Dilemma

[unworthy.sinner]

Thank you for those replies received so far - they have given me some additional perspectives to consider.

After reading through the responses, I will attempt to separate what I see as being two distinct issues: attendance at services, and partaking of the Lord's supper.

At this point in time, I am prepared to start re-attending services at least for this week, but not partaking of the emblems. The reasons for this are as follows, and I would appreciate comments on the Scriptures with regard to partaking of the Lord's supper;

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 NASB

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

It is my understanding that some of the more conservative fellowships ie Orthodox, practice "guarding of the table" to ensure that it is only believers walking in obedience (ie no unrepented gross sin) that share in the bread and the cup.

I do not want to be one of the following;

Jude 1:12-13 NIV

These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm - shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted - twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

[Guest]

Thank you for those replies received so far - they have given me some additional perspectives to consider.

After reading through the responses, I will attempt to separate what I see as being two distinct issues: attendance at services, and partaking of the Lord's supper.

At this point in time, I am prepared to start re-attending services at least for this week, but not partaking of the emblems. The reasons for this are as follows, and I would appreciate comments on the Scriptures with regard to partaking of the Lord's supper;

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 NASB

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.

It is my understanding that some of the more conservative fellowships ie Orthodox, practice "guarding of the table" to ensure that it is only believers walking in obedience (ie no unrepented gross sin) that share in the bread and the cup.

I do not want to be one of the following;

Jude 1:12-13 NIV

These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm - shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted - twice dead. They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

First: Get yourself to church. It's about being obedient to the Lord. We live by faith and not by sight, (or "feelings" which can change.) Start going to church no matter what garbage the enemy tries to put in your head and you will that the "feelings" will start lining up again. The Spirit will start changing your heart and before you know it, you will wonder why you didn't start going sooner.

I'm in a life situation where my work schedule makes it a real problem to get to church and I wish I could go more often. It sounds like the Lord has made things easier for you -- take advantage of it because things can change in the future. I spent a few years doing my own thing, and its not any fun being out of fellowship with the Lord.

On hypocrisy (hypocrites): The first few chapters of Romans make it pretty clear we are all sinners -- therefore no one is perfect. You will never find a "perfect" church, because the body of Christ is made up of sinners saved by grace.

We are all at different places in our lives with all the issues, baggage, and rough edges that go with our walks with the Lord. I just got done reading through 1 Corinthians 12-14, where among other things Paul made it pretty clear we need each other. Each of us has a gift, and all are needed for a healthy local church.

As far as the Lord's Supper is concerned, ask the Lord to show you anything in your life He's not pleased with beforehand. Then hang on, because that's a prayer He WILL definitely answer! After you've spent some time in prayer and confession, go for it.

[Trusting Jesus]

Good. You need to get back into fellowship.

As to partaking of the Lord's Supper, I think that is between you and our Lord. First off, the letter that Paul is writing to the church in Corinth is written to correct many, many things in that church that were wrong. If there was a wrong way of doing things, the Corinthians were doing it. Including making a party of the Lord's Supper. Paul was reminding them that they were to remember Jesus when they ate the bread and drank the wine. Each person was to think about sin in their life, what needed to be changed, apologies that needed to be made.

You can never make yourself worthy. But you can recognize changes that you need to make and pray, ask forgiveness, and then have fellowship with Him. If anyone needs to have fellowship with our Saviour, it's sinners - I'm one and so are you. I need His fellowship and so do you. I need to examine my life and actions and thoughts and words, and then lay it before Jesus, and so do you. If we do that, we won't be like the Corinthians and just having a party. That is what is meant by an "unworthy manner".

There is a very good commentary on this chapter of 1 Corinthians on the Blue Letter Bible:

http://www.blueletterbible.org/cgi-bin/com...amp;Select.y=12

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Nathele

[Neeva Candida]

Late last year, I had stopped attending church services...

Reasons not to:

Not walking in obedience - There are a number of things happening in my life that I believe to be displeasing to the Lord, according to Scripture

Don't want to be a "hypocrite" - Do not want to bring dishonour on the Lord by association

Don't want to treat the blood of Christ as a cheap thing

Reasons to:

I am now in a position where I feel I can offer praise and worship in truth (I won't be mouthing empty words that don't come from the heart)

I know that I need the Lord, and do wish to share in the remembrance of His sacrifice for sin as exhorted in Scripture

I do know that what He has done has changed my life, even if it has not been a bed of roses, and I have felt unfulfilled.

Dilemma,

I am concerned about your post.

Your reasons for not attending can all be summed up as "I'm not good enough". Well, that's not a reason not to attend. Nobody is "good" enough.

Your reasons for attending are a mixed bag. The first sounds like "I'm getting better." Well, since it wasn't a reason not to attend in the first place it is not really relevant. The second and third are more encouraging but hinge on a much more important matter.

Partaking of the Lord's supper is an important event in any Christian's life. A changed life is a definite characteristic of a Christian's life. So, the most important question then is "Are you a Christian?"

If you are then get back to church and don't let these things keep you out. Pray, speak to your pastor or find a church friend you are comfortable speaking to but do not stay out.

If you are not or are not sure then you need to deal with this issue. None of these items mean anything in this case because you would have a much more serious issue at hand. Again, the advice is the same, talk to someone at your church and seek their guidance in this matter.

Another bit of advice is taking the test below. It is a neat little device that can get you thinking about important things and help focus your search.

Am I a Good Person?

~Neeva

[unworthy.sinner]

Just a quick update.

I did attend service this morning, but did not partake of the bread and the cup. Until such time as I believe my walk before God is more in keeping with His expectations, this will be the likely pattern of involvement in the body.

[Trusting Jesus]

Well, one step at a time. Are you studying your Bible? Along with fellowship you need to be into God's word for yourself. Study it. See what God says. Let God help you to make the changes you need to so that your fellowship with Him is right.

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Nathele

[OneLight]

By me saying this, I want you to know that I am not trying to "expedite" your walk in Christ as you once had, but there are four tools that I found to help in the growing process. They are studying the word, prayer. worship and fasting.

OneLight