| Author | Message | ||
| Mrsbrian3 Registered user Username: Mrsbrian3 Post Number: 18 Registered: 8-2005 |
This is our former church's invitation to communion. This is actually in this week's bulletin. Is it just me who finds this ... I can't even think of a fitting word ... somehow just wrong? What is Communion all about? Why not think of Communion as a ėgratitude lunchî? Three times a month, Jermaine Washington and Michelle Stevens get together for what they call a "gratitude lunch." With good reason! Washington donated a kidney to Stevens, whom he described as "just a friend." Jermaine and Michelle met at work where they used to have lunch together. One day Michelle wept as she spoke about waiting on a kidney donor list for eleven months. She was being sustained by kidney dialysis, but suffered chronic fatigue and blackouts and was plagued by joint pain. Because Washington couldn't stand the thought of watching his friend die, he gave her one of his kidneys. It was an incredible sacrifice, but one Jermaine made willingly. When you've got something great to be thankful for, having a "gratitude lunch" is a great way to celebrate. Jesus made a great sacrifice for you. He gave Himself on Calvaryís tree in order that you might live forever. Now thatís something to celebrate. Today we come to celebrate what Jesus has done for us. We show our gratitude through this ėgratitude lunchî of bread and wine. Join me today in saying ėthanksî to Jesus. | ||
| Mrsbrian3 Registered user Username: Mrsbrian3 Post Number: 19 Registered: 8-2005 |
Sorry, didn't mean to start this under Lynne's book thread. I've never started a thread before and didn't realize it "treed-off" whereever you were at the time you decided to post. Apologies Lynne. Kim | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 2753 Registered: 12-2003  |
Kim, I agree--the announcement you shared above trivilaizes (in my mind) the incredible reality of what Jesus did. It misses many points, not the least of which is that communion is about being one with Jesus, about His placing within us His power, His lifeóand becoming my sin. One of the problems with the Adventist view of Jesus' sacrifice (at least in my analysis) is that it makes it almost incidental--something that had to happen for some reason, but only as a catlyst for our salvation. It seems that Adventists don't really understand the signficance of His becoming sin, of His resurrection, and certainly not even of His ascension. Adventism does not lead one to brokenness at the foot of the cross. It tends to be more of an uncomfortable fact that we have to accept, but the real work happens in our "overcoming". It's hard for me to put these thoughts into words...I just know that the more I study the Bible, the more HUGE Jesus' ministry appears, and the more miraculous my salvation is. It's not something I can acknowlege by a "gratitude lunch"! Colleen | ||
| Susan_2 Registered user Username: Susan_2 Post Number: 2042 Registered: 11-2002 |
Miss Brian, To start a new topic you go all the way to the bottom of the topics and to the left it will say, "start a new topic" or something like that. Then the new topic you start will somehow leap to the top. | ||
| Jeremy Registered user Username: Jeremy Post Number: 1003 Registered: 10-2004  |
The Bible says that the purpose of the Lord's Supper is to remember Jesus and to proclaim the Lord's death, but it doesn't say that it is to "celebrate" His sacrifice. But I guess if they can't celebrate His Resurrection, then they can only celebrate His death! I agree, Colleen, that it minimizes what Jesus did for us. But then again it can't be too much of a "celebration" for them when they don't believe His death accomplished very much for their salvation--except to allow us to work our way to perfection and earn eternal life! Jeremy |
