The Farmville herald and farmer-leader. (Farmville, Va.) 1934-1957, 1956-03-16

ILLS a q III e II ~. 81. ss:3$S::
means? Don't var ~
ious denomina- -
tons observe it in
various ways? How - - -
can you say all DR.. Foreman
Christians are united in the Lords
Support"
We Think Of Him
1t is true. there are seemingly
endless variations in the way the
Lords Supper is observed. Even
the name is not always the same.
some preferring to call it the
Eucharist, others Holy Com
munion. There are also theologi-
ans debates about it. But plain
Christians do unite here even when
they may not be quite aware Of
it. For there are three facts that
are always true Of this sacred OBJ
servance. however or wherever
it is held First of all. in the Lord
Supper we think Of Christ. 1t is
possible to 60 even to a Christian
church and not hear very much
about Jesus Christ on that par
ticular day Jesus' own teaching
was not always about himself)
But it is not possible to 60 into
church where the Lords Supper
is being taken by the people. with
out being reminded directly Of
Christ. Every Christian has heard
the words many times-"my
body" my blood in remem-
brance of me-" Here are bread
and wine. but every worshipper
knows that these are not simple
ordinary refreshment They are
symbols and signs of Christ his
actual suffering and death on the
cross. Whatever the church may
be, its members always think OF
Christ when they take Communion.
We Find Him
There is something more than
thinking about Jesus and his sac
rifice. when we take Communion,
In this sacrament we find Him.
1t is quite true, different churches
have different official explanations
about how we find Christ here
But from High Church to
Low" in Liberal and Con,
sentative in Catholic and Pro-
testant congregations alike. if you
could ask the people as they come
out of doors again, What did that
service mean to you?" 1t might
be that some would hardly know
what to say. for it is always pos
sible to go through the motions
without really thinking what one
is doing But those who had en-
tered whole heartedly into the
service, who had come in love
and charity and in faith. would
all tell you about the same thing:
Christ came very near to me-"
If Christ seems just as far away
after the Lord Supper as before.
then there has been something
wrong about us. That is why the
Roman Catholic church will not
admit any one to communion if he
has not been to Confession first
That is why in many Protestant
churches the people are warned
to abstain from Communion if
they harbor malice or ugly feel
ing toward their neighbours.
| We Share Him
| II it is true that in the Lord S
Supper we find the Lord himself.
| it should be true-and happily it
is s>-that afterwards life should
| 60 on at a higher level than be-
fore The Lords Supper is less
like a doorway leading from one
room to another just like it. than
it is like gateway across bound
airy from one country to another.
1 Christ comes to us in the Sac
rament. but not as feeting guest.
If we are serious as we take the
bread and wine and think about
| all this in the quiet of prayer,
we will so enter into the spirit
OF Christ himself that we shall
re-dedicate ourselves in his serv-
ice. 1t is kind OF parody on
Christian ideas to think Of Christ S
sacrifice as alone and by itself. His
| cross must be followed by other
crosses. His outpoured life must
be shared by others who are will
ing to pour their lives out in turn
And it is this. again. which unites
all the Christians who in their
many varied fashions have taken
this Lords Supper with devoted
hearts. For there is q family re-
semblance among all real Chris
tians. whatever their church-label
may be. And the resemblance goes
back to the same Christ. who has
shared himself with every Chris
tan everywhere and always who
has taken this Bread and Cup.
tBsssa - sstiires eepy..shtsd BY tAs
Divisisa Of ChPisuaB Eaaeauen. Na-
Uensl CeuaeW 81 The Churches Of Christ
n the U. 3. A. Released by Com m unity
, Press Ssrvieeo