I Corinthians 11:17 But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. 18 For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, 19 for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. 20 When you come together, it is not the Lord's supper that you eat. 21 For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
The words that follow the above are some of the most repeated words in scripture: every time a group of believers celebrate communion. But the reason they are stated here is corrective. Like many of the other ills of this selfish church, what they did in worship and celebration was the exact opposite of what Christ intended for His followers. Communion is sharing, not dividing; it is solemn and contemplative, not jesting and outdoing one another. So when we read these words of instruction, keep in mind that they are more than that: they are convicting and call for self-examination.
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