent preparation for sufferings, and trials, and death itself.
III. The institution of the Lord's supper, #v. 19, 20|. The passover and the deliverance out of Egypt were typical and prophetic signs of a Christ to come, who should by dying deliver us from sin and death, and the tyranny of Satan; but they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, that brought us up out of the land of Egypt; a much greater deliverance shall eclipse the lustre of that, and therefore the Lord's supper is instituted to be a commemorative sign or memorial of a Christ already come, that has by dying delivered us; and it is his death that is in a special manner set before us in that ordinance.
1. The breaking of Christ's body as a sacrifice for us is here commemorated by the breaking of bread; and the sacrifices under the law were called the bread of our God (#Lev. xxi. 6, 8, 17|): This is my body which is given for you. And there is a feast upon that sacrifice instituted, in which we are to apply it to ourselves, and to take the benefit and comfort of it. This bread that was given for us is given to us to be food for our souls, for nothing can be more nourishing and satisfying to our souls than the doctrine of Christ's making atonement for sin, and the assurance of our interest in that atonement; this bread that was broken and givenfor us,to satisfy for the guilt of our sins, is broken and givento us, to satisfy the desire of our souls. And this we do in remembrance of what he did for us, when he died for us, and for a memorial of what we do,in making ourselves partakers of him,andjoining ourselves to him in an everlasting covenant; like the stone Joshua set up for a witness,#Josh. xxiv. 27|.
2. The shedding of Christ's blood, by which the atonement was made (for the blood made atonement for the soul,#Lev. xvii. 11|), as represented by the wine in the cup; and that cup of wine is a sign and token of the New Testament, or new covenant, made with us. It commemorates the purchase of the covenant by the blood of Christ, and confirms the promises of the covenant, which are all Yea and Amen in him. This will be reviving and refreshing to our souls, as wine that makes glad the heart. In all our commemorations of the shedding of Christ's blood, we must have an eye to it as shed for us; we needed it, we take hold of it, we hope to have benefit by it; who loved me, and gave himself for me. And in all our regards to the New Testament we must have an eye to the blood of Christ, which gave life and being to it, and seals to us all the promises of it. Had it not been for the blood of Christ, we had never had the New Testament; and, had it not been for the New Testament, we had never know the meaning of Christ's blood shed.
John Wesley's Notes on the Bible
20 This cup is the New Testament - Here is an undeniable figure, whereby the cup is put for the wine in the cup. And this is called, The New Testament in Christ's blood, which could not possibly mean, that it was the New Testament itself, but only the seal of it, and the sign of that blood which was shed to confirm it.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
This cup is the new testament in my blood] Perhaps it might be better to paraphrase the passage thus: This cup which is poured out for you, signifies the blood of the new covenant, which is shortly to be ratified in (or by) the shedding of my blood. Or, This cup is the new covenant, poured out for you with my blood:-that is, the paschal sacrifice and my sacrifice happen together. But see Kypke.
It does not appear that our Lord handed either the bread or the cup to each person; he gave it to him who was next to him, and, by handing it from one to another, they shared it among themselves, #Lu 22:17|. -
Francois
Dawn, yours was a strangely moving story. I could picture the entire thing in my mind. But, you know, if it's true that we are children of God if we are led by God's spirit, then why shouldn't we act like you did - act like the children of God?
Now, what real and loving father is unapproachable by his own children? So why should we cower before Him? I believe, I really do, that we should stand erect like a loved child and ask for what ever it is that we need. And if we think we need to take the communion, then why should be doubt it? It was the JWs noddy teaching that first put doubts in us to start with and we're not part of that B.S. any more. Congrats.
BTW, I go to the Episcopal services as frequently as I can. They've got the BEST communion wine going. I don't know what it is, but it's THE GOOD STUFF. Try it. You'll like it.
Francois
-
Valis
Go to an Irish Catholic communion...the sacrament tastes just like Guiness Stout and Lucky charms...
Sincerely,
District Overbeer
-
Dawn
It was the JWs noddy teaching that first put doubts in us to start with and we're not part of that B.S.
Yes!! It still amazes me at how strong a hold they had over my thoughts - 12 years later I am still struggling with some of the most simple things.
? I believe, I really do, that we should stand erect like a loved child and ask for what ever it is that we need.
I like that mental picture - thanks!! I think that will help me.