"Doing more Harm than Good"

1 Corinthians 11:17-33
"For the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it" (1 Corinthians 11:17, 18).

Paul has continued his instruction regarding issues that were brought to his attention, in order that he might help resolve them. Paul is quite direct, as is his style and pattern as we read his letters. He tells the gathered at Corinth that when they come together to celebrate the Lord's Supper - Communion as we call it in the church - it does more harm [for them] than good!

The purpose of them coming together for the Lord's Supper was, and is today, to strength their fellowship of faith in Christ, reminding them of what Christ did on their behalf. In Corinth, the practice of the culture was to come together for a meal and then the Lord's Supper. Paul describes some as coming to the meal and being gluttonous as well as some getting "drunk"! There were some who didn't get anything to eat. And then, in those frames of mind and heart, they would proceed to the Lord's Supper.

Paul's exhortation was that no one ought to come to the Lord' Supper "in an unworthy manner" because they would be "sinning against the body and blood of Jesus" (vs 27). While it is not the general practice to eat a meal as the gathered church before partaking in the Lord's Supper, there are many other ways in which we could come to the Lord's Supper in an "unworthy manner."

If we come with unconfessed (known) sin in our hearts - having discord and dissension with another, having an offense that is unresolved - unresolved as it concerns ourselves ( we cannot 'make' another person reconcile, but we can practice Matthew 5:23-25 which instructs us to go, ask forgiveness and be at peace as far as it concerns us), then we would be coming to the Lord's Supper in a manner unworthy. This is how the Corinthians were coming to the Lord's Supper...and Paul said it not only was not good, it caused [them] harm!

Today, there are differing interpretations of what Christ meant when He said, "This is my body." Some believe the the wine and bread actually become Christ's physical blood and body (transubstantiation). Others believe that the bread and wine remain unchanged, but Christ is spiritually present with the bread and wine. Still others believe that the bread and wine symbolize Christ's body and blood (transignification). However, Christians generally agree that participating in the Lord's Supper is an important element, in the Christian faith and that Christ's presence, in some way, strengthens us spiritually. (p2080 NIV Study Bible).

"Lord please forgive us for the times we have come together as Your people, and done 'more harm than good.' Lord, alert us by Your Spirit as individuals when we approach Your Table with attitudes, actions, thoughts that are not of You. We know God that we will not be perfect on this earth, but You have made away for us to have a clean heart and conscience - through the blood and body of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit for new life. Thank You Lord."