Over the last few years, I’ve noticed an increase on my Facebook feed of posts touting what I am calling “Quick Christianity”. These posts espouse the many blessings and benefits of a three minute devotional time. A Google search of “Quick Christianity” produced an almost offensive “Christianity for Dummies Cheat Sheet” – from the Dummies for Whomever, Whatever genre of helping books.
I don’t know why the title of this offended my sensibilities, but it did. Perhaps it is because so often I’ve heard that only weak-minded, delusional people feel the need to rely on a make-believe god to help them through their day, week, life… and calling it Christianity for Dummies, well I personally find the word Dummies offensive.
I do not want to make this an essay about atheism, or other religions, or religious freedom or tolerance. No. If you come to our blog, or listen to these podcasts you know that we are Christians. Period. That is not open for debate or discussion. You know that we will always speak the truth. Period. But I digress.
What really got us started today is an article that came across my Facebook news feed called, “The Lord’s Supper in Pill Form? New Product Sparks Debate”. This article, originally presented by CBS Denver Colorado, was reposted by Michael Foust to ChristianHeadlines.com. Here is the article…
____________________________________________________________
“A Colorado woman is selling the elements of communion in two pills — matzo bread powder in one pill and red wine extract in the other — and sparking debate over the definition of the Lord’s Supper.
Theresa Lay, a businesswoman, told CBS4 in Denver that the pills can be used by Christians who are traveling or who are in remote locations, such as military personnel overseas.
“Large groups or just people on the go who want to worship and give thanks to God,” she said. “That’s pretty much how I invented the communion pill.” The product is called “God’s Pill.” She came up with the idea during a personal tragedy.
“I had gone through loss in my life and I was taking daily communion,” she said. “And I thought about a portable way, a quick and easy way to do it.” Lay added, “I believe communion brings hope and healing to the world. It’s been 2,000 years since the last supper and it’s new every time someone celebrates.”[1]
____________________________________________________________
Are we the only ones that are appalled by this? Are we the only ones that see that more and more our first and most important relationship – our ongoing relationship with God our Father – is being marginalized… made to fit in to our schedule?
The words I find most offensive are “a quick and easy way to do it”. IT? You mean that little dinner party Jesus had with His disciples on the eve of His death? or are you talking about the Passover Meal that Jesus celebrated with His disciples where He shared with them about the coming Kingdom of God, where He told them that He would be going away, that the prophecy’s would be fulfilled in Him? That when ever we break the bread and drink the wine, we are to remember Him? When Jesus broke the unleavened bread, He symbolized His sinless-ness, and that His body that was to broken for them (and for us who trust in Him). The cup pictured the very blood of the Lamb of God that was to be poured out for the forgiveness of sins – our sins. This was the new covenant…a covenant where His blood would be poured out as the ultimate sacrificial offering for all who believe in Him, covering all sins, and would be sufficient for all time.
To call it “IT” suggests that it is just another “works” to be completed on the pathway to Heaven. There is a very serious warning in 1 Corinthian 11:27 – “So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord” – about partaking of the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner or in a careless, thoughtless way but instead, they are to discern the body of Christ and the meaning of the bread and the wine. To downplay the significance of entering into communion with Him is appalling when it is considered in such an unworthy manner. Consider this wisely. Which one are you? Are you one of the “people on the go” that the author or the article hopes will take advantage of her product?
Links to the original articles
Original Post from CBS Colorado – https://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/11/08/gods-pill-communion-pill-wine-catholic-protestant-wafer/
DENVER (CBS4) – One Colorado businesswoman is taking a symbol of her faith to those on the go.
“Theresa Lay came up with God’s Pill after going through a personal tragedy. One pill is made of matzo bread powder, the other red wine extract. She says it could be used by the military or people who are traveling. One person who reviewed the product said it has allowed them to worship in the jungles of Gambia.
“Large groups or just people on the go who want to worship and give thanks to God. That’s pretty much how I invented the communion pill.” Theresa says the pill isn’t associated with any denomination, it doesn’t matter if you’re Protestant or Catholic. She says 2,000 years ago communion was with fresh bread and wine. These days it’s wine or juice and processed wafers. The next step can now be prayer in pill form.
“I believe communion brings hope and healing to the world. It’s been 2,000 years since the last supper and it’s new every time someone celebrates”.
Saved Because of His Mercy 