Sacrilege
Originally scheduled for June 17
Sacrilege:
the crime of violating or profaning sacred things (Webster’s
Dictionary, 1828.)
The concept of sacrilege is one which has been
often neglected in the evangelical churches. Indeed, many such
churches make it a point to proclaim that there is no such thing as
a sacred thing. Throughout the history of Christianity this has been
a distinctly minority view. Sacrilege is directed irreverence.
·
It may be directed at a
person. This is more common in churches which have priests and
bishops, but it must be admitted that even the humblest of pastors
bears a certain dignity which should be respected.
·
It may be directed at a
place. Think of Christ driving out the moneychangers to understand
his attitude towards sacrilege directed at the Temple. We may have
lost the sense; graffiti on the walls of the church building seems
to be well tolerated in some places.
·
It may be directed at a
thing. Certain items are set aside for the use, exclusively, of the
church. These things are sacred — that's what the word means, set
aside. When these things are treated with irreverence that is
sacrilege. If someone picks up a communion plate cover and uses it
as a Frisbee that is sacrilege.
Most of us can see that such actions are sin.
But consider the communion bread and cup.
Christ himself declared, “This is my body.”
He deliberately set this apart – that is, made it sacred –
and taking it in an irreverent manner is sacrilege.
More commonly, taking it without thought - just a ritual,
just a routine – is also sacrilege.
How then are we to take it?
The Scripture tells us:
“Let a man examine himself.”
Take a good look at who you are.
Did you walk in with the idea that there is
nothing in your life which
needs self-examination?
In particular, is there no recurring sin in your life?
Maybe you haven’t been troubled with it lately.
Now is the time to keep it from coming back; examine
yourself, and then seek the power and protection of Almighty God to
keep that sin away.
Some of us will see that incident during this
last week which – to be honest with ourselves – we wish we could do
over. Is that something
for which repentance is needed?
Now is the time to repent and ask forgiveness.
Make no mistake; forgiveness is available.
It’s called grace.
Communion reminds us that it is available to all who call
Christ Lord. Communion
also reminds us the price paid for that grace.
The body and blood represented in Communion is a reminder of
the body and blood of our Lord, given for us in his death on the
Cross. Examine yourself;
then partake in a manner befitting a sinner saved by grace.
