"Unworthily"

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Willie T

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St. Paul declared the sacrament to be judgment against believers who partook thereof “unworthily, not discerning the Lord’s body” (1 Cor. 11:27-30)…… (It is actually vv. 17-34, in its entirety.)

I've lived long enough to have heard about a half dozen differing explanations of what that means.

What, specifically, does it say to you? And, of course, WHY?
 
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Willie T

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I deliberately posted only the abbreviated version of that passage (6 words) because that is the only part many people focus upon.

Here is the rest of it.


Correcting an Abuse of the Lord’s Supper
17 In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. 18 In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it. 19 No doubt there have to be differences among you to show which of you have God’s approval. 20 So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, 21 for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. 22 Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged in this way by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.

33 So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. 34 Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.

And when I come I will give further directions.

Do these extra words make any difference in how you have always seen that passage?
 
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Windmillcharge

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For me I know that I am not worthy to be saved, I am a sinner.
But Jesus saved me, so I spend time at a communion service thanking God for my salvation and asking for forgiveness for those sins of ommission and commission I've done since I last asked for forgiveness.

As to what does eating in an unworthy manner mean?

I would say eating it when not saved, eating it when one is trusting more in ones own goodness and deeds then in Jesus, or when one is not gratefull for what it means.
 
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Willie T

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For me I know that I am not worthy to be saved, I am a sinner.
But Jesus saved me, so I spend time at a communion service thanking God for my salvation and asking for forgiveness for those sins of ommission and commission I've done since I last asked for forgiveness.

As to what does eating in an unworthy manner mean?

I would say eating it when not saved, eating it when one is trusting more in ones own goodness and deeds then in Jesus, or when one is not gratefull for what it means.
That's one of the explanations I've heard over the years. (Not my reading, which will come later, but one of several.)
 

marks

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I think it's treating the Lord's Supper as a snack.

Much love!