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Are We Taking Unworthily of the Table? : A Reflection on the Social Situation at Corinth

By Lawrence E. Garcia

It’s that time in the service again. The lights dim, the music almost hesitant, and the preacher’s voice quibbles with reverence saying, “Whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body of our Lord”. Yup, it’s monthly communion. And that phrase usually sets off a chain-reaction of introspection, guilt, and despair dividing the room down the middle between the ones who were out sinning the previous night and the ones who had too many obligations to sin that night. Now is it me or does Jesus appear somewhat bi-polar between freely seeking and accepting sinners and then judging us at his table when we accept the invite? Is this a trap? What happened in between Amazing Grace and the Eucharist that we have now become susceptible to death and judgment?

It is my estimation that what has actually occurred in between Jesus’ recorded inclusivity and the modern Eucharist is too much time and distance from the actual social situation that inspired Paul to pen such seemingly gospel-contradictory words. Thus, without understanding the social values of the ancient Greco-Roman world, not least in Corinth, we impose our modern introspection onto what Paul was trying to convey. It then becomes vital that we place these verses in their appropriate social context in order to clear up the blatant contradiction that exists between our hymns of grace and our subsequent exclusion at the Lord’s Supper. Therefore, in order to clarify the actual situation at Corinth we will examine the verse that follows the statement above as this is where Paul qualifies what “unworthy manner” is:

 “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. “For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.” (11:28-29, ESV)

This much is assured: that a form of reflection prior to participation is required of the Corinthians before participating at the Table. But what exactly are they to reflect upon? The following verse gives us the answer: as to whether or not they are “discerning the Lord’s body”. First, this should remove much of the personal element that has become common place at the Eucharist because the reflection called for by the Apostle is not about us qua sinners as much as it’s about us discerning the Lord’s body.  Second, that the key to the puzzle remains in how Paul defines “the body” throughout the Corinthian letter itself:

“The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.” (10:16-17)

“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” (12:12)

Throughout the letter Paul has been identifying the participants of the bread/meal as constituting the very body of Jesus itself. The same line of thought is witnessed in Acts when the risen Jesus charges the Pharisee Saul who has been persecuting the nascent Christian-sect with “persecuting ME (i.e. Jesus himself)”. Thus, Paul is criticizing the more honorable in the community at Corinth for not being concerned for the welfare of their brothers and sisters of lesser social status who by sharing in the bread of the Eucharist are mysteriously the very body of Jesus. This is why Paul charges them with being “guilty of the body… of our Lord”; it is as if the honorable in Corinth were the very Roman guards who mercilessly scourged and shamed Jesus’ body at his trial. This makes sense of the context which states:

^“When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk.”

This is not to be whittled down to bad table manners, but is actually the Corinthians adopting the wider-cultural practices as witnessed in the Hellenistic Meal where seating arrangements, food and drink served, and quality of portions were determined according to one’s social status. Latin poet Martial, contemporary of Paul states:

 “Since I am asked to dinner… why is not the same dinner served to me as to you? You take oysters fattened in the Lucrine lake, I suck a mussel through a hole in the shell; you get mushrooms, I take hog funguses; you tackle turbot, but I brill. Golden with fat, a turtle-dove gorges you with its bloated rump; there is set before me magpie that has died in its cage. Why do I recline with you, although Ponticus I am dinning with you”

Small wonder Paul states “this is not the Lord’s supper”; a brief scan through the Gospels illustrates that Jesus allowed all and sundry to eat at his table as equal members in the kingdom—poor, diseased, female, and prostitute alike! The Corinthians in their blatant disregard for the less honorable among them in order to cater to the more well-to-do had partaken in “an unworthy manner”, guilty of mistreating the body of Jesus. They were now on trial for the maltreatment of the Son of God along with Pilate, Caiaphas, and Herod. What Paul saw spiritually was as an arrogant-merriment which left a thirsty Jesus on the cross as witnessed in their hungry brethren.

Thus on one hand, we should cast-off the chains of guilt, unworthiness, and despair which so often cloud the joyous feast we call the Eucharist and begin dinning with the Lord who delights to sit next to sinners. On the other, as we approach the open Table our concerns should be that our needy, helpless, and marginalized brothers and sisters are provided for and honored as the greatest among us. It is when this is accomplished that Jesus will say to us, “For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, I was naked and you gave Me clothing, I was sick and you took care of Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.”

