THE LORD'S SUPPER: What role does The Lord's Supper/Communion have in Christianity? Central? Peripheral? Why?

Question

Catholics, Episcopalians, etc. celebrate communion weekly, making it central to each worship service. Mainline protestants typically do it rarely, making it seem more peripheral.

Answer 1

He says to do it in remembrance of Him and what He did on the cross for us.

Answer 2

This is how I see the importance of the Lord's Supper, according to Scripture:

1 - OT = Animal and sometimes human blood shed for
individuals or tribes to atone to God
NT = Jesus' blood shed to atone for us all

2 - At the Last Supper, Jesus knew that He would be
betrayed by one of His disciples. Nevertheless, Jesus did
not ban Judas, nor did He refuse Judas Communion.

Does this not represent two of the primary tenets of Christianity, forgiveness and unconditional love?

Good question! God Bless.

Answer 3

When the Messiah said "This, do in remembrance of Me" He was talking about the entire Passover Sedar...not just bread & wine (water, juice.......). When we next feast with the Messiah it will be a Passover Sedar. Traditional Christianity has gone out their way to do away with the Jewishish of the Messiah.

Answer 4

The true Lord's Supper is paramount to Christianity. It was when Jesus instituted the New Covenant, which replaced the Mosaic Law Covenant, with his followers in the first century. He told us to "Do this in remembrance of me", so an annual observance is necessary for Christians, and reminds us of the sacrifice of his flesh and blood.

Answer 5

As a Baptist, we only celebrate 2 sacraments: Believer's Baptism ( not infant baptism) and the Lord's Supper.

As far as why the Lord's Supper is central....
17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
18He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' " 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

22They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"

23Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you."[a]

26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. 28This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

We partake of the Lord's Supper to remember the broken body of Christ and the sacrifice he made for us all!