More than a Cup of Juice: Part 2

More than a Cup of Juice: Part 2

In my previous post, "More than a Cup of Juice: Part 1", I answered a few questions concerning communion. Specifically,  I answered what communion is, the different names it has been called and the differences between them, and who communion is for (past Christians or current Christians). In this post I'm going to answer a few more inquiries about communion and hopefully it will all make sense in the end. As I said in my last post, feel free to correct me, ask questions, or make other comments.

Wine vs Grape juice and Crackers vs Unleavened Bread. Is it wrong to use one or the other?
During my discussion of communion, the topic was brought up of how back in the day when taking communion Jesus used real wine and unleavened bread, but now a days we use a cup of grape juice and a cracker (although, I have taken communion with many different types of bread). (This wasn't uncommon back in Jesus' day, especially during Passover.) The Bible doesn't lay out clear directions about what we should use when taking communion. If it did I probably wouldn't be answering this question. So since it doesn't lay out a clear direction, we must refer to different parts of the Bible to see and make context connections.
Bread: Scripture does not specify what bread or wine Jesus used during the Lord's Supper. Since it was a time of Passover, scholars have concluded that Jesus himself used unleavened bread. If we look at history we can also conclude the bread Jesus used was made from the grain harvested that year before, as required by the old covenant law. (See Lev. 23: 10-14). Also, the Bible doesn't talk about the importance of they type of flour; wheat or barley, nor if it was leavened. In all of the Scriptures about the Lord's Supper I have read, it uses the word bread. Nothing more, nothing less. A common word for a common food. In John 6:51, Jesus calls himself the "bread of life." As far as I know he didn't specify if He was wheat or barley, leavened or unleavened. (That was a joke....but really, he doesn't specify.) The point he was making is, He is the sustenance of eternal life, just as bread (a common base of a diet) is the basis of physical life.
Wine: The wine Jesus used was most likely red, and fermented from the previous year. Scripture doesn't mention any specifics about the wine but instead says, "fruit of the vine." We can only assume the cup was filled with wine because of customs of that time, but the Bible doesn't go into much detail about it all. It is mostly referenced to as the cup. In 1 Corinthians 11: 25 Paul states that during his experience with the Lord's Supper, after picking up the cup Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant of my blood..." When Jesus picked up the cup, he didn't institute requirements for the type of wine or liquid used, he instead used the wine and cup as a metaphor.
Jesus didn't pass out a Do's and Don'ts list of how communion should be taken. If he did I would like a copy. He instead used the words for common food and drink. So overall I don't believe its wrong to use a cracker or leavened bread and grape juice. I also don't think its wrong to use wine and unleavened bread. This is simply up to the person who is taking communion. Just remember what really matters is why Christians take communion, not the substances being used.

Can Non-Christians participate in communion? 
This question is particularly hard for me to answer. My immediate answer is no, non Christians can't take communion. (I mean they physically can.) The only Bible reference I can refer to this question is 1 Corinthians chapter 11. I'm specifically going to look at one verse in particular, actually one word. (I recommend you read this entire chapter so you know what I'm talking about.) In this section Paul is trying to correct an abuse of the Lord's Supper. "So then, whosoever eats the bread or drinks this cup..." Note the word, whosoever. Paul isn't saying you guys are guilty, he is saying whosoever drinks unworthily is guilty. We find the word whosoever several times throughout the Bible.
- Whosoever shall call upon the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)
-Whosoever drinks of the water that I give him will never thirst. (John 14:4)
-Whosoever confess that Jesus is the Son of God... (1 John 14:5)
The question here is who is Paul referring to? Who is the whosoever? Is whosoever everyone and everyone or does Paul mean only nonbelievers. But in these other passages whosoever means all people. At first I was so torn at who Paul was talking about. So I looked at the context of the story. Paul is talking to Christians who are abusing the Lord's Supper and goes into saying that if you take it in an unworthy manner you will be guilty. So by whosoever I think he means both non-Christians and Christians who are abusing the Lord's Supper.  So to answer this question, no. Non-Christians shouldn't participate in communion. Its not that they are unworthy, nobody is worthy, but they are eating and drinking unworthily. They are not valuing what Christ has done for them because they have not accepted Christ.

Why should Christians take communion? Why is it Important? 
Communion can mean a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But which idea is right? Well lets just stroll right over to our handy dandy Bible and see what its got to say.
-For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11:26)
-And when He had given thanks he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also He took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. (1 Corinthians 11: 24-27)
Just within these two verses we can get a few reasons to take communion. We should take it in remembrance of Jesus. How He died for our sins and salvation. For the ultimate sacrifice of love. We remember the new covenant through Jesus' blood. (See Hebrews 9: 18-28.) Also we are proclaiming the Lord's death until He returns. There are many reasons why we should take communion, but to go into them all would take a really really long time. So I encourage you to keep looking into it. These are just a few of the main reasons why Christians should take communion, and why we are commanded to.

Does communion have anything to do with salvation?
Now that we have established that Christians should take communion, what about the Christians who don't or can't? Whether you take communion or not rid or of salvation, nor will it give you salvation. The only way to receive that is through Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world He have his only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Let's say a man is on his death bed and doesn't get the chance to take communion but still accepts Jesus as his Lord and Savior and repents of his sins and has a serious heart change. He is still going to go spend eternity with Jesus, whether or not he takes communion. But Christians who have the opportunity are commanded to take communion (see everything I have written about communion.) Therefore Christians should take it, but it isn't necessary, but you should still do it.

There are a ton of more questions I could answer about communion, and if you have anymore feel free to contact me or leave a comment. Communion is obviously something important it and I don't think it should be ignored. Hopefully these two posts help answer and clear up the ideas of communion. Stay sweet fam.