Partaking in communion unworthily

Corinthians 11:26-32 (YLT)  for as often as ye may eat this bread, and this cup may drink, the death of the Lord ye do shew forth -- till he may come; so that whoever may eat this bread or may drink the cup of the Lord unworthily, guilty he shall be of the body and blood of the Lord: and let a man be proving himself, and so of the bread let him eat, and of the cup let him drink; for he who is ea...ting and drinking unworthily, judgment to himself he doth eat and drink -- not discerning the body of the Lord. Because of this, among you many [are] weak and sickly, and sleep do many; for if ourselves we were discerning, we would not be being judged, and being judged by the Lord, we are chastened, that with the world we may not be condemned;

I wanted to address a certain part of this scripture. Many have cowered in fear and had their minds totally twisted because of the many teachings based on these verses. It's very easy to research what was actually happening at the time so I won't get too in depth, but pretty much the people Paul was addressing were treating their time of communion like an all you can eat buffet or like an open bar and others were suffering because they could not partake due to the over indulgence, selfishness, and greed, and as it reads taking of communion unworthily.

Some may not have done the things Paul mentioned, yet still take it unworthily. To be honest I believe many currently do take it unworthily due to not understanding the truth of communion, most likely due to what they've been taught.

The key is to understand that they weren't unworthy to take communion, the scripture does not say that. All of those who believe are completely worthy to partake of communion. The ones being addressed were taking it "unworthily". Which means they were taking it in an unworthy manner, making it insufficient in worth, lack value or merit.

They weren't appreciating the truth of Christ's sacrifice, nor valuing the freedom from sin, death, and disease they received through what was done to Christ's Body and through His Blood at the cross. To them it was just simply a time to indulge, in their minds they were eating ordinary wine and bread, to others it's just rote tradition, what they receive through eating and drinking lacked any power.

The point I'm wanting to address is the weak, sickly, and those who sleep (die). So many are scared during communion. During a time they should be celebrating a freedom from sin, complete forgiveness, entrance into eternal life, and the benefits of complete healing they are cowering, sulking, fearful, and crying. It's not their fault, they've been taught this, but they have missed the boat by a mile and are treading water in shark infested water.

Communion has been used to provide healing to many, many believers. There are so many testimonies of healing through communion. Many will counsel other that when they are sick to take communion. Many have taken communion with relatives or friends in hospitals and cancers and other diseases have disappeared. It's clear that people should partake in communion more often but too many have these ingrained fears due to misinterpretation. The church as a whole doesn't seem to take advantage of this awesome blessing often enough.

You see, Paul was addressing a couple points, but one of which he was very specific. If you take communion unworthily to get full, to get drunk, focused on yourself, focused on your sins, focused on your problems, etc. etc. anything but focused on the reality of what the Blood and Body of Christ provided you. Guess what? You're not going to receive the benefit of the healing and other blessings communion provides. You're condemning yourself to face the consequences of being in this fallen world.

The judgment is your own condemnation to be weak, sickly, and die. You'll face the negative consequences of unbelief in what Christ purchased through His death. If you were discerning of this you would not be weak and sickly, you would not be facing the judgment of being in a fallen world as if you were of the world. You would not face the condemnation of sickness or death as if you were of the world, you would be youthful, full of energy, healed, a light to the lost.

Just because something has been taught for years doesn't make it true, it just means that people have become complacent. I urge you to partake in communion with joy! Partake with a focus on Jesus, a focus on what He provided you, a focus on the blessings of the Lord, and a focus on complete and utter healing in your body and mind, physically and mentally. Hallelujah!!