Thoughts on the 36th GA - The Sacraments Colloquium

I was also very appreciative to the North Texas Presbytery for hosting a sacraments colloquium. It featured Will Barker and Ligon Duncan, who more or less agree with the traditional Reformed view, and Jeffrey Myers and Rob Rayburn, who would like to see some changes. The whole discussion was very stimulating and thought-provoking. Here are a few responses on some of the things that were brought up.

1. One of the points that was made and is often made is that we need to move from a more solemn participation to a joyful one. After all, isn't Christ risen? Don't we have victory? Indeed, He is, and we do. However, as Will Barker pointed out there are two feelings that we should have as we approach the Lord's Supper. One, we should feel saddened by the fact that we have caused the death of the Lord Jesus. Two, we should feel grateful that He was willing to go to those lengths that we might be forgiven and have eternal life. Thus, the Lord's Supper is a solemn yet joyful occasion. It is a proclamation of the Lord's death until He comes (1 Cor. 11:26).

2. One of the speakers made the observation that the Lord's Supper is a meal. He then explained what we do at other meals. He then drew the conclusion that because the Lord's Supper is conducted in a way that is not like the table fellowship that we have in our homes that we therefore should change our practice. Of course, I'm over-simplifying the point; however, I think that most of his critique rested on the analogy of table fellowship elsewhere to the table fellowship of the Lord's Supper.

There are several things that should give us pause in this analogy. While the Lord's Supper may be thought of as a meal, in other respects it is not like a meal. Partaking of a portion of bread and wine is not like the meals that we have at home. Note that Jesus took the bread and gave thanks and then after supper, he took the cup (1 Cor. 11:23, 25). Jesus simply takes two elements out of the meal and consecrates them as a sacrament of Himself. Paul actually critcizes the Corinthians for making this a meal of eating and drinking. He says, "What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in?" While his point is not directly applicable to the question before us, we must at least see that Paul is not think of them having a meal together but rather partaking of the elements as a sign of Christ's body and blood.

3. Closely connected to the previous point, there is also a concern that the sacrament is being over-individualized. We forget those around us, they claim. While perhaps there may be some who do this, I do not think that simply because we do not talk or because we meditate quietly on Christ's death that we are not therefore conscious of the people around us. Consider that in the preaching of the Word there is no talking. It might seem to be a very individual thing. However, all of us gathered together to listen to the Word has its own effect and we might say a corporate personality. It has a different dynamic than when the preacher simply reads the Scripture to me in my house. There is a close analogy here to the General Assembly. For most of the General Assembly, one simply sits there and observes what is going on. However, that does not mean that it is invidualistic. There is a group personality that develops. We surrender our individuality to a degree and become an assembly.

4. One speaker claimed (unless I misunderstood him) that the Westminster's language was true but inadequate on the sacraments. In his mind, the language of the Confession would not lead anyone to love the sacraments more. Of course, I heartily disagree with the man. However, I think it brings up a valid question. Why is there so little appreciation for the sacraments in our day? What will cause it to change? I think the answer is rather simple. We have very little consciousness of sin, and we have very little understanding of the Gospel. If we felt the burden of sin and the infinite wrath of God that was ready to be poured out upon us and our sin, and we truly saw that our only remedy was to receive the grace offered in the Gospel through Jesus Christ; then, we would take hold of the sacraments as our greatest treasure on this earth as the clear testimony to the pardoning grace of God, just as we would hear the sound of the Gospel with the highest joy.

Finally, then, what I would recommend is not more joy but less. That is, I think that we do need to examine ourselves. We do need to let the weight and burden of our sin that caused the death of our glorious Savior sink deep into our souls. Only then will we have the true joy of knowing that this weight of sin is taken on the loving shoulders of our Savior and cast into the depths of the sea. We must remember the words of our Savior, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Why do we derive so little comfort from the Supper? One reason is surely that we have mourned so little over our sin.