No Discord at the Table

Throughout the Holy Scriptures, we can observe an association between expressions of gladness and moments of feasting. The two naturally go together. Conversely, animosity and isolation go together. How long do you think it would take the members of a family who are bearing grudges against one another to start making excuses as to why they “will not be eating around the table tonight”?

When there’s been a rŏw in the Rauch house right before dinner time, we do not ask the Lord’s blessing or take a bite of food until reconciliation has taken place. Several times, we have been called to the table and sat down, then Dad has to repent of some sin against another family member or I, as the head of household, have to require confession and forgiveness to be expressed among the children for some recent discord.

When the church gathers to worship the Lord and partake of the Lord’s table, the Head of such table also desires and requires an attitude of fellowship and glad harmony amongst those who expect to share of Him. Proverbs 6:19 lists, as one of seven abominations unto the LORD, the man “that soweth discord among brethren.” Then Christ says, in Matthew 5:23-24, “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”

So our coming to the table, eating, and drinking, expecting to be sustained and satisfied, is a declaration that we have “a conscience void of offence toward God and toward men” (Acts 24:16). How many of us are telling lies at the table? How many of us should be fasting instead of feasting, at least until we have been reconciled to our brother or even our Father? Perhaps this is why so many churches have communion only rarely.