Autonomous Fellowship

The sermon series, “All in the Family”, continued with 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. In this section of Scripture, Paul is pointing out the selfish manner in which they have approached worship. The Corinthians have failed to see the unifying corporate nature of worship and have made it about fulfilling their own needs and desires. They come to church looking to be filled and fail to seek to serve others. Paul has been confronting them on the issue of choosing the Gospel versus self. Even in the partaking of the Lord’s Supper they have chosen to think of themselves first.

Those who are financially secure and need not work long hours or serve as slaves to others are showing up early to the feast (the Lord’s Supper.) They are enjoying the bounty of food and drink without regard to those who will be coming later. When the servants and slaves, who are a part of the church, arrive at the fellowship all the food and drink has been consumed. For these latter attendees, this is a meal they depend on to survive, but the richer and affluent members have filled their bellies without care for the lesser fortunate. Paul reminds them of the purpose and reason for the Supper. The act itself is supposed to indicate a commitment to Christ and a reflection upon His sacrifice for us. If any place one should be willing to be less self-centered it should be in eating and drinking at the Lord’s Supper.
Paul warns that there are consequences to a self-centered heart draped in the lie of religious ritual. Paul points out that some are “weak and ill, and some have died” (v.30) due to the callousness of their heart. They have profaned the Lord’s Supper and defamed Christ by approaching it without a submissive spirit and heart of repentance. The Lord’s Supper is a time to remember Christ’s sacrifice, to demonstrate a unified body (church) committed to Christ, and a forward look with anticipation to Christ return. If we approach it as just a religious ritual, with a self-centered heart, and/or an unwillingness to submit to Christ by repenting of our sins we too are foolish in thinking that there are not consequence to our actions. Prepare your heart even now for us to come together and give thanks for Christ and the fellowship of believers He has called us into.