VIII Punishment to those who take part unworthy in the holy feast

Holy feast is a spiritual food. People who participate in the holy feast receive many blessings. At the same time if any person takes part in the bread and cup in an unworthymanner he cannot escape the punishment. “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves.” (I Corinthians 11:29). Now let us meditate on the punishment that comes to people who take part in the holy feast unworthily.

1. Fellowship with the devils

People who participate in the holy feast get united with the body of Jesus Christ. They also get united with the blood of the Jesus Christ. They also understand the fellowship with the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ. But those who participate in an unworthy manner in the holy feast will have fellowship with devils. When one participates in the holy feast in an unworthy manner he will have communion with the devils. In I Corinthians 10:20, 21 St. Paul says “No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”

Those who sacrifice to the idols and eat the things that are sacrificed to the idols they have fellowship with the idols. By this they also possess the character of the devils. This becomes the reality in the life of people who do not participate in the holy feast and people who unworthily take part in the holy feast. This status is true to people who do not participate in the holy feast. When a person is pushed to this state despite the fact that he participate in the holy feast it is really pathetic.

2. Becoming guilty

There is no doubt that the guilty will be punished. When human beings become guilty they are punished by other human beings. People who part take in the holy feast in an unworthy manner are found guilty in the presence of the Lord. “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.” (I Corinthians 11:27)

When a man punishes another, it harms the body of the man. The highest punishment is death sentence. The Lord has the power to punish the body, soul and spirit. So we understand that those who are guilty in the presence of the Lord have more punishment.

3. Weakness

People who take part in the holy feast in an unworthy manner, get weakness as punishment. “That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.”(I Corinthians 11:30). People who participate in the holy feast in an unworthy manner become punished by getting weakness in their body, soul and spirit.

4. Sickness

When a person takes part in the holy feast in an unworthy manner becomes punished by getting sickness. In I Corinthians 11:30 we read “That is why many among you are weak and sick… “. It is very difficult to be healed of such diseases for Lord gives sickness in the body, spirit and soul.

5. Death

Lord punishes by declaring death to the people who participate in the holy feast in an unworthy manner. In I Corinthians 11:30 we read “…and a number of you have fallen asleep“. People who take part in the holy feast in an unworthy manner meet with death before aright appointed time.

6. Judgment

Lord is a righteous judge. Lord punishes man for each and every sin he commits. Lord gives righteous judgment for those who take part in the holy feast in an unworthy manner. In I Corinthians 11:31 we read “But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under such judgment. “

In the days of Paul people who came to participate in the Lord’s cup, ate the food they brought from home before taking part in the Lord’s Supper. People who were not able to bring food from home remind hungry. Paul says, if one brings food from home he should share it with everyone else if they are able to bring food it is better prepare food at home and eat at home itself. “So then, my brothers and sisters, when you gather to eat, you should all eat together. Anyone who is hungry should eat something at home, so that when you meet together it may not result in judgment.” (I Corinthians 11:33,34). It is good to fast before participating in the Lord’s cup to avoid Lord’s judgment.

7. Places in darkness

There are many places in hell such as bottomless pit, lake of fire, etc. One such place is called outer darkness. Mist of darkness is reserved for those people who participate in the holy feast in an unworthy manner livingin wickedness and pleasure. “These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.“(II Peter 2: 17). In Jude 13th verse we read “They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.“

People who sin and die in this earth will go to hell. According to the nature of the sins they have committed they reach different places in hell. People who take part in the holy feast in an unworthy manner will go to outer darkness. After judgment they will perish in the eternal fire.