Communion Confession

Like I have nearly a dozen times before, I sit here struggling with the dilemma of whether to write this post or not. It relates to a thought that even I find offensive, and I'm the one thinking it. Which means that others will certainly view it that way as well. I'm going to write it anyway.
From the time I was nine years old I have been participating in the Lord's Supper with other followers of Christ. For better, or worse, I have always attended a Baptist church. I tell you this not because I think that Baptists are more "right" or better than other Protestant religions, but because it colors my understanding of Communion in a certain way.
While some churches celebrate the Lord's Supper on the first Sunday of each month (or some other variation), the congregation that I am part of now makes it part of the worship service each week; a practice which, incidentally, I enjoy.
Except that this continual practice keeps this uncomfortable thought in my mind almost constantly. However, it was only recently that I came to realize that, unpleasant as it may be, it is true.

Each time we take the bread, or the cup and read the words "This is my body" or "This is my blood" and are commanded to eat or drink, I cannot help but think that it smacks of cannibalism.
Did I say that out loud? I warned you that it was offensive. But please don't stop reading now. If you do, you'll leave with the same terrible thought on your mind that I had for years.

When any human being consumes another human being, there is nothing else to call it but cannibalism. But there is more than one reason for such a practice. The one that jumps to the forefront is the cultural participation of a spiritistic or animistic society. Cannibalism as part of a pagan religion is horrifying. Mental or social deviancy would be another, equally repulsive reason.
The third reason for such an act is absolute desperation. Impending death can make even the mildest person do unbelievable things. The rugby team on flight 571 back in the early 70's comes to mind. Faced with such a dire circumstance, we look on them not in disgust but with pity.

And is that not the exact situation we find ourselves in? We are all dying in trespasses and sin (Eph. 2:1) with no hope of saving ourselves. Actually, according to the verse, we are already dead; not just dying. A dead man can do nothing for himself. The blood of Christ, shed in our place, is our only hope of rescue. Faced with impending eternal death, we come in absolute desperation and accept what he freely offers. There is no way around it.
The Communion table itself is not what saves. It is merely the reminder of what has already taken place. We come each week and remember how utterly without hope we were and fling ourselves anew on the grace of the Cross. We relish the memory of Christ's sacrifice because it means life for us.
Being humbled in such a way is offensive to our human pride. It is insulting to think that we could not have come up with a better way to secure our salvation. Romans 9:33 describes Christ as " a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense" but goes on to say "and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame." Partaking of the new covenant in his blood will not be what condemns us. It is what saves us. Even if that is a tough bit to swallow.