Meaningless Ritual

Originally scheduled for April 5

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You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

(1Co 10:21)

                To the best of my knowledge, there does not exist a university in the land which teaches a major in communion meditations. Thus we may conclude that learning how to do communion meditations is something that one does the hard way. You write one out and wait for the reaction from the congregation.

The problem with this method, of course, this is sometimes you can do some stunningly stupid things without realizing it. Such was the case one day when a young lady came up to deliver her communion meditation and announced to the congregation that “communion is not a ritual.” Some discussion with her later determined that she was trying to avoid one of two particular problems she saw with communion.

“Communion is not a ritual” is patently absurd. What she meant to say was that communion is not an empty ritual; it has real meaning. It is possible that she also meant to say, “communion is not just a ritual.” Both of these are negative approaches to the facts. Communion is very definitely a ritual — and very definitely a meaningful ritual. Christians learn early that the bread in communion represents the body of Christ. The cup represents his blood, shed for the remission of our sins. Some denominations told that they are more than that. At the very minimum they are a truly meaningful ritual for all Christians.

Just what is a “meaningful ritual?” I submit that there are three characteristics:

·         First, it proclaims to the world those things which we believe to be facts. Rituals are not flights of fancy, and communion certainly proclaims fact.

·         Next, it tells the world what we’re going to make of those facts — the consequences we expect because of them.

·         Finally, it proclaims the world the hope that we derive from those facts.

So then, how does communion fit this list of things? We proclaim as fact to the world the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. From what he told us and his mastery over death, we conclude that the great Judgment will come. Christ will return to judge the living and the dead, separating out the evil from the righteous. All this leads up to our hope — “the sure and certain hope of the resurrection of the dead.” (U.S. Navy Burial Service.)

So don’t just go through the motions this morning, Christian. This ritual proclaims the center of the faith. By partaking you proclaim that you believe it too. Take it with sincerity and meaning. You’re telling the world which side you’re on. The other side hopes that you think it’s just meaningless ritual.