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1Cor 11:33-34 . . My brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for
each other. If anyone is hungry, he should eat at home, so that when you
meet together it may not result in judgment.
The command doesn't frown upon things like church banquets, men's'
breakfasts, ladies' luncheons, and/or potlucks per se. What it's criticizing is a
lack of congregational unity. Here's comments leading up to that verse.
"Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come
together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come
together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part
I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are
approved may be recognized among you.
. . .Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat The
Lord's Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others;
and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to
eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who
have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not
praise you." (1Cor 11:17-22)
Their lack of love and unity during church functions was nothing short of
hypocrisy seeing as how The Lord's supper speaks of sacrifice rather than
selfishness, elitism, and hoarding. In other words; seeing as how Christians
all share in Christ's blood equally, then everyone should be given equal
treatment at church regardless of age, gender, skin color, intelligence,
income level, nationality, what side of the tracks they live on, or social
status. None of Christ's body parts are untouchable; nor are any of them
expendable. God forbid that there should be some sort of caste system in a
gathering of people for whom Christ suffered and died equally for each one.
That just wouldn't be right: it would be an insult to the principles underlying
The Lord's supper.
"Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying: Drink
from it, all of you." (Matt 26:27)
If Christians are all drinking from the same cup, then they should all be, at
the very least, eating the same food and not be overly concerned about
where they sit and/or who they sit next to and/or who they're seen with.
And they should also make double sure that everyone gets enough to eat
and that no one gets left out and nobody gets more than his fair share. And
they should all sit down together at the same time. I just hate it when
people don't wait for each other. Some get back to the table and start in
gulping, slurping, clattering, and clanking while others from their table are
still in line.
And they should also take into consideration the possibility that a number of
their congregation are in assistance programs like TANF and SNAP. In other
words; don't just bring enough food from home for yourself; but, if you're
able, bring enough for those among you who can't bring anything at all. And
for God's sake, don't bring a side dish of gourmet food along just for
yourself. Leave your special gourmet stuff at home. There's just no excuse
for flaunting your "sophistication" around church thus giving everyone the
impression that everyone else's tastes are below yours.
You know; why am I even saying these things? In point of fact, why even
did Paul? I mean: shouldn't Christians be eo ipso sources of the milk of
human kindness without somebody shaming them and lecturing them into
being humane with their fellow believers and taking thought for their
feelings? Why must so many Christians be practically strong-armed into
being civil with one another?
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