How often should you wash your denim jeans? your bedding? your pajamas?
“The debate about how often we should really be washing our clothes has expanded from jeans in recent years. Controversy about how often people wash their pajamas and bedding for example has broken out several times on social media recently, prompting discussions about what is and isn’t hygienic.
Hygiene is however not the only argument … washing machines use a lot of water. Washing clothes less could therefore be good for the environment … especially as our, often synthetic, clothes also release microplastics when washed, which contribute to plastic pollution.”1
Levi Strauss CEO Charles Bergh never, ever washes his jeans—in a washing machine. If they do get soiled or sweaty, he washes them in the shower.
“If they get really gross you know, if I’ve been out sweating or something and they get really gross, I’ll wash them in the shower.”2
Amen, brother. I don’t wash my jeans, my bedding, or my pajamas after one wear, or even two. But eventually I do wash them. And, in a washing machine.
But he got me thinking. Not only about wearing my jeans or jammies into the shower once in a while, but being washed spiritually in Holy Communion.
How often should you receive Holy Communion?
When I was a kid, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church offered communion once a month. It was my family tradition to attend every other time. CrossLife Church presently celebrates Holy Communion twice a month, and I attend every time.
So, where exactly is the biblical instruction about how often to receive Holy Communion? Here it is: “whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup” (1 Corinthians 11:26).
While Jesus’ mandate for receiving Holy Communion is clear: “eat … drink” (Matthew 26:26,27), God’s Word issues no specifics for how often. This is Christian freedom. But choose wisely. It is the gracious, powerful gift of Jesus’ body and blood washing away sins, delivering from death and the devil, and giving victorious life and eternal salvation to all who believe.
He says “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me … This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:19,20). Do you want more of Jesus? I do!
Therefore, some churches legitimately offer Holy Communion every Sunday. That’s good. Then, why not every day? Every hour? Well, practical limitations come into play. And good spiritual interests.
It can be helpful for Holy Communion to be something special and extra-ordinary and once-in-a-while as compared to every Sunday. However, that concern can also be addressed by making it something special and extra-ordinary even if it is routinely once a week.
Bottom line: be thoughtful as an individual and a church about the why of the when for celebrating Holy Communion. Teach about it. Talk about it. Make it special. And enjoy it “whenever.”
PRAYER: Jesus, bless your body and blood in Holy Communion to not only deliver the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation you promise, but to be something special and regular for my faith and life, and also for my church. Amen.
DIG DEEPER: Speaking of which, here’s a similar question. How often should you be baptized? The two sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion) differ here. Baptism is a one-time, initiatory act of God’s saving grace. Here’s a helpful teaching video.
1,2 https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/10/how-often-should-you-wash-your-jeans-levis-ceo-settles-debate.html
