Maybe it is a play on words? Communion literally means “sharing”. It’s breaking bread together. Reportedly, “communion” comes from the King James Bible translation of the Greek word for “sharing”. Whether it is considered an ordinance of the church or a sacrament is left to the discretion of the church. Of course, in the context of both, it has to do with remembering the death of Christ and the hope that is ours through his sacrifice.
So, why bring any of this up in a daily blog? I guess I am following the lead of Dr. Nick Pitts who mentioned communion in his Daily Briefing this morning. He referenced the story that Father Robert Morey, pastor of Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Florence, South Carolina denied communion to former Vice President Joe Biden. Reportedly, the rationale for refusing communion had to do with the belief that any public figure that advocates for abortion places himself or herself outside the Church teaching. Consequently, that makes them ineligible to receive communion. According to Father Morey: “Holy Communion signifies we are one with God, each other and the Church, our actions should reflect that”.
Reportedly, in an email to the Florence Morning News that published the story, Father Morey explained: “As a priest, it is my responsibility to minister to those souls entrusted to my care, and I must do so even in the most difficult of situations. I will keep Mr. Biden in my prayers”.
So how awkward would it be to deny communion to anyone, much less a public figure? The comparison is a stretch here, but as I read the article, I thought about Tuesday night when home plate umpire Sam Holbook made a call according to the rulebook that was unfavorable to half the crowd. He was in an unfavorable situation when he motioned that Trea Turner was out because he violated Rule 5.9(a)(11) of Major League Baseball rules when he rounded first base and made it to second. The next five minutes were more than a little awkward and before the controversial dispute ended, Dave Martinez, the Washington National’s Team Manager was ejected from the game.”
Yesterday morning, I had an opportunity to visit in a hospital waiting room with the pastor of an Episcopal Church. How the subject of communion came up, I don’t remember, but he shared a personal story that obviously was unforgettable. I suspect that his son, who was age three at the time won’t remember, but it will be forever memorable to his parents.
The Episcopal pastor believes the principle of “training up a child in the way he should go” also includes the importance of observing the Lord’s Supper. For that reason, children are open to participate in the Lord’s Supper. In the Episcopal church, the congregation makes their way to the front of the church to receive the elements. In the Baptist church, the elements are served or passed out to the congregation. Seriously, there is Biblical symbolism in both approaches. Both ways are congruent with Biblical teaching.
I know what you’re thinking. Some of you are thinking: “I’ve never done it the other way”. Consequently, you are of the mindset that my suggesting there is Biblical support for both approaches is wrong. By the way, I’ll stand my ground on this one.
At any rate, the Episcopal pastor told me his family was visiting a church in Wales and unknown to him, the church in Wales did not include small children as participants in communion. Consequently, when the pastor and his family filed by to receive the elements, they were not offered to his son. That didn’t set well with the three-year-old who announced loudly in protest: “He skipped me”.
Though the pastor didn’t say the tantrum his son subsequently threw at the communion altar was similar to the one the National’s Team Manager displayed over the controversial call on Tuesday night, it was significant enough that the family had to take their three-year-old out of the church.
Whether considered a sacrament or an ordinance, some churches observe communion weekly. Others have a quarterly calendar and observe the Lord’s Supper about every three months. Others are more random.
In the Baptist church, Welch’s Grape Juice is used to represent the blood of Christ. Interestingly, a dentist named Thomas Bramwell Welch first produced the vintage as an alternative to wine in the Methodist Church. I know, I couldn’t believe it either. Methodist even speak to each other in liquor stores. Perhaps times have changed since the 1800s.
We once had a close call on getting it wrong where I attend church. I was actually out of town, but we were scheduled to share communion the Sunday I was away. During the week, one of the church members (a lady with the mindset of Carrie Nations) stopped by the church and made an assessment that the grape juice in the refrigerator had fermented. Consequently, she tossed it out.
Whether she actually sampled it, I do not know. Consequently, when Sunday morning arrived, we were one element short. This was long before there was a grocery store in Drippin’. Never say that a cheap substitute will go unnoticed. Who’s idea it was to use Hawaiian Punch, I don’t know, but it was memorable. To say that it left a sour taste in people’s mouth is an understatement.
At the risk of being branded as a heretic, I will confess that at our church, we occasionally have the congregation come to the front of the church to receive communion. Most often we pass it out to the congregation as a symbolism of servanthood. One Sunday, I invited women to pass out the element rather than men. I feared it would be the last nail in my coffin, but the women who were asked to participate found the experience refreshingly meaningful. So far, I have escaped the ire of most.
By the way, I hope to really get to know the Episcopal minister I met in the hospital waiting room. He is refreshingly personable and I sensed he takes delight in ministry. It is strictly coincidental, but we both have a love for the hill country. He, too, grew up in Odessa. I suspect that he is younger than my son, but he also graduated from Texas A&M.
All My Best!
Don