When should a church participate in the Lords communion?

1 Corinthians 11:26 tells us, "For every time you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."

Some have taken this text and believe that it does not matter when or how often they partake of the bread and cup. They believe the more they do this, the better it is.

We think there is a deeper significance to these words. 1 Corinthians 5:7,8 say, "…Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast…" Jesus is our Passover or Pascal lamb. This partaking of the cup and the bread, called the Lord's Supper by the Apostle, is a replacement of the Jewish Passover. How often did God have the Jews celebrate the Passover? Luke 2:41 tells us, “…went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover."

The Passover was always eaten on the 14th of the Jewish month Nisan. We are so told in Leviticus 23:5 "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover."

We know that some partake more often or at a different time than we believe the scriptures above show. While we may not agree with them on this point, we note the context of the whole book of Corinthians. (1 Corinthians 11:20-22 "Now when you come together at the same place, you are not really eating the Lord’s Supper. For when it is time to eat, everyone proceeds with his own supper. One is hungry and another becomes drunk. … Or are you trying to show contempt for the Church of God by shaming those who have nothing? … I do not praise you for this!”). The Apostle is not emphasizing the details and the correct time. His emphasis is on the heart attitude of reverence for our heavenly Father and love and appreciation for our Lord Jesus, and the family of God that we are privileged to share this with. This should also be our emphasis. Yes, we want to do things exactly as our Father has designed, but we mostly need to be humble and love all, even our enemies, especially our brethren.