Slowly Savored

The Lord’s Supper and Christian Community: A Lesson from Coffee

From mainstream Starbucks to neighborhood bistros, the local coffee cup has evolved into a symbol of connection, companionship, and community. The coffee experience is about family and friends, because great coffee naturally takes time. The beans must be roasted and ground; this process is reminiscent of the labor put into our relationships. The coffee is percolated, heated, and even specially flavored, just as our connections with one another are enriched through experiences and shared moments. And, of course, every cup is sipped and savored to the last drop, paralleling the importance of savoring each moment spent in fellowship.

Consequently, coffee is the perfect nonalcoholic drink of choice. It’s the ideal beverage for gathering because great community also happens with time. Friendships are grounded and grown; relationships emerge through connection and communion. In an instant, fast-paced, microwave culture, the human soul hungers to slow and silence, connect and commune, remember and reflect. It’s no wonder many coffeehouses look like living rooms, inviting people to sit down and share their stories, just as the early Christians did over a meal.

If Jesus were to institute the Lord’s Supper in our 21^st-century culture, he might prefer coffee to wine as the cultural memorial to his life. After all, in the first century, wine was a common social drink. Like coffee, great wine took time to mature and, consequently, was the centerpiece beverage for meals, marriages, and other special cultural moments. In this light, every sip of coffee can remind us of the deeper spiritual nourishment we receive through Christ.

The Lord’s Supper, as it’s called now, was originally the Passover celebration, a multicourse meal of wine, unleavened bread, lamb, and herbs. Jewish families gathered around supper tables to remember the Egyptian exodus, the messianic Moses, and salvation by blood. This tradition of remembrance is vital today, enabling us to connect back to our roots and understand the significance of what Christ accomplished for us. The use of wine proved the perfect cultural drink to represent his mission of redemption, reconciliation, and restoration, revealing the depth of God’s love for humanity.

Approaching Communion with Reflection and Self-Examination

This ancient “love feast” has become a centuries-old weekly tradition for believers to experience within community. Like coffee and wine, we don’t drink from this cup hastily or consume the bread without right reflection. In fact, in the early church, the Lord’s Supper was no swift snack. Paul reveals to the Corinthian church that some were getting drunk and gorging themselves at this meal (1 Corinthians 11:20-22). He later instructed the Corinthians, “Therefore, 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. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:27, 28). This call for self-examination is a crucial step in preparing our hearts to partake in this sacred tradition.

Like great coffee and fine wine, this cup, symbolizing Jesus’ blood, should be slowly sipped; it represents the richness of His sacrifice. This bread, which represents Christ’s body, should be digested like a spiritual feast, allowing its significance to nourish our souls. In this divine opportunity, we dine as the body of Christ so we might savor redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. It’s a moment to pause, reflect, and remember the profound love that led to our salvation.

As we gather for Communion, it’s essential to recognize that we are not alone. We are part of a larger community of faith, transcending time and space. This connection fosters a sense of belonging and purpose, inviting us to support one another in our spiritual journeys. The Lord’s Supper and Christian Community remind us that our faith is not merely individual but collective, encouraging us to lift one another up through prayer, fellowship, and service.

In conclusion, the Lord’s Supper is not only a moment of reflection but also a celebration of our identity as a community of believers united in Christ. As we engage in this sacred act, let us remember the importance of connection, reflection, and gratitude. May we continue to nurture our relationships within the body of Christ and strive to live out the values of love, grace, and truth that are exemplified in the Lord’s Supper. Thus, we can better appreciate the significance of The Lord’s Supper and Christian Community, ensuring that this vital practice remains central to our faith and witness.

Rick Chromey is a motivational speaker, writer, and online professor with Hope International University, Fullerton, California.

Author: Rick Chromey

Dr. Rick Chromey is the founder and president of MANNA! Educational Services International. and the author of GenTech: An American Story of Technology, Change and Who We Really Are (Morgan James, 2020).