“For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” 1 Corinthians 11:26
My dear congregation,
More than once I’ve been asked why we celebrate the Lord’s Supper quarterly. Other churches in America celebrate it every week. Are we missing something? After all, if Communion strengthens faith, why would we go three months without it? More frequent feasting means more food for our souls.
A reasonable question that deserves a reasonable answer.
We find no prescribed frequency in the New Testament. Our Lord commanded, “This do in remembrance of me.” Paul adds, “As often as ye eat this bread.” Do this. As often. Both assume the church will continue observing the Meal, but neither gives a number.
So, is there a right number?
Perhaps a look at the Old Testament system might help. Why did God appoint the Passover only annually? The same for the great Day of Atonement? Didn’t Israel need forgiveness every week, every day? Surely the people needed to remember their deliverance from bondage more than once every twelve months!
Yet in God’s wisdom, He appointed particular seasons to remember. The weekly life of worship continued throughout the year, while certain high days received concentrated attention. Whatever we think the frequency should be, this must not go unnoticed.
Now, the Lord’s Supper is a New Testament ordinance, and we cannot draw a direct line from the Passover to the Lord’s Supper concerning frequency. Still, I find it interesting that Jesus instituted the first Communion at the close of the Passover. There is at least something worth considering here. The spiritual importance of an ordinance is not necessarily tied to how many times it is observed.
Since my introduction to the Reformed faith 29 years ago, I have known the Lord’s Supper as something observed quarterly. I remember being instructed by my elders concerning the wisdom of this practice: The Lord’s Supper is sufficiently sacred to require preparation, sufficiently searching to require examination, and sufficiently precious to warrant anticipation. I have come to appreciate the wisdom of those words.
But there is something else. Have you noticed how seriously Paul speaks about the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11? He warns the congregation that their flippant manner of observing it had brought real judgment upon them. Some were weak and sickly, and some had died.
Think of that.
The very ordinance Christ instituted for the strengthening of His people had become, through irreverent participation, a reason for divine chastisement. There is a solemnity attached to the Supper that we must be careful not to overlook. Paul tells us that some actually died under God’s chastening hand because of their abuse of it!
“But Pastor, preaching is also a means of grace, and we hear preaching every Lord’s Day. Why should Communion be any different?”
Yes, the preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacraments are both appointed means. Both are vital to spiritual life. But they serve different functions. We often call the Lord’s Supper “the visible Gospel” and sometimes fail to distinguish its function from preaching.
Think again of Paul’s warning.
The Lord’s Supper carries particularly solemn blessings and responsibilities. The apostle warns against eating and drinking unworthily, lest one suffer judgment for it. The communicant must examine himself, and the elders must exercise proper oversight. There are specific requirements attached to the receiving of this sacrament.
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28).
What does that prerequisite involve?
It involves repentance, faith, reconciliation, discerning the Lord’s body, and considering our everyday walk. For that reason, we believe the Supper deserves more than the hour in which it is administered. It deserves preparation before, and reflection after.
Four times a year, the congregation enters a particularly searching season. The preaching directs our attention inwardly. The elders exercise oversight outwardly. Those who are estranged are urged to reconcile. Any who are wandering are warned. All who are weak in faith are encouraged to look afresh to Christ.
And after the Supper, we reflect on what grace we have received, what the Word has promised, and how we ought to live our lives before Him.
And this involves the whole congregation. Even those who do not yet come to the Table. There are young people who have never made confession of faith, older members who have remained away for years, and others who are struggling with assurance.
The elders are concerned with all of them.
I think this is one of the great blessings of our communion seasons. They bring the spiritual condition of the congregation into particular focus. Why does this member never come? Why has that young person never made confession of faith? Why is this dear child of God so afraid?
These questions deserve pastoral attention.
The Supper becomes the center of a season of spiritual concern in the church, whether one attends or not.
And I believe there is much wisdom in our practice.
We violate no scriptural command by observing the Supper quarterly. We believe three months gives us ample opportunity to prepare, partake, and then consider what we have received. That is the pastoral wisdom we see in it.
Now, enough about frequency.
Will you attend?
I want to speak especially to the dear soul who longs to come but scarcely dares.
Take a moment to listen to the Bridegroom Himself:
“O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely” (Song of Solomon 2:14).
Do you see how tenderly He calls to His frightened dove? She hides herself from view, yet He longs to see her face and hear her voice.
Have you considered His heart toward you, dear fearful soul?
You lament weak faith, shallow repentance, cold love.
Understood.
But tell me, where in Scripture does Christ turn away a sinner for having too little strength to cling to Him? If you are waiting until you can come without trembling, you may never come at all.
The Table’s purpose is to strengthen the weak who lament their weakness. Do not despise trembling attendance.
Dear soul, you have spent enough time looking at the weakness of your faith. Look again at the strength of your Savior. He has never required a trembling sinner to become strong before trusting Him.
And perhaps you can only whisper, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.”
Then whisper it.
The Lord stoops to hear the smallest cry of His dove.
Your friend and pastor,
J. Lewis
Excellent and also I think Biblical explanation of why quarterly.