“Habitual” is often used as a pejorative, especially when used to describe Christian worship. American culture has placed freedom of expression on high. We must be allowed to do whatever pleases us, feels right, and doesn’t make us uncomfortable.
However, weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper directly assaults this unhinged self-expression of American evangelical culture. The average Evangelical may yelp about the dangers of traditionalism and throw labels like legalism and formality our direction, but we should take a minute to survey what informs our commitment to weekly communion.
Paul says that as often as we observe this meal we proclaim the Lord’s death; but Paul didn’t say how often. Most Christians would agree we should observe the Lord’s Supper, but are uncertain on what Scripture teaches regarding frequency.
First, weekly observance arises from a dedication to conform our corporate worship to, and this might be radical, the Bible. If we trace the Bible’s story, we see that when God meets with His people He concludes those meetings with a feast. Most clearly this is seen in the OT Peace offering where God, the priest, and the worshipper share a meal. The Lord’s Supper declares that Christ, our Great High Priest, sacrificed Himself to reconcile us to God and establish His dominion of Gospel Peace.
Second, Acts shows a progression from daily bread-breaking in the early church, to weekly Lord’s Day assembling for the express purpose of breaking bread (Acts 20:7). The ecclesia (the gathered) were brought together weekly to feast upon the Word in sermon and sign.
Lastly, this meal becomes the high point of our week. It’s a feast of Christ, on the day of Christ’s new creation work, lavishly given to all those who are in Christ. We’ve gathered to meet with God Most High, and as always, God fills the humble with good things but He sends the proud away empty.
So come in faith and welcome to Jesus Christ…
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