Eating the Lord's Supper Unworthily

C.L. Farmer wrote this article. It appeared in the May 1973 edition of the "Christian Courier", published by the East Main Street Church of Christ in Stockton, California and edited by Wayne Jackson.

The apostle Paul declared to the church at Corinth, "Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread and drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body" (I Corinthians 11:27-29). There may be no other expression in the New Testament that has given more trouble to Christians that the expression "unworthy manner." It is certain that nothing has caused more Christians to abstain from communion with Christ that a misunderstanding of this verse. How often do we hear the excuse, "I am unworthy to partake of this holy communion. I will wait until I correct my wrongs, till I am worthy." Even church leaders have been known to discourage weaker Christians with some spiritual defect from taking the Lord's Supper.

No person is really worthy of the death of Christ. If the table of the Lord were only for worthy people, i.e., perfect persons, none of us could ever eat of it. The Greek word translated "unworthy manner" is the adverb anaxios. An adverb is never used to describe a person; it describes a person's action. In this case it describes the manner of participation in the Supper, not the character of the person partaking. One partakes in an unworthy manner "if he discern not the body" of Christ. Thus, when observing the communion one must be mentally aware of the body and blood of Jesus which the elements of the Supper represent. One must be emotionally involved in the events of Calvary. The eating of these elements is vain if not done sincerely from the heart. When one is aware of the greatness of what he is taking part in, when he has a deep sense of the love that these symbols represent, and when he is aware of the obligation that is laid upon him, he will not let other thoughts distract him from his worship.

If one fails to show proper respect to the Lord's sacrifice by eating in a manner not worthy of such a sacrifice, he is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. To eat of the bread, or drink of the fruit of the vine in a careless or thoughtless way is to show an unconcerned attitude toward the death of Christ, and hence, actually to classify oneself with those who initially crucified our Lord.

What about self-examination? God requires that we worship in spirit and truth (John 4:24). We ought to examine ourselves before every phase of worship to Jehovah. To perform any act of worship carelessly or in a way not prescribed by Him, is to show contempt for the Creator we worship. In verse 28, the word translated "examined" is better translated "prove". It means to test. Each person is to test himself. One is not to test another. But of what is one to test himself? The testing is concerning the manner of partaking the Lord's Supper , including one's attitude toward the Lord's body and blood as he communes. One must test himself to determine if he exhibits the proper reverence due the body and blood of the Son of God.

Thus, may these verses never be used to turn a child of God away from the weekly communion with the Savior. May we never add sin upon sin by refusing to eat the Lord's Supper as He has commanded. Let these words bring each of us to the Lord's table with the soberness and reverent meditation, the end that we should be edified, not condemned, and that we might proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.