Weekly Devotional 2-15-16 Fencing The Table
Recently a friend asked if I had ever heard the term “Fencing the Table.” I told him that I had not. So he went on to explain that he has a friend who is a member of a certain denomination which holds that the church is to “fence the table” when it comes to the observance of communion. That is, only those who have trusted in Christ as their savior should take part. The fencing of the table, they hold, is to not allow or at least discourage such persons who cannot profess the Lord from participating in communion. To this all truly born again Christians should agree.
The apostle Paul by direction of the Holy Spirit did write; “27Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged” (1 Corinthians 11:27-31 NKJV). All truly born again Christians would affirm this, but it is at this point that the friend of my friend and his congregation leave the reservation, so to speak.
He and they proffer that “Paul’s command is clear: not to ‘eat the bread or drink the cup in an unworthy manner’ (v. 27), and also to ‘discern the body’ (v. 29).” In this they are correct. However, they add that “Paul does not mean by ‘discern the body’ that people need to have a thorough theological understanding of the Body of Christ in the Lord’s Supper. What he (Paul) means by ‘body’ is the local church – the spiritual body of Christ. What we are to discern or judge is: (1) our relationship to Christ and (2) our relationship to some local church.”
Here is where they make the misapplication. Paul did mean the physical body of Christ, not his spiritual body, the church. Using the bread, Jesus himself symbolized His physical body. Taking the bread he said, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19).
The writer of the Book of Hebrews was given great insight into this and he wrote; “1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me. 6In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure’. 7Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ 8Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), 9then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified’” (Hebrews 10:1-14 NKJV).
In the observance of communion, we who are born again Christians must always consider the Lord’s physical body and the suffering He endured on our behalf. Certainly we must respect His church (His spiritual body) and endeavor to protect its integrity, but we do this best when we examine ourselves, confessing our sins and determine to live lives that continuously glorify Him. Furthermore, we should also make known God’s view of those who would disrespect the Lord’s sacrifice by partaking of that in which they do not esteem or have any part. Placing the emphasis on Christ’s spiritual body and not on the sufferings of His physical body opens the door to depreciating the suffering He endured. Fence the table yes, but we should fence it with the right understanding and motive.
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man
Evangelical Free Church www.efreebible