Crackers and Juice
What is happening at the Lord’s Table?
Nature of the Elements
To continue our discussion from last week, I though it timely to explain the church’s position regarding the nature of the Lord’s Table. To put it another way, we want to answer the question: what is happening and what should we expect when we celebrate Communion as a church?
As a way of introduction let me briefly outline the options.
Consubstantiation: the view of Luther that the body of Christ was present with the elements “in, with, and under” them. (Lutheran)
Memorial: the view of Zwingli because Luther was a little too close to Catholicism for his taste. This view holds that the table is simply a memorial of Christ’s atoning death that we remember. (Baptists, Pentecostals)
Transubstantiation: the view of Rome that the substance of the elements are truly the body and blood of Christ and act as a sin-atoning sacrifice every Mass. We toss this out as heresy, but it’s helpful to know about it. Jesus died once to pay for the sins of the elect, never again. (Catholics, Eastern Orthodox)
A keen eye might notice that there’s one view missing. That’s the position we hold and will unpack next.
Real Spiritual Presence
In short, and in accordance with the 1689, WCF, and Belgic Confession (Reformed Baptists, Presbyterians), we believe that spiritual nourishment is taking place at the Lord’s Table by faith through our union with Christ because of the Holy Spirit. While it’s important to note that this view predates these confessions, nevertheless we wanted to show that this view is not novel and rests on the shoulders of a rich church history.
Biblical Defense
Tradition is fine and dandy, we’re immensely grateful for it and believe it to be most useful when in alignment with God’s Word. However, we believe that there is a biblical foundation for this position. Allow me to lay out some passages of Scripture and then discuss how they come together to support the Spiritual Presence view of the Lord’s Table.
“ 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? 17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? 19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?”
1 Corinthians 10:16-22
Here Paul is explaining that when we partake of the Lord’s Table as a body we are participating in what Christ did. He will go onto explain that we are also proclaiming the Gospel until He returns. However, this participation is not a passive exercise. It is a spiritual union with Christ as the Host of the dinner. We know this because to share the table of idols is not wicked simply because a stone statue is present depicting some deity, but because what is spiritually occurring is in fact a sharing and fellowship with real demons. His argument is not that the elements themselves hold any power, but that behind the participation a spiritual reality is unfolding. So serious is this engagement, that to participate in the Lord’s Table in an unworthy manner (unrepentant, hypocritical, ignorantly, or unbelieving) would also provoke God to judgment on the wrongdoers (1 Cor. 11:29-30).
Let’s take a closer look at the spiritual realities of the Lord’s Table before we move on.
“For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.”
1 Cor. 10:1-5
Was it just material food and drink that they consumed? No it was also spiritual food and drink. It tells us that the spiritual nourishment was Christ Himself! And, we even see that for those who partook wrongly they were judged by God. The people delivered from Egypt through the exodus needed spiritual nourishment as well as physical.
In pushing this even further we see that Jesus affirms that He is the manna that comes down from heaven to offer spiritual nourishment. He is the Bread of Life (John 6). This bread, unlike the bread before, was even better! This is because it’s part of the New Covenant, that gave us a new heart and put God’s Spirit in us (Jer. 31:31-34, Ezk. 36:26-27).
When Jesus is pursued across to Capernaum after He feeds the 5,000, He chastises them. Not because of their eager pursuit, but rather because they wanted to feast and be nourished by more fishes and loaves rather than Christ Himself (John 6:22-34). This is because the nourishment that the people need (and all people need) is received spiritually by faith (John 6:29) not through material means.
So if Jesus speaks so frequently about how He is the bread and must be feasted on and nourish any who would seek eternal life, that eternal life is received by faith in Him not by partaking of elements, then what is it He is telling us when He gives us the Lord’s Table? The bread and wine don’t save, but they are a sign of Jesus’ atonement. The bread and wine nourish our outward man as they did in the wilderness, but it was the spiritual quality that was lacking for some. A spiritual nourishment was neglected by those who received God’s judgment. It’s here that we find ourselves right in the middle. We cannot neglect the spiritual properties of the Lord’s Table in a way that might provoke God’s wrath, neither can we over-mystify them into blasphemy as the Catholics do.
As a final note, it is not alien throughout redemptive history for God to provide a spiritual blessing alongside a judgment in His covenants. If those in Egypt obeyed with the blood of the lamb they would be spared. If Adam obeyed He would live, if he didn’t he would die. It is curious then that we see a judgment attached to the meal of the New Covenant but not an explicit blessing. Unless it was looking right at us all along, that we would spiritually feast on the Christ, receiving His blessings by way of His spiritual presence at the Table.
In examining all of these details a compelling image appears of the Lord Jesus inviting us to dinner every week to be nourished by Him, that we might abide in Him, and receive the mysterious manna that strengthens our soul through our union with Christ.
Expectations
When we gather together to participate at the Lord’s Table we are remembering. We look back at the finished work of Christ delivered once and for all so that He might say for us that: “it is finished.” We look forward proclaiming the death of Christ until He returns, which will conclude with the unimaginable Marriage Supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:6-9). But, we also are presently nourished by our Savior and Lord who feeds our souls.
We should come expectantly to the Lord’s Table. Expecting to experience our union with our covenanted brothers and sisters, and our union to Christ. Expressing our great humility and need, repenting of our sins, and offering thanksgiving for His atoning sacrifice. Receiving our Savior in faith, to strengthen us, comfort us, and stir our holy affections.
Conclusion
Some of you may have never thought twice about this topic. Perhaps you haven’t received clear instruction on what the Lord’s Table is other than reading a passage before participating together. Or maybe you just weren’t paying attention. Regardless, we believe that the Lord Jesus gave us two ordinances and that the beauty of living theology found in them is essential to a right participation, not to mention a robust appreciation for what He left us.
So, is there more happening at the Lord’s Table than a simple memorial where we remember the sacrifice of Christ? We believe so.
Prayer Requests
Praise: Russel’s wife Rachel is finally through the worst parts of her affliction. She’s been back to church and visited our church plant training.
Praise: the visit to New Hope Creswell to share about the church plant was encouraging! It’s always great to visit other faithful churches.
Continue to pray for Wendy, she has been moved to Junction City. This was sudden and has hampered her ability to get to church. She desperately wants to be with her church on Sundays and we are trying to figure anything out we can to get her here.
Pray for the panel discussion this week at Bushnell University, that I’m clear, faithful, and what I share stirs up the class to marvel at God’s goodness.
