Abstract
Holy Communion and want of bread
 
 In Africa one out of three people suffers from undernourishment or malnutrition. In this respect the topical question whether Holy Communion and acts of charity to those who suffer from hunger can be linked. Jesus not only endows Holy Communion with a personal dimension of faith, but also foregrounds this aspect in the care for those who suffer from hunger. New Testament material reveals that in the congregation of Jerusalem partaking of Holy Communion developed into mutual diaconal care. It is thus for this reason inter alia that Paul warns against misusing Holy Communion. This kind of misuse was evident because the rich partook of Christ’s meal of love without realising that they could only be part of this act of love by bestowing love themselves. In this article some practical guidelines to link the celebration of Holy Communion and the crisis of want of bread are discussed.
Highlights
In Africa one out of three people suffers from undernourishment or malnutrition
“The death of a starving child directly impacts the body of Christ – literary, not metaphorically” (Mitchell 2000:252)
Die vraag is of hierdie derde werksaamheid nie in die hedendaagse praktyk van kerke se Nagmaalsviering en die uitwerking van die Nagmaal op die daaglikse lewe verwaarloos word nie? Die probleemstelling in hierdie artikel kan dus só saamgevat word: Kan daar uit Skrifgegewens oor en die betekenis van die Nagmaal ’n verband tussen Nagmaal en liefdesdiens aan hongeriges getrek word? Indien wel, watter riglyne kan aan kerke gegee word om hierdie skynbaar verwaarloosde uitwerking van die Nagmaal met geesdrif aan te pak?
Summary
Die vraag is of hierdie derde werksaamheid nie in die hedendaagse praktyk van kerke se Nagmaalsviering en die uitwerking van die Nagmaal op die daaglikse lewe verwaarloos word nie? Die probleemstelling in hierdie artikel kan dus só saamgevat word: Kan daar uit Skrifgegewens oor en die betekenis van die Nagmaal ’n verband tussen Nagmaal en liefdesdiens aan hongeriges getrek word? Watter riglyne kan aan kerke gegee word om hierdie skynbaar verwaarloosde uitwerking van die Nagmaal met geesdrif aan te pak?. Die werkplan wat gevolg sal word, is om by wyse van empiriese ondersoek die huidige siening van die verband tussen Nagmaal en honger by ’n aantal predikante te probeer vasstel. Daarna word beoog om ter saaklike Bybelse gegewens na te gaan: oor die konteks van die instelling van die Nagmaal en die verband tussen gewone maaltye en die Nagmaal in Handelinge 2 en 1 Korintiërs 11. Ten besluite sal gepoog word om enkele praktiese riglyne aan te dui
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