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A Readers Digest article explained that when the roots of trees touch, a certain fungus fosters cooperation among the trees. An unknown substance links the roots of different trees to one another. So if one tree has access to water, another to nutrients, and a third to sunlight, the trees share with one another. God designed His Church to function that way. Paul made that point in 1 Corinthians Chapter 11. Believers in Corinth were warring at the Lord’s Table. He told them that God designed the Lord’s Table for two main purposes—to remind us of the sacrifice Christ made to reconcile us to God; but also to teach us that all who accept Christ as their Savior are members of one body. Paul says, when we come to the table with a divisive spirit or with contempt for others, especially toward the poor, we mar our worship. We dishonor our Lord. He says, “If you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ, you are eating and drinking God’s judgment upon yourself.” He argues that the purpose of Christ’s death was to reconcile people to God and to each other. But we defeat its purpose when we act selfishly toward others. We are destroying the unity that Christ died to achieve. For Paul, self-examination before we participate can preserve us from Christ’s condemnation and judgment.
