Making a Statement

1 Corinthians 11:26 Paul writes: For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

What is it about you that makes a statement? For some, it’s the clothes they wear. The more expensive, the more fashionable, the flashier the clothes, the louder the statement. What do your clothes say about you? What does your car say about you? What does your house say about you? Think about the statement you make every time you walk out the door. “Well, I’m not trying to make a statement. I just wanted to go get a loaf of bread,” you might say. That may be true, but the fact is that everything about you makes a statement of some kind or another.

Statements are open to interpretation, though. They are often misinterpreted and misunderstood. Paul was writing to the Corinthian church because their practice of the Lord’s Supper was making the wrong statement. It showed him that they didn’t really get what it was all about and that they were making a mockery of the sacrament. Some where pigging out while others were going hungry. Some were getting drunk while others were left thirsty. Not only were they getting in trouble with Paul but they were thumbing their noses at God, and he wouldn’t stand for it.

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” If you’re making fun of this stuff now, what statement are you making about the sacrifice of Christ and his forgiveness. He called them to account and with brutal honesty, told them they’d better shape up.

When you come to the Lord’s table for communion, you are making a statement. Whether you think so or not, you are. When you stand at the altar, you are proclaiming the death and resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins, not only in your life, but in the lives of all those around you. When you come to the table, it’s not just a you-and-Jesus thing. It’s a you-and-me-and-Jesus thing. We stand together, proclaiming our faith in Jesus and our thankfulness for all that he has done and continues to do for us. When you come with hands open, you make a statement that you stand with the church that feeds you. This is where it gets sticky. Do you believe what this church believes about what you are eating and drinking? I suppose you are free to make up in your mind what you think you believe about it all, but you’re also free to be very wrong about it and thus, run the risk of being like the Corinthians. I’ll ask once again: what statement are you making when you stand before the altar and share in the feast of the Lord’s Supper?

Through faith in Christ, the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are fed with the bread of life for the forgiveness of our sins, the strengthening of our faith, for eternal life and for salvation.

Heavenly Father, through the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of your Son, Jesus, we are mercifully given forgiveness, life and salvation. Strengthen us by your Spirit to come to your Holy Supper in humbleness and in faith. Until we feast in the heavenly kingdom, in Jesus’ name, amen.