| What is Communion? Holy Communion (a.k.a. the
Lord’s Supper, the Eucharist, and the Sacrament of the Altar) is
the meal that Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior gave to his Church as a
means through which he continually strengthens us for our lives of
faith, hope and love.
God promised to the ancient Israelites that his shekinah (his presence) would especially and mysteriously be present between the wings of the angels on top of the Ark of the Covenant (see Exodus 25:10-22). The Ark was not merely a symbol of God’s presence; it was the physical means through which God was truly present with his people in order to commune with them in a special and mysterious way. Likewise, the Lord’s Supper is not merely a symbol of Christ’s presence with his people; it is the physical means through which he is truly present with us in a special and mysterious way. Of course, the Lord is within us already, wherever we go, but he is especially present with us and for us through his holy supper. This reality is made
particularly clear by St. Paul in the New Testament of the Bible (see I
Corinthians 10:14-22). Within the context of a discussion concerning
eating food sacrificed to idols, Paul states through a rhetorical
question that the Lord’s Supper is truly a koinonia (communion)
with the Lord.
In the Lord’s Supper we commune (have union with) Christ our Lord and with each other; and through this special meal, we receive spiritual strength for our faith and life. Why should I receive Communion? It is because Christ our Lord
commanded that we receive it (Luke 22:19), and because it is for our
own spiritual health. Just as we need to eat and drink for our physical
health, we also need to eat and drink the Lord’s Supper for our
spiritual health and well-being. |
God has provided many means through which we can receive his Word of love and forgiveness to strengthen and sustain us in true faith. We can receive his Word through reading the Bible, seeing the symbols of our faith like the cross, hearing grace-filled preaching, singing hymns and songs, and also through Holy Communion. God wants his Word of love and forgiveness to be easy for us to continually receive. God provides us with ways to receive his Word through seeing and hearing, but also through smelling, touching and tasting in the Lord’s Supper. When should I receive Communion? As often as possible! There is
no reason not to receive it at least once a week. From the beginning of
Christianity, Christians have met on Sunday, the Lord’s Day, to
receive the Lord’s Supper and hear the Word of God proclaimed.
Should young children receive Communion? Absolutely! Holy Communion is by invitation of the Lord himself and it is for all baptized Christians. Education concerning Holy Communion continues throughout the life of a child, but formal Communion instruction is encouraged at some point around 3rd grade. In keeping with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) statement on sacramental practice, our congregation offers Holy Communion to all the baptized, including young children according to the discretion of their individual families. Young children may receive Holy Communion before receiving formal instruction, but this is always with the understanding that they shall receive instruction at some point around 3rd grade. |
Is Communion necessary for Christian life? Yes, because through Holy
Communion we receive our ‘free refills’ of the Holy Spirit to
strengthen and sustain us in faith. It’s true that everyone in Christ
has the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). However, not every Christian
is full/filled-up with the Spirit. Just like it is with soft drinks at
fast food restaurants, we need free refills of the Holy Spirit. Even
though we already have the Holy Spirit within us by God’s grace through
faith in Christ as a gift, we still need to be continually ‘filled-up’
with the Holy Spirit so that we can proclaim the good news of Jesus
Christ with a fullness of the power of the Spirit (Acts 4:23-31).
How can eating and drinking do all of this? In Matthew 26, Mark 14,
Luke 22, and I Corinthians 11, we hear that Holy Communion “is” the
body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, given to us by Christ himself
through common bread and wine for us and for all people for the
forgiveness of sins. Therefore, it is not eating and drinking that does
all of this, but it is the Lord’s words: given and shed for you for the
forgiveness of sins.
“These words, along with the eating and drinking, are the main thing in the sacrament” (Martin Luther, 1531 AD). Consequently, all baptized Christians who trust in these words of Christ receive exactly what they say, and they have communion with the Lord (I Corinthians 10:14-22). Note: Since Lutheran Christians believe that faith is a 100% gift of God (I Corinthians 12:3) and that faith is simple trust, not intellectual understanding, then young children are also welcome to receive it to strengthen and sustain them in true faith as they grow in years. To receive Communion instruction for yourself or for a 3rd grader in your care, contact: Pastor Timothy Singleton 719-495-0706 pastortim@newhorizonslc.org |