Confessions...

^"27Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. ²⁸A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. ²⁹For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. ³⁰That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. ³¹But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. ³²When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world." 1 Corinthians - Concerning the Lord's Supper aka Communion, Eucharist

Two Sundays ago my church held communion... I did not participate. Why? Because I have let certain wrongdoings go too long without seeking reconciliation; something that has been on my heart for a while but I have been too stubborn to do.

Should we hold back from taking the Lord's supper because we have sinned? Absolutely not. It is the very fact that we do sin that makes communion such an amazing blessing as we remember the price that was paid for us. However, if we are not actively pursuing a life with Christ as we partake we expose ourselves to judgment, not a thought to be taken lightly.

In the past I have been far too cavalier about this sacrament of our faith - never witholding due to the condition of my heart but always partaking because "that's what Christians do." I treated it as a tradition, but now I see it for what it is: a direct commandment from our Savior. As such, to approach it lightly is a mistake; one that I hope to avoid in the future.

I do not offer this up as a doctrinal study of communion, which I am far from qualified to do, but instead offer it to you as a confession. I confess that in the past I have taken part in the Lord's Supper in a manner wholly unworthy of Christ. I confess that I have participated more for the sake of tradition than to "commune" with my savior. I confess that I have let pride and my own cares for the thoughts of others keep me from witholding when I knew I should.

Now, with wrongdoings reconciled, I look forward to taking part in the body that was broken for me and the blood that was poured out for my sins in anticipation of the Marriage Supper of the Lamb we will share together in Heaven.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.