1 Corinthians 10:16-17: Letting The Drawbridge Down

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all share the one loaf. - 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

There are somethings in life that cannot be done alone. We participate in the body and blood of Christ, not alone, but together. Paul reminds us that "we give thanks", "bread that we break", "we...are one body" and "we ... share the one loaf."

While studying Pietism for the Church History class at BCCL, we found that when the church is faced with a hostile situation in the world, there is a tendency to retreat even from other believers and do what we can do by ourselves. This leads to richer devotional life and divinely guided self-reflection. It also leads to an awareness of those around us who don't participate in Christ. 

But sometimes it can come at the expense of compassion and perseverance. We stop feeling like we need another person and that they need us. We build up stockpiles to keep us nourished during the long siege of the soul but we do not do so well at letting the drawbridge down and admitting even our allies to close quarters.