Journal: Reformed Presbyterian Theological Journal
Volume: RPTJ 09:1 (Fall 2022)
Article: Laying Hold Of The Unseen: The Lord’s Supper As Spiritual Meal
Author: Keith A. Evans

RPTJ 9:1 (Fall 2022) p. 37

Laying Hold Of The Unseen: The Lord’s Supper As Spiritual Meal

Keith A. Evans

Professor of Biblical Counseling Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary

Few, when considering the Lord’s Supper, would draw an immediate connection with the dark spiritual realms, but that is the topic presently before us. True, the demonic is the particular area of scholarship of this author, and thus when engaged in a more academic work, emphasis will be placed upon how an understanding of the darkness further contrasts and brings to light the truth. Thus, we consider the New Testament’s language of “participating in the table of demons” versus participating in the Table of the Lord, and how an understanding of said “table of demons” grants by contrast clearer insight into the Apostle Paul’s teaching on what we are engaging in during the Supper of the Lord.

Introduction

When taking up the topic of the Lord’s Supper, it is a bit of an oddity to consider “reaching into the spiritual realms” from the vantage point of paganism. So, what is the purpose of contrasting a Christian understanding of the Lord’s supper with occult methods of pursuing the spiritual? Is the present contemplation a mere flight of fancy or idiosyncrasy of the present author?

While of course there could be some truth to the previous rhetorical question, such a contrast is not absent from the Scriptures, and certainly not absent from the Apostle Paul’s writings on the Lord’s Table in 1 Corinthians 10. After all, he draws a direct, though opposite, parallel between pursuing the table of demons in pagan activities and pursuing the Lord in the Supper He instituted.

As a student of a reformed understanding of the demonic, it is natural to want to unpack these parallels. Contrasting the way in which occult practitioners and everyday idolators seek to lay hold of and manipulate the spiritual realm, which we are forbidden to do so, with the way in which we are called and commanded to pursue spiritual benefit from our Lord, is essential.

Hence, we will consider in the present article how we reach into the unseen realm, and how it is that we lawfully lay hold of true spiritual blessing for our growth in grace and spiritual betterment. An unlawful reaching into the spiritual realms will be compared to lawfully laying ahold of the good spiritual realms.

A Pagan Engagement With The Spiritual Realms

The scriptures are replete with passages condemning or forbidding occult practices. Just a small sampling will suffice our present purposes:

RPTJ 9:1 (Fall 2022) p. 38

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