[johnlf]

Brother

My point here is about tradition. I think that somehow it is easier for me to see man-made tradition because of my own unique circumstances. I have never been a member of any denomination or sect because I have studiously avoided that for 23 years as the Lord has led me. I do not forsake the assembling with other Christians, but I also steadfastly refuse to bring myself under the yoke of any man-made doctrine.

We must always remember that our Lord Jesus was also a prophet. He was a tremendously controversial figure who overthrew centuries of accepted understanding of Scriptures and tradition. He also HATED the traditions of men and the adding to the Word of God. In his denouncing of man-made traditions, he in my opinion reached the pinnacle of his office of prophet:

1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Ever since Cain and the founding of Babylon mankind has attempted to reach God and seek righteousness through works, ritual, and tradition. It is the nature of the flesh. I denounce man-made traditions of my day in the same way my Lord did in his day.

I see traditions which add or subtract from the Word of God as being on the same level as Bible versions which add or subtract from the Word of God. I fear no man or devil, but I tremble in abject terror at thought I might add or subtract from God's Words.

Now to revisit the issue. I maintain that most of what passes today as the Lord's supper is the result of man-made tradition. People sitting in wooden pews taking a sip of grape juice and a bite of a cracker is not in my opinion what our Lord intended. And it is certainly not what Paul is describing as going on here in this verse.

I did not say that this verse is only about gluttony. I said it is about selfishness which was manifested as gluttony, and had the result of drunkeness as well as the shaming of the poor. That is what Paul is denouncing.

To re-iterate. This verse is NOT about examining ourselves for any unconfessed sin before following what is in my opinion a man-made ritual of sitting in wooden pews and partaking of a small wafer and grape juice.

But this verse IS about Christians coming together for a meal and sharing bread and wine together in remembrance of the selfless sacrifice their Lord made for them. And being rebuked because some of them were so selfish that they made gluttons of themselves by hogging up all the food, which caused others to become drunken and the poor to be ashamed.