One of my favorite Christian teachers recently created quite a controversy. Francis Chan has been researching Church history. He learned, for the first time, that the early church, for several centuries, gathered in ways very unlike the modern church. In early church gatherings, communion was the centerpiece. It was much later that the pulpit took center stage. Chan also believes the early church considered the bread and wine literally to be the body and blood of Jesus. Church historians differ on that point.
All Christians believe that at the Last Supper, Jesus established an important tradition and commanded His followers to do “this in memory of me.” Some believe that communion is a simple memorial. Others believe in transubstantiation, that the bread and wine become miraculously the body and blood of Jesus. The middle view is that Jesus is especially present during communion, more than just a memorial, less than transubstantiation.
I lack the knowledge, inspiration or courage to hash out these differences and take a firm position. I am concerned about the vicious attacks on Chan. He has been called a “heretic” and worse. I have Christian brothers who hold different views of communion. Yes, I call them Christians and brothers. I don’t call any of them heretics or question their salvation. All of them can cite verses of scripture in support of their views and in contrast to the other views.
To me, the problem is that we have difficulty separating definable truth and inexplicable mystery. I think all Christians agree that Jesus established something special at the last supper. We believe, as He taught, that He is present when just a handful of us gather. Trying to determine exactly what, if anything, happens to the bread and wine seems to be an attempt to solve a divine mystery.
Healing provides a similar mystery. I believe Jesus heals. I have witnessed it and have, in fact, been a beneficiary of it. That Jesus heals, is, to me, an eternal truth. It is a divine mystery why some are healed and not others. People with considerably more faith than I pray long and fervently and are not healed. I was. The young and innocent die, the old and unpleasant live on. It seems a waste of time to try to understand and explain that. Some things are, at least for now, unknowable. Differences regarding the particulars of healing should not separate the followers of Jesus.
I think, in the early church, it was better when Jesus was the center of the meetings and that centrality was expressed in communion. Putting the pulpit, with teaching and sermons, as the main event, makes Christian gatherings less Jesus centered and more prone to division. On this point, I believe Francis Chan is correct. I think that is more truth than mystery. As to what exactly happens to the food and drink that’s consumed as part of the gathering, that to me is more mystery.
When we gather we should celebrate what Jesus did for us and marvel at the communion we have with other followers living here or with Him. We should do as the early followers did. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42. That verse seems, to me, to emphasize a balance. Teaching, fellowship, communion, and prayer are all important. Shouldn’t they all be an equal emphasis when we gather? That seems pretty plain truth with no hint of mystery.
Francis Chan is still a favorite of mine. He is an enthusiastic and passionate follower of Jesus. He is, therefore, my brother. I have never agreed with every word he has spoken. We brothers don’t walk in lockstep uniformity. Our brotherhood rises from following the same Lord and being beneficiaries of his amazing grace. It’s sad when we don’t offer the same grace to each other.
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