Things are not as They Appear

“For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgement to himself if he does not judge the body rightly”
– 1 Corinthians 11:29

1 Corinthians 11:17-33 is not a passage to be used by your church as an incantation for their particular theological bent on communion. Instead, it is a call for the church to function in love, and, as I believe the verse above says, in genuine relationship with one another. Things are not always as they appear. I can say some good things on Sunday morning, but do you know me? The church service is a disservice if it’s place where people wear their Sunday best and no one ever knows their weekly worst. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Have a meal and see what comes out in conversation. Or if you really want to know, try doing business or working with a person. What about having alcohol at a church potluck? (I know, there is always an argument about causing people to stumble, but I know more overweight people than recovering alcoholics, and yet dessert is never lacking at church functions.) Lower their inhibitions and get them talking. If we could lower the fake-factor in church, then maybe more of the good things the Bible says about the church could become real.

For a more about my take on 1 Corinthians 11, check out Holy Crumbs