ordinances

(This is the last post in a series about the ordinances of the church. Here are the links to the first, second, third and fourth posts.)

My timing was off! A couple of days after I uploaded my article on the meaning of the ordinances, I started work on the next one. But while I was getting organized, two ideas struck me about those posts.

First, I wanted to change the name of last week’s article, but it was too late, so I’ll summarize what I should have written: the ordinances are parabolic. They function like the simple stories Jesus told.

Parables make spiritual points with natural imagery. Jesus compared the kingdom of God to objects and experiences like seeds, plants, and parties. The parables used what people could see to help them envision what they couldn’t see.

The ordinances are parabolic in that they communicate a spiritual principle, salvation, through earthly elements: water, bread, and wine.

Salvation? Yes, because as I described last week, the rituals of the ordinances communicate the gospel: the God who delivered Israel from slavery saves us in Christ from sin.

The second idea concerns the main point of this post: the ordinances are not only parabolic, they’re also paradoxical. They have inherent contradictions that are nevertheless capable of resolution.

Jesus describes the Christian life in terms of paradoxes.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:3

“But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” – Matthew 19:30

“For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.” – Luke 9:24

“The Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” – Acts 20:35b

Jesus taught in parables; we have about 40 of them recorded in the gospels. But He also taught in paradoxes. In fact, the purpose of the parables is itself paradoxical!

“The disciples came to him and asked, ‘Why do you speak to the people in parables?’ ¹¹He replied, ‘Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. ¹²Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. ¹³This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” ¹⁴In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. ¹⁵For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” ¹⁶But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. ¹⁷For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.’” – Matthew 13:10-17

If the discipleship which Jesus demands is parabolic and paradoxical in nature, then so are the ordinances that He established.

The Bible presents us with divergent perspectives on baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The ordinances are important and unimportant; powerful but unnecessary.

Baptism

Getting baptized in water is the immediate response to the preaching of the gospel. It was standard practice for the early church.

“Those who accepted [Peter’s] message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” – Acts 2:41

“But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” – Acts 8:12

And baptism is powerful; it’s effective in the process of salvation.

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” – Mark 16:16

“And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.” – Acts 22:16

“Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you–not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience–through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 3:21 (NASB)

But compared with preaching, baptism shrinks into insignificance.

“I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶(Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel–not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” 1 Corinthians 1:14-17

So which is it? Does baptism play a role in our salvation or is it optional?

Lord’s Supper

Communion plays a central role in the liturgies of many denominations. And with good reason; the elements of communion refer to the life of Jesus Christ.

“Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.” – John 6:53-56

Yet Paul prioritizes the celebrants of the Lord’s Supper over the ceremony itself.

“So then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat, ²¹for when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. ²²Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!” – 1 Corinthians 11:20-22

Do the ordinances have value or not? Are they crucial to our spiritual well-being or are they luxuries we can dispense with?

Yes to both!

They’re important, but only in relation to our willingness to follow and obey the Lord. The ordinances lose force when they detach from God’s ultimate purpose for us: a living, growing knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Analogy

Paul illustrates this principle in his discussion with the Corinthian church about married and unmarried Christians.

Using the analogy of circumcision, the apostle denigrates it compared to the value of an obedient heart.

“Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.” – 1 Corinthians 7:19

Relative to obedience, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision mean much. Likewise, compared to the condition of our hearts, neither marriage nor singleness make much of a difference.

Except that Paul favors the single life because it allows for greater dedication to Jesus.

“I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs–how he can please the Lord. ³³But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world–how he can please his wife– ³⁴and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world–how she can please her husband. ³⁵I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

So using the ritual of circumcision as an illustration, Paul relatives the significance of both married and single states. However, he recognizes that for practical reasons, being single provides fewer distractions for those who want to pursue the Lord.

Let’s apply this principle to the ordinances.

Like circumcision, they’re rituals which are secondary when compared to the condition of our heart.

But as Paul prefers the single life over marriage, so the Scriptures stress the value of baptism and the Lord’s Supper over abstaining. Neither ritual can substitute for a heart of faith, but if we love Jesus, we’ll do what He says.

“If you love me, keep my commands.” – John 14:15

Conclusion

The ordinances are powerful, but only if they’re conducted in faith, with joy and gratitude for our salvation. Absent these attitudes, they become hollow shells of what they ought to be for us.

The choice is ours. The value of the ordinances depends on how much we appreciate what God has done for us in Christ.

Celebrate His salvation!