Do you do something just because you were brought up to believe that this is the way you are suppose to do it. There are a lot of people out there who don't have a clue as to what the word of God says about their traditions or rituals. They just perform like a puppet because this is the way they were taught as children. Well, let me suggest if I might, that if you are doing something, keeping some sort of ritual or tradition and you do not know what God says about it, that you get into the word of God and see what does the word say. Maybe now as an adult and one who is responsible for your own behavior, you would want to search the word of God and found out just what He says about your traditions. Let me give you an example from my own personal experience. In some denominations, people who are not of that particular denominaton is not allowed to participate in Holy Communion. There is no scripture to back this up. This is something man has made into a doctrine of that particular denomination. Notice I did not say church, because we are suppose to all be one church as Christians. So if we are in fact one church as the word of God says we are, then how can we deny another Christian a place at the Lords' table. You see church does not mean a building, or a religion, or a denomination. Church means Gods people. Jesus, Himself says we are one body with Him. It is my personal opinion that when other Christians are denied communion simply because they are not of that denomination, that this is sinning against God. It is as if you are sitting in the seat of God and judging these other Christians. Scripture tells us that we are to search our own hearts, ask for forgiveness and forgive anyone we have grudges or greivances against before we participate in communion. The communion table is for the family of God. If you are a Christian and you are in right standing with the Lord, you have a right to the communion table regardless of what denomination you call yourself. And if you belong to this denomination who believes that they are the only ones with a right to God's table, then I suggest you look into the Word, and see what God has to say. And when He tells us to search our hearts and ask for forgiveness, He is not saying that you just go and ask out of a tradition or ritual called confession, but that you come before Him and ask, and then your heart will truly change. And you will not go back and sin that same sin over again. In other words you can not live like the devil himself, and take communion, or you will be taking the judgment of God (not others) on yourself. Anyone who reads the word of God and thinks he is only speaking to them is not in right thinking. God gave His Word and His Son who are one and the same to all of us, not just to any particular denomination, but to His church, His people. Don't be too quick to judge another because of what denomination they call themselves, or you will be drinking judgment upon yourself. We as Christians need to stand together and not separate ourselves from each other because some man somewhere down the line gave our building we meet in a denominational name. Let Christ's church stand as one body, the way He meant it to be.
1 Cor. 10 vs 16-17....the cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ. The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we though many are one bread and one body, for we all partake of that one bread.....
vs 21-22...you can not drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, you can not partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons, or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?
1 Cor. 11 vs 17-34....now in giving these instructions I do not praise you. Since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lords' Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. For I received from the Lord that which I also deliver to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; And when He had given thanks He broke it and said, take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me. In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, this is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in rememberance of Me. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lords' death till He comes. Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lords body. For this reason many are weak, and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgment. And the rest I will set in order when I come........
So remember Jesus says, examine yourself, wait for the others, and do not let there be divisions among you. In other words when you hold communion from the others, you might as well be eating at your own house and not the Lord's Supper at His house.
Neta
No comments:
Post a Comment