Discussion Website

I was taking the day off from emails but when I received the note from the discussion website I figured you might like to take a shot at my response.

I receive emails from a discussion website. A recent email asked:

It has come to my attention that a local congregation here(Bakersfield, Ca) will no longer serve the Lord Supper during the evening worship.

Here's what they contend, they say that Acts.20:7 is reconized as the Lord's Church participating in the Lord's Supper every first day of the week.They conclude that this example LIMITS THE SCRIPTUAL OBSERVATION OF THE LORD'S SUPPER. They go on to say that there is NO DIRECT COMMAND, NO APPROVED EXAMPLE OR NO NECESSARY INFERENCE given anywhere else in the New Testament.To partake any other time than when THE WHOLE CHURCH comes together to partake, is to add to God's Word/Command's. In the evening THE WHOLE CHURCH is not partaking, just a handful of people.So there you have it, do you see it as Violation of the Scriptures or is it Reading the Letter of the Law, but missing the Spirit of the Law.

I submitted the following:We should remember congregational autonomy so if this is what they choose to do so be it. Next: According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, in the New Testament in every instance the word "bread" appears it is: 740 artos bread (as raised) or a loaf: -- (shew-) bread, loaf. That means when Jesus was telling the disciples how to pray and he said "Give us this day, our daily bread" and when Luke writes the believers "came together to break bread" the same word translated "bread" was used. Why does anyone think Luke was referring to the Lord's Supper?" On Sunday when we take the smallest piece of bread we can find and drink a partially filled miniature shot glass of grape juice we are not even close to replicating the Lord's Supper we read about in the New Testament.

On the subject of the "whole church" none of us assembles with the "whole church." In our county we have at least 8 congregations and we all meet as individual congregations. Even together we do not makeup the "whole church." So we have to keep this question in perspective.

If a congregation does not meet Sunday evenings they are not "offering" the communion to anyone. If they meet on Sunday evening and decide not to "offer" the communion that is an option open to all congregations and is a congregational decision.

One response talked about the Lord's Supper being commanded. The following is my response to that one.

As a side, no place in the New Testament is anyone commanded to worship. Jesus said his followers would and Paul told us how, presenting our body, as living sacrifices. We have memorial services all the time for friends and family after they have died and no one considers that worship. God realizes worship cannot be commanded. Much like respect it has to be earned and it has to come from the heart.

On the subject of the "whole church" none of us assembles with the "whole church." In our county we have at least 8 congregations and we all meet as individual congregations. Even together we do not makeup the "whole church." So we have to keep this question in perspective. If a congregation does not meet Sunday evenings they are not "offering" the communion to anyone. If they meet on Sunday evening and decide not to "offer" the communion that is an option open to all congregations and is a congregational decision.