Alan Watt Poem: NWO Pirates Tear Nations Asunder, Consolidating Power, Amassing Plunder

Managers of Mayhem have Crises Everywhere,
But Stop Your Panic, Stand and Stare,
Crisis Management Means Pros Manage the Crises
By Crashing Banks and other Devious Devices,
Then When People are Poor and Beaten,
Moneybags say You Should Be Competin’
With China, India and Emerging Nations,
The Believing Public has Lots of Patience,
Always Voting for the Biggest Connist
Who says “I’ll Make Things Better - Honest”,
Nations Played Like Keys on the Keyboard
And the Formula Delivers a New Overlord,
Then the Same Agenda Continues Along,
Poor Ranks Swell, Same Old Song

Source

Ron Paul on how US military invasions and occupations of other people’s countries, and all the death and destruction that is the Pentagon’s trademark, causes blowback. How stupid or irrational or bloody-minded are the Americans who can’t get this, who boo Ron’s point that we would not like to be occupied by China? They see the rest of the world, except Nato and Israel, as subhumans who ought to be grateful to have their throats slit by the overmen. http://is.gd/Kz5Kwy

God’s Dear John Letter To The U.S

Dear John and Jane Public,

Honestly, don’t fret over it. I get it. Dear God, I get it. You’ve found a new god. Truthfully, I’ve seen this coming for awhile. I tried to deny it. I even tried to change it. (I have to admit, even in all my divine wisdom, I just did not see the whole MLK, contemporary prophet thing not working. But humans, YOU try to figure them out). 

You know, there was a brief time there, just after 9/11 that I thought we were going to make it. I really thought you finally “got it.” In the midst of chaos you sought out community. In the midst of anger and fear you united over differences and seemed to be hoping for a greater good. Good times. Hopeful, even.

It’s OK, I understand why the new god in your life is so appealing. Sure, it hurts a little, but c’mon, I’m God. Seriously, I’ll be OK. This new god of yours is all shiny and is promising you “prosperity.” Let’s face it, the certitude of the “prosperity” your new god offers has a particular kind of appeal that the hope of love, peace and grace that I offer you just can’t touch. This new God of yours, he offers you everything without sacrifice (well, without sacrifice on your part; others will pay quite dearly), and admittedly I ask a lot of you. I ask you to lay down your life for the sake of others. I ask you to love your enemies and to be a servant of all. Honestly, I get why you want to be with him.

In a lot of ways, it’s better like this for now. This relationship between us hasn’t been very good for me either. Don’t get me wrong, I still love you. You have no idea. But, honestly, you’ve been more of a user of me than a follower of me. I thought Jesus put it about as clearly as possible when he said, “you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” Really, I thought that was pretty clear, but like I said, “Humans, YOU try to figure them out.” You post My name on your money and even added Me to your pledge, but you deny the sacrifice it takes to follow Me every time a child dies of hunger in your nation of plenty, every time a person dies of a curable disease for lack of health insurance, every time you kill people to show them that killing people is wrong. Did you realize that both corporate profits and the poverty rate are growing? That’s one Hell of a problem… and I’m finally getting the message.

You know when I really knew it was over? Or at least when I finally admitted it to Myself? In the last two debates. Please, don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. I’m God. I know you know. When they cheered for death. Twice. That’s when I had to admit it. You see, I came to put an end to death, not celebrate it… at least not that way.

There were lots of tell tale signs. I just love you so much, so I guess I let myself over look them. Take for instance, until recently it was only the things I created that were considered people, but now the things you’ve created are considered people. (How something as literally heartless as a Corporation can be treated as a person, in all of my infinite knowledge, I will never understand). I don’t think you are actually playing God by doing it (much), but  I do think you are denying me and, in doing so, denying who I created you to be. 

I’m not giving up, just giving in a bit, for now. I love you - so much. I will keep sending my prophets. You will know them by their love. If the people you follow are teaching you to hate and fear, to exclude people for any reason, then they are not sent by me, even if they say they are. So, when your infatuation with this new god of extremism, nationalism, might-makes-right, and privilege is through using you… I’ll still be here. Waiting. Loving. 

My Peace, Love and Grace to you,
YHWH

The God Article

9/11 summed up

I don’t know what’s the bigger tragedy. America being attacked on 9/11, or the following decade of fear mongering, unjust wars, phony political heros, unconstitutional actions, Orwellian police state tactics, bankrupting the economy, etc., etc. About time to restore America.

A Plea for Christians to Use Their Brains

Thinking over Scripture and studying theology will not turn you into a Pharisee, who has knowledge of God’s word but no love for Him (unless your motives are incorrect). In fact if our desire for knowledge is firmly grounded upon a love for God the result will be just the opposite. When a Christian, with correct motives, seeks a greater understanding of God, the knowledge that they attain will act like fuel being thrown upon a fire, and thus only intesify the blaze of their love for the Lord.

Entire Post here: Theunis Dirkse Pretorius