The instruction for some early Christians to eat at home, rather than at the communal gatherings, is primarily found in Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, specifically in
1 Corinthians 11:17-34. The core issue was the
abuse of the Lord's Supper (communion) and the
division within the Corinthian church.
Here's a breakdown of the reasons:
* Disrespect for the Lord's Supper: The Corinthian church was turning the communal meal associated with the Lord's Supper into a regular feast. They were not treating it with the reverence and solemnity it deserved as a remembrance of Christ's sacrifice.
* Selfishness and Exclusion: The wealthy members of the church were bringing their own food and eating it separately, often consuming it quickly and generously, while the poorer members, who may not have had food to bring or arrived later, were left hungry and humiliated. This created a stark division between rich and poor within the church, contradicting the spirit of unity and equality that should characterize the Christian community.
* Intoxication and Gluttony: Some were even getting drunk at these gatherings, further demonstrating a lack of respect for the sacredness of the occasion and contributing to the disorderly conduct.
* Bringing Shame on the Church: Paul strongly rebukes them, stating that their behavior was not for the better, but for the worse (1 Corinthians 11:17). Their actions were bringing shame and division upon the entire church body.
Paul's Solution (implied and stated):
To address these problems, Paul suggested several things:
* Wait for One Another: (1 Corinthians 11:33) He urged them to wait for one another before starting the meal, so that everyone could participate together. This emphasized the importance of unity and consideration for others.
* Examine Yourself: (1 Corinthians 11:28) He called on them to examine their own hearts and motives before partaking in the Lord's Supper. This was to ensure that they were approaching it with the right attitude of reverence and self-reflection.
* Eat at Home if Hungry: (1 Corinthians 11:34) He specifically instructed those who were truly hungry to eat at home *before* coming to the gathering. This was to prevent them from turning the communal meal into a personal feast and to ensure that the Lord's Supper could be observed in a proper and respectful manner. It was a corrective measure to ensure that the Lord's Supper was not seen as primarily a source of physical sustenance, but rather as a spiritual act of remembrance and communion with Christ and with one another.
* Avoid Judgment: (1 Corinthians 11:34) Paul warns them that partaking in the Lord's Supper unworthily could bring judgment upon themselves.
* Further Instructions: (1 Corinthians 11:34) Paul also states that he will give them further instructions when he arrives. This suggests that the situation was complex and required more than just a simple solution.
In essence, the instruction to eat at home was a temporary measure to correct abuses within the Corinthian church and to restore the Lord's Supper to its intended purpose: a sacred remembrance of Christ's sacrifice and a symbol of unity and fellowship among believers. It was a practical solution to a problem arising from social inequality, selfishness, and a misunderstanding of the meaning of the Lord's Supper.
The instruction wasn't meant to be a permanent ban on communal meals. The goal was to reform their behavior so that they could gather together in a way that honored God and edified one another.