Christian Living
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE As A Member OR Visitor
Message Writer
Hire Writer
Report Article
John 6:53 Jesus said to them, "Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
1 Corinthians 5:7 Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch--as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.
Matthew 26:26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."
Christ is our Passover Lamb! The Passover lamb was not put on the altar (although Jesus was also a sin sacrifice) it was put on the dinner table God ordained it to be eaten by all of Israel. Today we see the fulfillment of Passover in the Body of Christ and the Lords Table.
When the Passover lamb was prepared the entire lamb was to be roasted and presented as a meal. When describing the preparation of the lamb, Moses mentions the leg, the head and the innards. For the most part when having lamb for dinner everybody enjoys the leg. You may on rare occasions find people who would enjoy the head or innards but that would be the exception not the rule.
Clearly God wanted none of the lamb to be left over he wanted every part eaten. God instructed the Israelties to destroy everything that was left uneaten. In the church today we have many ways of taking in the body of Christ for nourishment. Worship and a good Word being the leg and the chops. We see many people today who seem to demand and pay handsomely to have only the prime portions. They refuse to gain nourishment from unfamiliar parts.
So over the decades the most nourishing portions of partaking in the Church have been surgically removed and destroyed. Christians remark how the communities they live in are sinking into darkness. But the church is the light of the world if our community is in darkness the then it is the church that has grown dim. Since the fall of man the world has dwelled in darkness.
All Christians need to partake in the fullness of Christ not just as individuals but as a body.The passover meal was designed by God to be a family meal. I have listed some of less appetizing parts of partaking of Christ many of today's Christians cringe when hearing them. There are many other portions not mentioned here I am sure others could contribute to the list.
1. Corporate prayer
2. Staying connected with others in the church
3. Providing for the poor corporately
4. Corporate evangelism
5. Showing hospitality (opening our homes to others)
Many churches especially those in larger communities are not participating in these. Many that are not doing it corporately but in compartmentalized ministries or as individuals. Other members are encouraged to fund them but the same effort is not made to promote corporate participation.
A proper family does not leave brothers or sisters out of a family gathering just because they may have a few difficulties. Family is family we are all in it together. So it should be with the family of God.
As we stop partaking in these nourishing portions. Even removing them from the church. The body and its members it grow dim spiritually. As these portions disreguarded we see the church sicken. Many don’t even know that they are required as Christians to do these things. Even if the pastor preaches it new or ill informed believers need to see the majority of the church participating. Then there eyes are open to the lack and they push themselves to do what is right.
When we used to buy meat the market or the butcher shop they had an entire side of beef or a whole hog or an entire lamb in the locker. The entire animal was carved up and sold. The less popular cuts were sold at a discount. Some of these cuts were the most delicious and nutritious.
Today no supermarket carries a side of beef or a whole animal (unless specially ordered). Meat arrives in boxes already carved into large sections from the packer. The less popular cuts removed to be used for animal feed or processed foods. Although this may not be a huge factor in the explosion of obesity and cancer I am sure that the lack of diversity in our diets contributes to our (lack of) health.
I am sure that a symptom (an outward sign) of the ill health of the church today is the lack of regular participation in the meal of remembrance “The Lord’s Table” as the church lacks in partaking in the full portion of Christ the Lord’s table becomes less and less important and its frequency and the importance in a believers life is explained away.
So when we attend church we need to realize it is not just a place to take in what is prime about Christ. We need the full strength he adds to us spiritually. That will never happen until we partake in His fullness. His flesh is real food.
PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE AS A MEMBER OR VISITOR
This article has been read 977 times < Previous | Next >
Free Reprints
Main Site Articles
Most Read Articles
Highly Acclaimed Challenge Articles.
New Release Christian Books for Free for a Simple Review.
NEW - Surprise Me With an Article - Click here for a random URL
God is Not Against You - He Came on an All Out Rescue Mission to Save You
...in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them... 2 Cor 5:19
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Acts 13:38
LEARN & TRUST JESUS HERE
FaithWriters offers Christian reading material for Christian readers. We offer Christian articles, Christian fiction, Christian non-fiction, Christian Bible studies, Christian poems, Christian articles for sale, free use Christian articles, Christian living articles, New Covenant Christian Bible Studies, Christian magazine articles and new Christian articles. We write for Jesus about God, the Bible, salvation, prayer and the word of God.