Unworthy Manner

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. (1 Corinthians 11:26-28)

Paul writes that participation in the sacrament of communion is a way of proclaiming to the everyone Jesus died.  This is mainly a ritual in the church so we are reminding ourselves and those close to us that we need to remember that Jesus died on the cross for us!  Not just an average death, but a sacrificial death on a cross.  Not just a loss of life, but a laying down of a life for the good of all who would trust in His death for the hope of eternal life.  Proclaiming His death helps to keep Jesus at the forefront of our minds and hearts.  

Paul writes that there are ways we can participate in communion in an unworthy manner.  We can start out trying to proclaim Christ and end up sinning against Christ.  Paul addresses a few issues the church in Corinth was dealing with that caused their celebration of communion to be unworthy of the sacrament.

1. Disunity - they didn't participate together

2. Partiality - not only were they not unified they were divided between the rich and the poor.  Some had so much they were gluttons and others were starving from lack of food.  

3. Sin that has not been confessed - disunity and partiality are sins that often go without our recognition or confession.  

Paul warns the church that there are consequences for the people of God and the churches who practice communion in an unworthy manner.  Sickness, weakness, death and judgment are all possibilities for those who take communion too lightly.   

Examine your hearts before you enter the amazing celebration and proclamation of communion!  Confess your sins!  Seek unity in the body of Christ and check your partiality.  Then God can bless us with the spiritual food that we need for our journey!