Eat Flesh?

WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
August 13th 2006

Rev. Mark R. Bradshaw-Miller
Sermon Series: “The Lords Supper Still Matters, But Why?”
“Eat Flesh?!”
John 6:35, 41-51
Around the second Century, a number of misconceptions began to surface about Christians and their worship practices. In response to these misconceptions, a group of Christians called Apologists worked to end the confusion. It was their job to describe in detail the worship life and practices of the community of faith. I want to start this morning by sharing a few of my favorite misconceptions.
In the ancient world the people who knew anything about Christians were aware that they referred to one another as brothers and sisters. It was also known that that the community would gather weekly for what was called agape or love feasts. Take this knowledge and add to it the knowledge that these love feasts would begin by everyone sharing a kiss and you can see where this might lead. It did not take long before people had the impression that Christian worship was actually an incestuous orgy. So it was important to clear up this confusion.
Another misconception had to do with the celebration of communion. After hearing Christians talk about eating the body and blood of Jesus who they referred to as a child and as the final sacrifice, the imaginations of non-Christians ran wild. It was believed that an infant was hidden inside the communion bread. (And it gets better) The belief was that the newly baptized member was required to cut the loaf and unknowingly kill the child. This infant sacrifice is what bound the community together particularly since it would insure that no one would share this information. So Christians, it was believed were really people who really ate human flesh!
While these rumors might seem over the top for us, these misconceptions were understandable. After all, only those people who had been baptized were allowed to be present for the prayers of the people, the recitation of the creed and the celebration of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. All those who had not been baptized were excused about half-way through the worship service. This exclusion served two purposes. The first was grounded in the fear of persecution. The second was to assure that all who participated in these activities would fully understand the practices. While this exclusion seems far removed from our present reality, it is still reflected in our practice today.
In the Book of Order, the constitution of our church, only those who have been baptized are welcome to participate in the Lord’s Supper. It says: “The invitation to the Lord’s Supper is extended to all who have been baptized.” Maybe you have already noticed but in case you haven’t, I never mention this when we celebrate communion. This means that by the letter of the law, I have violated our constitution. However, I am not alone in believing that I am operating well within the spirit of the law.
In the Constitution of the church (The Book of Confessions and the Book of Order) makes allowances for opening the table to all people. It says: “Even one who doubts or whose trust is wavering may come to the table in order to be assured of God’s love and grace in Jesus Christ.” In the worship guides published by the denomination (Book of Common Worship) you cannot find any invitation to the Lord’s Supper which invites or welcomes only the baptized. And, looking at who Jesus ate with during his life and ministry, it is clear we are on solid ground when we welcome all who seek to trust in Jesus, baptized or not, to partake in the Lord’s Supper. I share these details because it is important to know that we are taking church governance seriously and that the invitation is deliberate in its openness.
This unwillingness to exclude anyone from the table is not driven by what might be called political correctness. Instead, it is rooted in the life of Jesus Christ, the reformed tradition and the government of our church. So, if someone comes to worship and is not baptized, they will not be turned away from the table. All who wish to participate are welcome. However, those who are not baptized will be encouraged to learn more about the meanings and purpose of this celebration as well as to receive the sacrament of baptism.
Church tradition teaches that the “I am the Bread of life” passages from John are meant to help us understand the Lord’s Supper. In this passage Jesus claims he is the bread of life and the bread of heaven. It is a claim which connects heavily on the traditions of the past while at the same time creating something new. This is most evident in the repetitive use of “I am.” It is a regular feature in the Gospel of John. This is meant to be understood through the lens of the Exodus story where Moses encounters God in the burning bush. Moses asks God what he is to say when the people ask who sent him. God says: “I am who I am.” Jesus’ use of this same formula is not coincidence.
Another connection is the way in which Jesus compares himself with the manna in the wilderness. Jesus is the new manna which will not rot at the end of the day. The last connection is a bit more subtle. When the crowd is complaining to Jesus, it is very similar to the complaining which the people do to Moses when they are in the wilderness.
The parallels between Exodus and the Gospel of John are not limited to this passage. Much like the Exodus story functions to give form and identity to the people of God, so too does the Gospel of John for the followers of Jesus. The Lord’s Supper is built on the foundation of Exodus and interpreted through the actions of Jesus. The Lord’s Supper becomes the way in which form and identity is given to those who seek to trust in Jesus. Who knew that all this could be conveyed in the simple practice of eating bread and sipping a thimble of juice?
There is much happening when the Lord’s Supper is celebrated. It is thick with meaning and symbolism. However, if we are not aware of this and do not tell this to others, then this practice may loose any meaning. It may just end up being seen as something we are supposed to do that just makes worship last a little longer. So to avoid this pitfall we must address the question: “What meanings are conveyed in the Lord’s Supper?”
First, we have to acknowledge that there is not one meaning of the Lord’s Supper. This sacrament, which reveals to us the grace of God, is ultimately a mystery which is beyond our ability to fully explain and to fully understand. But, we can say a few things. The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of the history of God’s involvement in the world. This remembrance is emphasized with the words: “Do this in remembrance of me.” It is also a thanksgiving for God’s love and grace made known to us in Jesus Christ. This is emphasized with the term Eucharist which is the Greek word for giving thanks. The Lord’s Supper is also about uniting with believers in all times and places. This is meaning is conveyed when we use the word communion. It is the realization that our identity as Christians is found in a community of faith. The Lord’s Supper is also about anticipation. At the table we proclaim our hope that Christ will come again and that peace and social justice will finally come for all in God’s kingdom. If we loose touch with the multiple layers of meaning, our celebration of the Lord’s Supper will become ritualistic and cease to be the Lord’s Supper.
Remembering what God has done and what God has promised to do, serves as the catalyst for our involvement in the world. At this table we are nourished with the reality of our God given identity and the call that it places upon our lives. As we anticipate the peace and justice of God’s coming kingdom, we are to work for peace and justice now. When we remember how God provided manna in the wilderness so that everyone had what they needed, it compels us to work for that reality now. It is only when our understanding (doctrine) of the Lord’s Supper becomes lived out in our lives that this table can truly be called the table of the Lord.
This is the story of our faith which needs to be shared. Unfortunately it is not getting much press these days. The church of Jesus Christ in the Unites States is in desperate need of a new generation of apologists. There are many popular misconceptions about Christianity. One of the most common is that the story of our faith, of the God we know in Jesus Christ, can be reduced to a narrow partisan political agenda. It is a misconception which is just as wrong and foolish as the idea that the Christians in the second century were eating the flesh of newborn babies. It is time that we all become a new generation of apologists. It is time that the love of God in Jesus Christ is freed from the chains of ignorance and manipulation. The story for which the would is hungry to hear is the one which begins and ends with the love of God in Christ, where all have enough and where social justice and peace is not just rhetoric or a hope for life after death. This is the story we proclaim at this table. Let us proclaim this story with the rest of our lives. Amen.