tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post4393900162297355026..comments2023-10-07T18:37:45.321+11:00Comments on The Truth Will Set You Free: The meaning of the last supperStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12519210859079598351noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post-41455285524066852732016-07-23T05:32:59.122+10:002016-07-23T05:32:59.122+10:00
I am not satisfied that as Christians we fully un...<br />I am not satisfied that as Christians we fully understand the significance of the wine and the bread that Jesus referred to at the table of the Last Supper.<br /><br />How can the eating of physical bread and drinking of wine made from the grape help us to grow spiritually? We are supposed to be strengthened spiritually by studying and meditating on the Scriptures that were inspired by God. <br /><br />These Scriptures referred to as the WORD of GOD are the only means of getting to know the standards and principles of God that we are all required to live by and to build a RELATIONSHIP with HIM. <br /><br />We can eat bread made from wheat and drink the wine of grapes and still do not know God or have a close relationship with HIM. I suggest that the breaking of bread and the drinking of wine that Jesus was referring to is the studying and meditating on HIS Word/ HIS Standards/ HIS Principles when we are alone, when we meet or fellowship together. This reminds us of HIM and why HE was crucified. This is the only way to KNOW HIM. <br /><br />If there is another way please educate me Saints.<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13102334421286426245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post-31109248217663409482008-03-21T04:05:00.000+11:002008-03-21T04:05:00.000+11:00Thank you so much for your continuing articles Ste...Thank you so much for your continuing articles Steve, where you set out so clearly the cultural background to the events that have become so ritualised within Christianity, and around which we CD's have tried to build so much of our religious experience.<BR/><BR/>I cannot begin to tell you how far my thinking has shifted in relation to the Memorial Meeting, and the Bread and the Wine, over the last 30 or so years.<BR/><BR/>I once used to view the MM as some kind of "absolution" for sins committed, and the Bread and the Wine as being [almost magic... certainly mystical] in somehow removing the blots from my 'sullied garments'.<BR/><BR/>For a long time now, I have resisted the temptation to bring my 'load of sins' on Sunday to 'dump' at the Table [as if the Table were some kind of alter of Atonement] preferring to deal with sins and shortcomings as soon as they occur, and 'on my knees' and with Jesus as my friend, seeking guidance, wisdom and strength to overcome.<BR/><BR/>Until now, the words, "This is my Flesh, this is my Blood" have deeply puzzled me [taken alone, the words are most perplexing, given how we feel about 'drinking blood' and 'eating human flesh'].<BR/><BR/>The information you have just shared with us brings those words into a new light, and a deeper meaning. Of course, Breaking Bread is a Jewish idiom for simply having a meal. <BR/><BR/>How utterly wrong we CD's have been over the years to then use the 'Lord's meal table' to which all sorts and everyone have been invited, as some sort of control mechanism, almost as a weapon, to try and control those who [we feel] should not be part of "the Group." [After all, in our "CD culture", our salvation depends on our having kept as 'pure a group' as possible... especially when it comes to our understanding of "the Truth" and especially "the Atonement."] {I have even heard it seriously suggested, that CD's MUST be right on the Atonement, for we are the only religion that sees the Atonement in the way that we do!}<BR/><BR/>Atonement = "At-one-ment"... Jesus used His meal table to break down social and religious and cultural barriers, yet the very simplicity of Jesus' meal messages appear to have been so totally lost on our community. <BR/><BR/>Even today, we hear of leadership in some CD Meetings seeking to persuade their members to disassociate from other meetings... meaning that they will no longer share the Lord's meal table with them. As part of "policing" this practice, it has been proposed that certain visitors between meetings will be intercepted at the door and interviewed as to their understanding of certain documents created by fallible men to determine their fitness to come in and to "take the emblems" (?)<BR/><BR/>Worse, we know of at least one recent case when a notable Brother visiting from overseas came to a certain city, letters were sent out discouraging the members of a certain meeting from even attending the combined Memorial Meeting at which our erstwhile Brother was going to be speaking.<BR/><BR/>Does our community really believe in guilt by associaton? Does the Bible teach this somewhere? Did someone forget to tell Jesus about guilt by association?<BR/><BR/>How will we explain to the Lord, that we used the very instrument He gave us for reconciliation and Christian living and togetherness, as an instrument to "keep the Truth pure?"<BR/><BR/>Thank you Steve.... Bread and Wine.... very practical "symbols" of a better way to draw closer to God and with all His people. <BR/><BR/>Just as the priests ate of the sacrifices being offered to God under the Old Covenant, so now we, as New Covenant "Priests and Levites" all get to eat at a meal prepared in memory of the one who so loved us, that He was prepared to die, so that we could all live together.... as ONE, in Him, in Love.<BR/><BR/>Let the Sonshine keep shining in, Steve.<BR/>Many Thanks for this blog.<BR/>CliffAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14355716.post-19749975846149075792008-03-20T11:37:00.000+11:002008-03-20T11:37:00.000+11:00The picture in this message is"The Last Supper" by...The picture in this message is<BR/>"The Last Supper" by the Italian artist Fra Angelico (1387–1455). A prior of the monastery of San Marco in Florence ("Fra" means brother), Fra Angelico set the New Testament scene in his own realm, amid columns and arches reminiscent of a Renaissance church. For Fra Angelico, Jesus is more like an abbot with his monks than a Galilean rabbi with his disciples.<BR/><BR/>In his painting, Fra Angelico links Jesus' offering with an Old Testament vision. The banner above the scene quotes Ezekiel 39:17, in which God tells the, birds and the beasts that they will consume Israel's enemies: "I will prepare for you a sacrifice on the mountain so you may eat flesh and drink blood." The New Testament words "the one who consumes my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life" (John 6:54) appear below.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12519210859079598351noreply@blogger.com