“Sharing A Love Meal!”

“Sharing A Love Meal!”
The song “Give me that old time religion,” as popular as it is contains few words, but it is a summation of the “Koinonia” or “Communion” of the early church.
The old time religion is nostagic because it “makes me love everybody” and “will take us all to heaven…” Such was the old time religion of the early Christians in Jerusalem.
The other names for the Lord’s Supper are: Holy Communion (from commune – a group of people living together and sharing possessions and responsibilities), Eucharist (Greek eucharista – thanksgiving), Love Meal and Thanksgiving meal.
The Church in Jerusalem lived like a commune, meeting together in the temple courts, breaking bread in their homes and eating together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people (2:43-47). These early Christians lived this way because “all the believers were one in heart,” and no-one claimed his possession as his own, but they shared everything they had. “There were no needy persons among them…”(Acts 4:32-35).
The early believers lived in true “Koinonia” – fellowship or communion with God and fellow Christians. The Lord’s Supper was therefore about fellowship, sharing, thanksgiving with joy and love and concern for one another. It was a “Love meal.”
What an old time religion worth our nostalgia!
Dear friend, we shouldn’t ask for that old time religion to be given to us. We can make that old time religion become our present reality if our communion does not end at celebrating Holy Communion at the Lord’s Table only. It can become ours if beyond the celebration we are lovingly concerned with the wellbeing of others, so that there should be nobody in need in our midst. It is possible when we do not consider our possessions as our own.
When we genuinely and sincerely become one anothers keeper, the Lord will add to our “number daily those who are being saved.” Let our celebration of the Lord’s Supper go beyond the confines of the Church house into our homes where we also eat ordinary food together in loving fellowship.
Prayer: Holy Spirit lead us to celebrate Holy Communion by living in communion so that in our midst there should be nobody in need. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!