You can't have it both ways

Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? – 1 Corinthians 10.21-22

Another aspect of the Lord’s Table that Paul stressed was that of purity. The Table is all about unity and purity. These Corinthians were dragging a part spirit into the Table service. They cared nothing about their walk with God when them came to the Table. It was just a time to party. Sure it a party to celebrate the body and blood on Christ instead of seeing the importance of the Table. 

People do that. Instead of the world celebrating the life of the great missionary and gospel preacher named Patrick they just celebrate with drunkenness and a party spirit. In America, Memorial Day, which is supposed to commemorate the sacrifice of fallen soldiers, is just an excuse for a party. Christmas, the celebration of the incarnate Christ, becomes all about parties and gifts. 

So it’s not unusual that this problem arose. 

Paul makes it clear that this is not to be tolerated. Later he calls that they are doing shameful 

You can’t drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of devils. We cannot share at the Lord’s Table and the devil’s table. Are you willing to provoke the Lord by mocking the Table? 

We can’t have it both ways. We can’t come to the Lord’s Table when our lives are full of sin. The answer is not to ignore the Table – the answer is to deal with the sin. The Table is our chance, as I used to hear an old preacher say, keep short accounts with God.