A Pentecostal Theology Of The Lord's Supper

Although Pentecostal churches view the Communion service as a symbolic remembrance, rather than a sacramental action, they recognize it as a powerful part of their worship life. Time, place, and manner vary widely. In recent years Communion is being celebrated more frequently and with greater liturgical intentionality in some Pentecostal churches.

A Vital Worship Practice Understood Memorialistically Celebration of the Lord's Supper is one of the two ordinances practiced by most Pentecostals. An exception is the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) which also holds to the ordinance of footwashing, which may be joined to the celebration of Communion. For many years, some pastors and congregations would never hold Communion without footwashing. Within Pentecostalism, the celebration of the Lord's Supper has been most frequently referred to as Communion. In previous decades, the term Lord's Supper also was used regularly. Neither carried any special connotations or theological implications. Even from the beginning years of the various Pentecostal denominations, Communion has been regarded as a vital worship practice in the local church. Participation in this rite is seen as an obedient remembrance of Christ's death and atonement for humanity's sins. It is also considered to be a reflection of the believer's relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. It symbolizes the appropriation of the benefits of Christ's death to the repentant sinner's life. Pentecostals have not attributed any particular spiritual significance to Communion other than its being a symbolic remembrance. However, within the ministry, it has become very evident that no other sign act carries such tremendous spiritual impact. Individuals who regularly appear to be untouched by the ministry of the Word and song become exceptionally honest when faced with the need for introspection before the Communion elements. But this observation has not caused any real turning to the dynamic presence view. Variety in Manner, Time, and Setting The atmosphere for the celebration of Communion has generally leaned toward the somber, serious introspection of self and remembrance of Christ's suffering. In more recent decades, some pastors have begun to emphasize the joyous aspect which can also accompany this ceremony. Through the sorrow of Christ's suffering and our repentance, great joy follows. This pattern has been incorporated into many services through the use of themes which emphasize victory or rejoicing and through the emphasis on praise after participation. The bread used to represent the body in this celebration varies greatly from one congregation to another. Its range includes leavened bread, unleavened bread, and various commercially produced wafers. Each congregation uses either what the pastor prefers or what has been used traditionally. However when it comes to representing Christ's blood, Pentecostals have almost exclusively used grape juice. This practice is due to the insistence on total abstinence from all alcoholic beverages. Individual Pentecostal denominations have encouraged the celebration of the Lord's Supper, without dictating the time and frequency of observance. In the early decades of the movement, congregations tended to observe Communion once or twice a year at the most. New Year's Eve watch night services are favorite occasions. Renewed Attention to the Lord's Supper A renewed sense of the importance of Communion has seen a marked increase in the frequency of observance. More and more Pentecostal churches participate on a quarterly basis, while a few celebrate monthly. This new practice is especially true where congregations have incorporated some liturgical aspects into their worship services. Sunday morning Communion has also become more of the norm. Along with the increase in frequency, some variation in the method of observance is developing. These changes in method are a definite result of the worship renewal movement, with its emphasis on both creativity and relevancy. Communion while kneeling at the altar, seated at tables in the fellowship hall, or even in small groups are occasionally seen; however, the standard method still is that of serving the congregation while they are seated in their pews. Pentecostals practice open Communion. Any born-again believer, regardless of denominational membership or preference, is welcome to participate, even if they are just visiting. They are encouraged to participate as a reminder that Christ's church is not a divided body. Pentecostal pastors have been encouraged to administer Communion under the patronage of the local church rather than allowing any individual to hold a Communion celebration. Communion services are held in college chapels as part of the overall spiritual experience; however, individual lay celebrations without the presence of an ordained minister are not encouraged.