Pt.5 National Rededications Gone Wrong

Unworthy Communion

Jesus instituted the Last Supper as an act of remembrance and dedication. It took only a few years for the Last Supper to be misused in the early church. Misusing the Last Supper is a symptom of misunderstanding dedication, so the Apostle Paul wrote to warn of the dangers of this error. Paul begins by referencing the disloyalty of ancient Israel when they dedicated themselves to a golden calf at the base of Mt. Sinai.

Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” - 1 Corinthians 10:7

Misunderstanding or ignoring God's standard often leads to divided or misplaced dedication. Neither of these scenarios is acceptable to God, and both lead to idolatry. When the church takes the Lord's Supper, it should be an act of wholehearted dedication to Jesus.

Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. ...I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons. 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. Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? - 1 Corinthians 10:14-22  

Paul warns of how this kind of unworthy communion defiled their religious assemblies.  

But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. ...When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. ...Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. - 1 Corinthians 11:17,20,27

Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world. - 1 Corinthians 11:28-32  

Making a public act of dedication, such as the Last Supper or a national rededication, is something heaven takes very seriously. The worthiness or unworthiness of the act is not determined by the eloquence of the words, the stature of those involved, or the program production; it is only validated by the fidelity of the heart. God requires the unconditional surrender of our whole hearts. Making a public act of dedication, claiming wholeheartedness, while knowingly harboring divided loyalties in one's heart is unworthy communion. Such a public act of insincerity leaves the person and the nation in worse condition and extends their guilt. 

This is why, up through today, I have held my concerns about "Rededicate 250." I have yet to see an indication that the national leaders involved understand wholehearted dedication and accountability to God. Do you see evidence of this understanding in the habitual behavior of the President, or the leader of his Faith Office? Do you see it in the behavior of the congressmen involved? The President is not the standard. God is the standard, and the only way to peace and healing is through a relationship with Jesus.

Would I cancel "Rededicate 250" if I knew it would most likely be an act of unworthy communion? Absolutely! For this reason, I have not felt safe to encourage anyone to participate.

My prayer for "Rededicate 250" is that this pattern of unworthy communion would be broken so that healing can extend across our nation, that our nation's leaders would understand God's wholehearted love for them, and that they would be empowered to respond with wholehearted love in return. One more thought to come.