Dear Bro. Rushmore, I was sent a link to your site by my located preacher, referencing “the Lord’s supper alone” response. I have been studying and questioning the practice of multiple observances of the Lord’s supper by a local congregation, which is for the accommodation of the membership’s schedules (work, play, sickness, etc.). I fail to see the wisdom behind such a practice. Let alone any scriptural authority for only a porption of the local assembly to perform any act of worship, while the rest of the assembly observe (or do anything else). It’s not acceptable with singing (i.e. choirs), praying, or listening to God’s word being proclaimed, so why is it for the Lord’s supper? Worship is an action that is authorized by scripture (truth) and joined with the appropiate attitude (spirit) (John 4:24). Public or corporate worship is the above, but the whole assembly participating in the same avenue at the same time and place, with such leading to the edification of the body (1 Corinthians 14:26,40, Eph 4:16, Hebrews 10:25). Any thoughts? Sincerely, Matt Klingman, Vermilion Church of Christ
First Corinthians 11:26 indicates frequency without specificity respecting Lord’s Supper, plus a purpose for observing the Lord’s Supper: “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Corinthians 11:26). Acts 20:7 indicates frequency with specificity for observing the Lord’s Supper, each Lord’s Day: “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight” (Acts 20:7). The Bible is silent respecting specificity of frequency for observing the Lord’s Supper other than on the first day of each week. A congregation could observe the Lord’s Supper each time it assembled for worship on the Lord’s Day, though neither does the New Testament’s specificity of frequency for observing the Lord’s Supper require that.
The question, though, includes can some members partake of the Lord’s Supper while other members present do not partake of the Lord’s Supper and that be biblically permissible. Under some circumstances, the Bible requires some Christians not to partake of the Lord’s Supper while other Christians are partaking of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). Whereas, this passage would have Christians refrain from observing the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy manner and have Christians rather partake of the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner, it is feasible for a Christian to be unable to observe the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner when it is served (e.g., a young mother wrestling with and distracted by an unruly child, an erring Christian, anyone whose mind is distracted by matters outside the assembly, etc.).
Further, the surmise that Christians cannot worship God if all Christians present are not worshipping God in the same way proves too much if it proves anything. Can a mute person (i.e., permanent disability or laryngitis) worship God if he or she cannot sing? Also, whenever the Lord’s Supper is served, the whole congregation does not eat the bread and later drink the fruit of the vine simultaneously (i.e., unless it were served to everyone first and on command each person consumed the Supper). This does not nullify the Supper; the original Supper instituted by Jesus with his apostles does not demand simultaneous consumption of the Supper. Before the manufacture of multiple communion cups, simultaneous consumption of the fruit of the vine would have been nearly impossible.
At any rate, sometimes we try too hard religiously. We do not intend to demean Bible authority, and we always subscribe heartily to it, but sometimes we run the risk in our own “wisdom” of running back to Jerusalem and passing it on the other side. We must be careful not to make laws where God has made none, while at the same time adhering to what is in the Gospel (Bible authority).
