Communion: Online? Drive in? Not at all?

Disclaimer: Please note that the two incidents that I speak about in this post happened prior to me joining the UMC; and before going to dCOM. I am in NO WAY ADVOCATING for the normalcy of what I did. 

There is a lot of arrogance in today's church. I personally know that I am cocky at times. When I have an opinion that I know in my heart is correct for me, I don't like to be questioned.

One of the conversations that I had today, was with an Anglican Priest that immediately turned me off as soon as he commented on something I wrote. It surrounded communion and whether it can be taken remotely while the pastor is virtually consecrating the elements.

If you read my previous post on communion, I think you can see I have a pretty good idea about communion and how it should be handled.

I can say that I have taken communion once or twice when I wasn't able to attend a physical church. I have also presided over communion when an ordained Pastor wasn't available. I do not find those things repulsive in any way, shape or form. So some background on why I have participated in online communion services and why I have presided over a communion service without a minister.

The second is a lot easier for me to answer quickly. I worked at a coffee shop for youth. One evening God's holy spirit just fell in a way that you wouldn't believe, unless you have experienced it. We were closing for the night and we got into a mode of worship, and a young lady came to know Christ. The next week we were there and she came back to the coffee shop and was asking several questions about her new found faith. She had gotten involved in a church, but the church had denied her communion that week because she "was saved in a coffee shop." She was in tears because she had read that she was to do that in remembrance of what Jesus did for us. I had the opportunity to call her pastor and speak with him, and he said "Salvation doesn't come in a coffee shop." The following week, I arrived at the coffee shop just before we opened and the manager said to the staff and the young lady "It's been on my heart all week to offer communion this week to all who want to participate. Can you please pray over the bread and wine?" I didn't see the harm (and still don't), and I offered that new sister in faith her first communion, this time tears flowed because she was accepted and she grateful that she could finally take communion. She has since changed churches, and attends a lovely country church and takes communion weekly in the full knowledge of what Jesus has done for her.

As for taking communion online, I did so because I was asked to leave a church. To never darken the doors of the church again. Sure I was welcome online, but I wasn't welcome in the church. For me, communion has always been central to my faith. From the liturgy, all the way down to accepting "The body of Christ broken for me and the blood of Christ spilled for me." It's just important to do those things. Even as a young child, when I first was saved at 9 years old, it was vitally important for me to accept the elements. When you are asked to not show up to a church because of conflict and communion is important to you, when you are asked to have bread and wine/juice for the online service you don't care about precedence--because you realize that God is bigger and knows your heart.

No where am I saying this should be normal practice; so before you think that is what I am saying, it isn't. However, we are living in unprecedented times and the church, whether it wants to or not, will have to change with those times.