Our study in 1 Corinthians now turns to a series of issues with the Corinthian community for Christian worship and this week we’ll focus on issues of head coverings and the use and abuse of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:2–34).
As 1 Cor 11:27 is often misconstrued, course segment 54 notes that “communion should be a time to remind ourselves of ways in which we have been blessed and to be eager and quick to share that with those who have been much less blessed.” What are some ways you’ve seen 1 Cor 11:27 (mis)interpreted or how have you seen the Lord’s Supper presented with a focus that has the poor and needy in our midst in mind?
Thank you, please also post here any other questions or comments on this section.
- In my commentary on 1 Corinthians (NIV Application Commentary), I show that of all the suggestions that fit the historical-cultural context of Paul in Corinth, every use of short or long hair or head coverings or lack thereof with men and women at worship sent either religious or sexual signals of fidelity or infidelity to either God or spouse. If in a given culture hair length or coverings do not naturally send these signals, and they don't in most American contexts, then it would be wrong to insist on preserving these customs. What we need to do is to ask what forms of dress, grooming, style of jewelry or bodily adornment DO send misleading signals in today's cultures or subcultures and avoid them instead. Communion is a harder issue. There isn't a direct command to the church to do this, just the presumption that they will, so that the commands involve "when you partake." There is no question that this is an area that has been overlaid with huge amounts of theological reflection and ecclesiastical practice that go far beyond what can be defended from the Bible itself. But I remember being struck years ago when I heard Andrew Walls, one of the world's foremost evangelical experts on world religions ancient and modern, talk about how the Lord's Supper, with the exception of a few very small groups like the Quakers, is one of just a handful of practices that has characterized almost every church in every location and time throughout church history. It takes more chutzpah than I have to say they have all been wrong, especially since the practice began already within Scripture itself. And even if I had the chutzpah, I would have every reason to suspect that I was missing something if I chose to fly in the face of such nearly uniform practice. In general, that's not a good thing for Christians to do.
- I've been impressed with the NIV Application Commentaries I've purchased so far. I don't have yours but will remedy that one day.
- Communion is never easy for me to learn and apply to https://rooftopsnipers.io . I hope that I can be better in th future.
