In Remembrance of Christ
For the past few weeks, we have announced today’s service will conclude with the members of Berean Baptist Church taking part in the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper. While I was away in Kentucky for several weeks, our regular time of this observance came and went without the church taking part. It is our custom, as it is in most Baptist churches, for the pastor to officiate at the Lord’s Table although in past years many churches have become more informal. I have always felt that one of the dangers of frequent observance and of casual observance is the diminishing of the Supper’s symbolism. I think of the words of Christ who said, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you,” and “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.” The solemnity of the occasion and the importance of it is rightly difficult to overestimate.
We postponed our observance due to my absence because breaking tradition causes distraction which in turn causes us to lose focus. I wonder how many churches care about this since I have watched others allow children to distribute the elements and pastors who barely comment on the purpose other than to recognize there is a break in the service. I hope by our formality that we adequately emphasize there is something important happening when we place the bread and cups on the table. We recognize a most worthy memorial according to Christ’s command, “Do this is in remembrance of me,” and Paul’s explanation, “You show the Lord’s death until He comes.” In my absence, our members asked when we would have our next observance because they missed its effect on their devotion and spirituality.
Our observance is also somewhat peculiar for today’s churches, perhaps not so much in form and function, but rather our insistence that Christ intended it for the close fellowship of local churches whose members have committed to each other for accountability and discipline. We can hardly obey this principle when we have no authority over the lives of other Christians who have not formally joined the membership which includes voluntary submission to the pastor and leadership of the church. It is clear in 1 Corinthians that Paul used the Supper as a call for stellar behavior and a means of separating those who were either unknown in discipline or without proper submission.
We have also made it clear that for our visitors we make neither judgment, claims nor disciplinary attempts on their lives. It is not our right to assume authority other than authority of intimate fellowship within the lives of those committed to accept it. However, we welcome our visitors to watch and see what this ordinance means to us. Every Christian should have a church commitment where they surrender accountability for how they live for Christ. The Supper is theirs to enjoy in that location under that authority. Meanwhile, we rejoice for Christ to be present and seen in every work of our church.
Pastor V. Mark Smith