Communion Self-Examination and the Change We Need
Communion self-examination calls believers to honest repentance and personal change. Erick Riddle reflects on a humorous church story about grape juice to point readers toward the deeper self-examination described in 1 Corinthians 11.
- Communion is not merely a tradition to protect but a moment for honest reflection.
- 1 Corinthians 11 calls believers to examine themselves before taking the bread and cup.
- The most important change in Communion is not external but personal repentance before the Lord.
By Erick Riddle
Jesus brought change. Everywhere he went, he brought change. His teaching changed common traditions into sources of conflict. His healings changed suffering into gladness. His very first miracle was a miracle of change. He changed water into wine.
I heard about a church that suffered an unexpected change. As in many churches, there was a printed rotation for people preparing Communion. Each person on the list was responsible for purchasing grape juice for the morning services.
One Sunday, as people were reflecting on the meditation that had been shared, the bread and the cup trays were passed. When people tasted the juice, there were some unhappy faces. The grape juice wasn’t right. It wasn’t spoiled. It just wasn’t right.
After an unofficial investigation, it was discovered that the person preparing Communion was doing so for the first time. She went to the grocery store, saw the price of the national name brand (all experienced Communion preparers know the official brand to be used) and saw the price of the discount juice. Assuming all grape juice is the same, she purchased the less expensive brand.
Most of us know the difference between inexpensive and cheap. What was served that Sunday morning was cheap. There was another more official meeting, and from that time forward only the nationally known brand was used in preparing Communion.
When Change Comes to Communion
I have discovered two things most people don’t like. We don’t like the way things are. And we don’t like change. In many churches, it can be unwelcome to make a change in the part of the service in which we share the Lord’s Supper.
And yet, our Communion time is a time for change. Oh! Certainly not in the brand of grape juice. Communion is a time for change in each of us. Consider the words of 1 Corinthians 11.
Examining Ourselves at the Lord’s Supper
“Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself” (1 Corinthians 11:28-29, English Standard Version).
As we examine ourselves, we must be honest. Where we find sin, where we find disobedience to our Lord, where we find selfishness, we must change. We must repent and rid our lives of these behaviors.
Should there be a change in our Communion time? Yes. A change in me.
Erick Riddle has been ministering to churches for more than 40 years. He currently serves as the Chaplain for Golden Years Homestead Retirement Community in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Author: Erick Riddle
Erick Riddle has been ministering to churches for more than 40 years. He currently serves as the Chaplain for Golden Years Homestead, a retirement community in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
