I was on my way into work and coming to the close of my meditation on the Second Coming and the New Heaven and New Earth. As I did, there was that piece of me that drifted away from the meditation and recalled a discussion I was involved in regarding tattoos. The teaching throughout much of the evangelical church is that God forbade anyone to have any tattoos. I was disagreeing with the posting based upon what the one verse in the book of Leviticus is referencing regarding the marking of the body as dedication to the dead--part of pagan worship practices (then and now). Then it hit me...."you teach as the Word of God precepts of men and neglect...." Jesus speaking....hmmmm
I view Eucharist as a Holy moment. Jesus did not say, "this is kinda sorta like my body and blood and I would like you to once a month sit down and think about that as a remote distant memory and allow yourself a warm fuzzy". Not one manuscript that I am aware of has anything other than his saying "this is my body" and "this is my blood" (emphasis added). He very clearly indicates that there is more than a simple memory going on. In Luke's gospel, Jesus chooses the moment of fracture (breaking of the bread) to reveal himself to the disciples he has been walking with. Paul lays out a strong exhortation to not receive communion in an "unworthy manner" which, he explains has been leading to "weak...sickly....many sleep" (1 Cor 11:30). So, obviously there is something there in the Eucharist.
Another quick background point; the common Jewish (Hebrew) form of worship was to bow low. Throughout the Tanakh we see this. It is especially important to do so at the time of the pronouncement of God's Name during the feast of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. At a point in the feast, after several washings and sacrifices, the High Priest comes forward and pronounces to the congregation (assembly) gathered the proper Name of God. At this, the whole gathering as one bows to the ground. Fast forward to John 18 and Jesus being confronted by the group of guards sent from the temple with the assistance of Judas to arrest Jesus in the garden. They all bow when he responds to them using the phrase I Am....why? The logical reason would be that in the Aramaic that Jesus spoke, he used the Hebrew phrase for I Am which goes back to the encounter of Moses at the burning bush and God using this phrase to identify himself. Fast fast forward to Revelation and we are told that at the Name of Jesus, there will come a time when every knee shall bow. Now, back to the present. At the Eucharist, Jesus, being that he is both divine and human and a resurrected human at that, is somehow fully present...."this is my body", "this is my blood", irrespective of what Zwingli may have argued as he limited God's abilities. So, why would we not bow at the Eucharist? After all, if ancient Israel is to bow at God's name and future generations will all bow at the name of Jesus, why would we not bow at his actual presence?
Teachings exist to contradict this. Okay, following your convictions I will make some room for in order to avoid becoming a legalist. You wish to stay standing during Eucharist, do so. You wish not to bow your head or make the sign of the cross over yourself, okay, I am not going to jump on your case about your lack of recognizing "real presence". Yet, these same proponents who argue against the real presence and/or acknowledgment of that real presence (for a multitude of reasons inclusive of a fear of "looking too Catholic"----yes, I have heard that cited as a reason), will state that one cannot have any alcohol. They teach that the bible says that one is not allowed to have any alcohol because the body is the temple of God......
I cannot find that in scripture. I have found multiple citations to not become drunk, to not act foolish or to not become addicted. I have found these in both the Old and New Testaments. Yet, never once have I come across a scripture that says to not engage in any alcohol use or equates the use of alcohol with sin. In truth, Paul, who is often used as the source for the argument of the body being the new temple and the need to keep it pure for that reason, tells Timothy to have some wine for the sake of his stomach. How much is too much? That is what a person will have to determine. If you are addicted, then any much is too much. If you become violent when you drink, then any is too much. If you are prone to unhealthy choices and do not practice self control, then any is too much. I agree with several pastors who have stated that abstinence is a better choice. I would whole heartedly endorse that and have often stated that abstinence is always the safer choice. You cannot abuse alcohol if you never engage in its use. Yet, to offer a flat interpretation and state that any use is sinful is teaching the precepts of men in place of what God has stated in his word.
The same could be said for the way one comes dressed to church. I am a fan of giving to God our best. It is certainly the most biblical formula. He instructs Israel only to offer the best in sacrifices of the flock and never to offer up the lame or blemished. When we come to church (or corporate worship if the word "church" evokes too much negative connotation), we should be offering up to God our best. On an individual basis, though, that best is going to have a wide array of representation. For some, their best is going to be $700 suits. Others, however, may be best adorned in $1 flip-flops. When you come to the feast you will be provided a wedding garment (that is, the draping of Christ's righteousness, a la the parable of the wedding guests) which will cover whatever you may have arrived in. I understand that this is not an easy concept to wrap around and certainly may bring up history and family issues for some. I recall the days of very unsightly plaid polyester pants that wore like 60 grit sandpaper. My parents wanted us to look our best for when we attended a service. I get that. Some of that has stayed with me. However, to accost someone because of their mode of dress when they come through the door? What conclusions are you jumping to? I remember a conversation with a friend many years ago who was insistent that men should be in ties when they come to worship. His belief was that you could easily get a tie from anyplace such as the Salvation Army and that is how one should always dress for Church. I asked him when it was we began worshipping church and turned away from worshipping God? There was no response to the question.
Then there is the issue of the pharisaical clean cup on the outside and dirty cup on the inside. I look forward to the day that we may present our whole self, clothes and all, as the richest of garments. In the meanwhile, I am okay with jeans and sneakers. My prayer is for conversion of the heart and mind first. Anything can too readily be accused of the same old hypocrisy that we as believers are often accused of.
What weakens the Church? A quick answer that I would propose is this: we camp out in our own territory on the precepts of men and hold that ground forgetting that they are precepts of men and not the word of God. We allow ourselves to become divided over smaller matters and "forget the weightier manners of mercy". This divides the denominations. I pray that God will always convict me of when I hold onto such precepts and allow them to divide me further. I pray that I will listen well to His heart and will so that I do not camp out in such areas. May we hold ground on well founded biblical doctrine. May we hold fast to the necessities of our faith and not compromise on such. And, may we, as a body of believers, not fail to give away God's grace and mercy wherever we can.
More to come at a later time..........
