Why do we do Communion like this?
In the Baptist churches of my childhood, the Lord's Supper did not look like it does at First Baptist Athens. Usually, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 was read. The music got very, very slow. Heads were bowed low. I didn't really know what was going on. It seemed very serious and I figured I needed to look somber. One of my professors said “Baptists seem like they are doing a funeral for Jesus.” What’s the problem with that? He is Risen! When Paul says in 1 Cor. 11:25 “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes,” he doesn’t mean we should simply remember Jesus’ death. In the New Testament, the word proclaim is usually associated with the good news of the Gospel. To proclaim Jesus’ death is share the good news. Joy is allowed! Baptist practice can miss the rejoicing element of Communion. Here a few reasons why we’ve been using the pattern of Opening Responses (“Lift up your hearts), the song of joy (Sanc...