Unity in the Meal: The Church and Communion

The presupposition of one Baptism calls into question, “who exactly is the Church?” Though for the sake of this current work one cannot dive entirely into the theology of the local and universal church, one may summarize with a few brief arguments from some select modern theologians. Thorogood states that it is crucial that pastors today recognize that the particular church is not the whole church of God. To be exclusive at the Lord’s Table would be to assume for oneself or denomination a wholeness of faith, practice, tradition, and prayer (Thorogood, 11). He, and many other like-minded theologians, argues that which binds followers of Christ together is a common commitment to the One whose table it is. Trinidad summarizes, “What we hold in common is greater and more central than what we do not,” (Trinidad, 40).
The Lord’s Supper has an outward focus to serve and love others both in the church and outside of it. God’s saving action in Christ requires believers to respond in gratitude. What is freely received in worship is to be distributed freely to all Christians. God’s sacrificial love comes through the body of Christ to all creation. Therefore, right worship before God leads to right service before others (Trinidad, 41). Baptism and the commitment/submission to the Lordship and sovereignty of Jesus Christ unite all believers into one holy, universal Church, which extends beyond time and space. Philips concludes, “through Holy Communion, we are married; we join our bodies to Christ’s body; we are part of the family,” (Philips, 33).