Communionity via Control of the Tongue

Communion goes by many names. A common one is the Lord's Supper, also known as the Last Supper. This famous meal is introduced by the Apostle Paul to the Christians in Corinth this way: "The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed..." [1Corinthians 11v23]. Whatever our thoughts are about this dinner, it ought to include a remembrance of the Jesus who ate and drank with men who would betray him, deny him, and abandon him.

Judas is the most famous of the betrayers, with Peter a close second in fame for his denial. The others ran away in the garden when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. With their words, each man had pledged allegiance to Jesus, confessed him as their Lord, the Son of God, the long awaited deliverer and king who would rescue them from their oppressors, end the exile, and make everything right. And with their words, one at a time, they both promised their faithfulness and then voiced their disloyalty.

Judas discussed with the religious authorities how he might turn Jesus over to them. Peter vowed that he would never deny Jesus. The other apostles all swore they would stay with him to the end.

Jesus knew their hearts. He heard their words. He could see what they would do when the moment of truth would come. And he was still willing to break bread with them and share the cup.

The Lord's Supper was the last supper Jesus would share with any of his disciples before his crucifixion. It would be the last Passover meal he would share with anyone until he returns at the end of the age to make everything all-right and establish his kingdom.

It was the last of many meals he shared with tax-collectors and sinners, men and women from every strata of humanity, people near and far from God.

It was the last meal he would share with them before he died for them, before he let himself be crucified for their sins - for their betrayals, denials and disloyalty.

The Lord's Supper reminds us of the great lengths God will go to be with sinners. Jesus words remind us of his deep love for men and women of the world. Every word that Jesus spoke pointed people to God, to the truth, to love, to peace, to grace, to unity and reconciliation.

What do our words point to? If we are people who have participated in the Lord's Supper, if we have heard and received the words of Jesus, what kind of words pour out of our mouth into others? In what ways is the community better because of the words we speak? Do our words build up like Jesus? Or tear down like Judas?

Spiritual formation through control of the tongue is central to our communionity. Words matter. Letting the Spirit of Jesus re-form our heart and therefore our tongue are key to our building unity in our community. Communionity is when our practice of communion contributes to unity in Christ in our community. What could we strengthen communionity through control of the tongue look like ?

• To turn the destructive way I use words into authentic, loving and healing speech
• Control of the tongue involves an intentional awareness and governance of words as well as tone of voice in all communications
• Speaking truth in love
• Not speaking out of anger or irritability
• Using words to encourage and speak life into others
• Not yelling, cursing, belittling, gossiping, slandering
• Addressing critical nature as revealed in your critical tongue
• Notice how your words affect others
• Apologize and forgive with words
• Mean what you say and say what you mean
• Let go of verbal defense mechanisms
• Reveal Christ through the control of your tongue

Pay attention to what God's Spirit is prompting you to consider doing different. In what area with your words is he convicting you? Here are some other spiritual formation practices you may want to try:

• Work at saying "Thank you" and "You are welcome" as much as you can. 
• Don't hesitate to say "I am sorry" and "I forgive you." 
• Avoid words like "You always" or "You never" when you are arguing. 
• Remember it's better to say nothing at all if you have nothing nice to say. 
• Take three days to reply to a complicated, emotionally-charged situation. 
• Seek first to understand, don't focus so much on being understood. 
• It takes 10 genuinely positive words to undo the damage of 1 negative word. 

As people of God in communionity with each other, who eat and drink together who identify with the crucified and resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, we want to use words that flow out of our memory of him. We can be like Judas when we use our words to take matters into our own hands. We can be like Peter when we over-promise and under-deliver. Or we can be like Jesus, using words that build communionity.

Which one are you?