MamaArcher's Blog

Follow-Up Discussion From a Previous Post

This is a follow-up to a previous posting entitled Pharisee or Not?. I have had several emails and comments regarding this post and I feel as if the point that I am trying to get across is being lost. My point, at the heart of it, has nothing to do with alcohol; it is the practice of observing the Lord’s Supper and our customs. I know several people who refuse to take communion because:
(1) they won’t drink any alcohol and think communion should only be served with grape juice, or
(2) communion should only be served with wine, or
(3) bread should be used instead of wafers…and in fact the bread must be unleavened.

My point was that these sorts of things should not hinder or stop us from having fellowship with a particular church or communing with God through The Lord’s Supper. If these things do hinder us then we need to evaluate whether they are truely of God, according to the Scriptures, or whether they are simply self imposed good moral convictions based solely on our tradition, particular upbringing and/or church custom. Basically, are they scriptural? If they are not scriptural then our personal bias should be put aside at times (like when visiting a church that practices the Lord’s Supper differently) for a full scriptural view, so that our personal bias/tradition/custom doesn’t interfere with our taking of the Lord’s Supper, even if we do not like the elements and what is served.

On a side note: Some seemto have taken offense at my use of the word pride. I used that word specifically because I have heard several people use that word when saying “it is not a pride thing but conviction”. I used the word because that is the word others had used in making reference to this issue; and I am not referring to any one individual in particular either. As I said, I have heard this statement made on several occasions by various people across several denominational lines.

I wanted this to be a public discussion of views amongst other believers and did not mean it as a personal attack. This is why it was posted publically and not addressed to any one individual. It seems to me that maybe some have taken this as a personal attack. I want to assure you it was not directed at anyone in particular.

I hope we can keep talking openly and honestly because I truly believe this will help all of us grow spiritually as we wrestle with these issues and our comfort zones are stretched.
Proverbs 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.