Dear Editor,
David Robertson’s comments on Communion in the November issue of en were interesting and I agree with him concerning the importance of the sacrament, its joy, solemnity and deep spiritual nourishment. Sharing in Communion should be a priority for us to experience the presence of the Lord. However, I fail to see the jump he makes to state that it cannot be shared online.
The church is people, not buildings. When we livestream services, although physically separate, are we not the church come together to worship? When we meet on Zoom for Bible study, children’s activities, etc. we are ‘doing church’. There is no more need for us to be in the same physical space to share Communion than there is to be in the same space to worship and pray together.
If as evangelicals we believe that the bread and wine are simply emblematic there is no need to eat of the same physical loaf, it’s just a symbol of the body of our Lord. In the same way that we believe Jesus is present in the sacrament when we are in the same building, He is present with every believer as they take communion concurrently with their brothers and sisters online. We should take seriously the omnipresence of God and avail ourselves of the spiritual blessing of the Lord’s Table as and when we worship together online.
Yours sincerely,
John Jacobs
Alton, Hampshire
