Observing communion

Q. Do you celebrate communion and what is your understanding of the sacrament?

A. That is a good question and I will try to answer it as clearly as I can in this limited space, so forgive me before hand if there is something unclear. We have “communion” in our congregation but not in the Christian sense. The term “sacrament” is defined by Christian theology as something instituted by Yeshua, like baptism. But, baptism was not instituted by Yeshua. It was practiced for centuries before He ever lived. Communion or the “Eucharist” as practiced today was not instituted by Yeshua either and is not biblical. Having said that, what is taught in the Scriptures? There is a “Lord’s Supper” or meal consecrated to God taught all through the Scriptures. These are meals dedicated to the Lord and centered around certain themes, celebrations or remembrances. They are done surrounding covenants that are made between 2 parties. A Lord’s Supper was just that, a supper. It had prayers, songs and blessings. Table fellowship was very important at these meals as was proper behavior. Paul had much to say about all this in 1 Cor. 11. Passover is considered a Lord’s Supper where we “commune” together and “break bread (eat)” and this is done at many festivals.

You can have a Lord’s Supper at home with your family. Many have Sabbath meals with the family and this is considered a meal consecrated to God. The Christian practice of “communion” came out of this Jewish practice somewhat, but it also has its roots in pagan Mithraism. They were very strong in the Roman world and information can be investigated by doing your own research into Mithraism and look up their practice of what they called the “lord’s supper” and you will find it is very similar to the practice in churches today. They had a small, round piece of bread like the Sun, eaten with wine. The Emperor Constantine was “pontiff” and the High Priest of Mithraism at the time when he presided over the Council of Nicea.

It was at this council when Constantine said they met to “root out the last vestiges of Judaism” remaining in “the church.” So, the festivals and practices done for so long were being replaced by the “mass” and “Eucharist” as substitutes. As a result, the historical and biblical truth surrounding what the Lord’s Supper was disappeared and was forgotten. Most Synagogues practice what is called a Kiddush involving Challah bread and wine and every-time we do it I can’t help but remember Yeshua. Now, concerning the actual bread and wine, there are two main ideas about them in Christian theology. The first concept is called “transubstantiation” and that says the bread and wine are changed into the actual flesh and blood of Yeshua, although it still looks like bread and wine.

This is a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church today, which had its roots at the Council of Nicea. The Lutheran concept is called “consubstantiation” and that says that the body and blood of Yeshua “coexist” with the bread and wine and neither view is biblical and are extreme interpretations, with other views falling somewhere between them. So, we do practice the Lord’s Supper quite often and the bread and wine are always in remembrance of Yeshua, but it isn’t “communion” in the Christian Church sense which developed later.