Why is communion in a Baptist church (or similar Protestant church) like a funeral?
This was the question posed to me by my daughter. She made the observation that if people were passing by outside the church and could hear the music, they would think it was a funeral going on.
Why is a Baptist or Protestant observation of the Lord’s Supper still so much like the Roman Catholic medieval practice?
Why do we follow the traditions of man instead of what we see happening in the New Testament?
Frank Viola discusses communion multiple times in Pagan Christianity .
Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices
He has an entire chapter on baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
For the early Christians, the Lord’s Supper was a festive communal meal. The mood was one of celebration and joy. When believers first gathered for the meal, they broke the bread and passed it around. Then they ate their meal, which then concluded after the cup was passed around. The Lord’s Supper was essentially a Christian banquet. And there was no clergyman to officiate.
Today, tradition has forced us to take the Supper as a tongue-tickling thimble of grape juice and a tiny, tasteless bite-sized cracker. The Supper is often taken in an atmosphere of solemnity. We are told to remember the horrors of our Lord’s death and to reflect on our sins.
So how did we go from a Love Feast that was celebrated with joy to the present day ceremony presided over by clergy?
Why is communion like a funeral? And should it be?
I always wondered why it was this way. I was always of the impression it was a solemn occasion in Matthew and in the other gospels. It should be a celebration of what Jesus did for us and his resurrection.