Thoughts on CommunionThere is an idea or concept which is almost universal in Christianity; it involveslove, presence, support, concern, fellowship. That notion is represented by theword “communion”. The word is used in many different ways. In the Apostles’Creed we say, “I believe in…the communion of saints.” In the Roman CatholicChurch, local bishops are said to be “in peace and communion” with the Bishop of Rome. Around the world there are national churches which grew out of the Churchof England, and as a group are called the Anglican Communion. The uses of theword “communion” are many, but the root meaning seen in all those uses issharing.A very early Christian use of the word is found in the second chapter, forty-secondverse of the Acts of the Apostles where it is said of the three thousand who were baptised after Peter’s Pentecost address thatThey devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the

koinonia

, to the breaking of the bread and the prayers.(Here the Greek word

koinonia

is translated as “fellowship” in all three of theAuthorized or King James Version, the New International Version, and the NewRevised Standard Version.)The oldest Christian use of the word is found in Paul’s first letter to theCorinthians, (tenth chapter, verse 16):The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a

koinonia

in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a

koinonia

in the body of Christ?(Here,

koinonia

is rendered as “communion” in the AV, as “participation” in the NIV, and as “sharing” in the NRSV.)

Koinonia

begins when Jesus calls an individual into a relationship of sharing withhimself. As in the meeting of Jesus and the rich young man (Mark 10:17-22), theremay be others present, but Jesus looks at me, loves me, and says, “Ellis, comefollow me.” I am not given the option of just tagging along with the other saintshere at Hillcrest; I am to follow, pay what it costs, and each and every day take upmy cross—just as Jesus did. I am called to share, to participate in the life, theteaching, and the going about doing good of Jesus of Nazareth. I am summoned tocommunion in the suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of our eternal high priest. And in the end, when Christ will have restored all things, my treasure will be that Jesus has called me his friend (John 15:15).This is no “Jesus and me spirituality”! Very shortly after Jesus calls each of us byname into communion with himself, he calls us into communion with one another.In John 15:17, Jesus says to his friends, “I am giving you these commands so thatyou may love one another.” The context of John 15 is the last supper where,according to the synoptic gospels, Jesus broke bread and blessed wine and said themost wonderful thing about them. Not only did Jesus do that; He also commandedus to do that—to break bread and to bless the cup—in remembrance of him. Theearly Anabaptists did not call this ordinance “communion”. Schleitheim in 1527and Dordrecht in 1632 called it “the Supper”. They read their bibles well and theyknew that the earliest followers of the Way were devoted to the breaking of the bread. It was a community event. Simple, unpretentious, a remembering of Jesus,and a really good way of showing love for one another. The best name for it was“Supper”, where people share food and enter into communion. Late in the lastcentury, Jean Vanier gave a couple lectures at Harvard University which have been

published in a little book entitled From Brokenness to Community. In the secondlecture he makes this remarkable statement:I call you to reflect here upon the difference between collaboration andcommunion…. Communion…is bonding, caring, and sharing which flowsand finds its fulfillment in celebration…. Celebration is being a [thankful] people who sing their thanks because they have been called together as one people in order to bring life to others

.Didn’t you just know it? There had to be a catch! Bring life to others! Just beforeJesus said he was giving commands so that we can love one another, he said inverse 16:You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit that will last…Gathered to grow…Scattered to serve.I would really like to tell,--to declare, the ways I have seen numerous members of this fellowship out in the world serving, bringing life to others. At best I wouldembarrass; at worst I would betray confidences. Suffice it to say that after we have been out there at it awhile, we are Judah and have gone into exile with sufferingand hard servitude. We are scattered among the nations and we find no resting place. Does anyone thank us for doing what was commanded? Maybe we areworthless slaves who have only done what we ought to have done. And it’s a lead- pipe cinch that, just like Jesus, we will have to bring life to ten others to get one toturn and praise God.