I have a relative in another state who has been worshipping at a congregation where the elders have decided that all members should partake of the Lord’s Supper twice each Sunday. Have you ever heard of this before? If you have time, please send me your thoughts on this. I know “there is nothing new under the sun,” but I have never heard of this before. Thanks for your comments. In Christ, Ken Gardner
While I have heard brethren think out loud respecting the observance of communion at each worship period on Sundays, this is my first knowledge of any congregation implementing this practice. Doubtless, those who propose this dual observance of the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, corresponding with assembling twice on Sunday which most congregations do, are sincerely trying to be guided by the New Testament and please God. Such persons’ sincerity and devotion to God are not questioned.
The apostle Paul corrected abuses in the church of God at Corinth regarding its observance of the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:20-30). In that context, among other admonitions, the apostle wrote: “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). He addressed the manner (1 Corinthians 11:27, 29 ‘worthily’) in which the communion was to be observed, but he did not stipulate the frequency, surely because they needed no correction about the frequency of observance (i.e., frequency was not part of the Corinthian error). However, brethren who contemplate observing communion twice on the Lord’s Day because we typically assemble twice on the Lord’s Day read into this verse a frequency that is simply not there. The commentator, Albert Barnes, correctly notes of this verse and the words “as often,” “Whenever you do this.” (“1 Cor 11:26,” Barnes’ Notes, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1997 by Biblesoft)
The Bible student must turn elsewhere in the New Testament to discern the frequency of observing the communion, namely, Acts 20:7. “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.” There is nothing in this verse that suggests a frequency greater than once weekly on the Lord’s Day, Sunday on our English calendars.
Of course, we ought to be interested in biblical authority. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him” (Colossians 3:17). From 1 Corinthians 11:26 and Acts 20:7, Christians are authorized (required) to ‘worthily’ observe the Lord’s Supper each “first day of the week.” Biblical authorization for commemoration of the Lord’s Supper once weekly in a worthy manner is all that is authorized.
The New Testament does not intimate that the early church assembled more than once on the Lord’s Day. Doubtless, lack of opportunity to do so would have precluded such an option since the first day of the week then was not a day off as it has been often in America over the years. Early Christians, though, frequently did meet daily (Acts 2:46). However, there is neither indication nor authorization consequently respecting the infant church observing the Lord’s Supper on any day than the first day of the week. Assembling, even to worship (Acts 4:23-31; 12:12) on days other than the first day of the week, Spirit-guided Christians did not observe the communion on the basis that the church or a part thereof assembled. Therefore, simply assembling twice on the Lord’s Day neither requires nor authorizes Christians to observe the communion twice that day.
Personally, I would be slow to condemn individuals who sincerely sought to observe the communion twice on Sunday, though there is neither biblical authorization nor requirement to partake of it twice a week. I, though, would present the above information to them for their consideration and edification. However, for anyone, including an eldership, to require others to observe the communion twice on the Lord’s Day would amount to making a law where God has not made one (Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19). We must not go “above that which is written” (1 Corinthians 4:6) in the areas of religion where God through the Spirit has specified.
(see also https://www.gospelgazette.com/gazette/2002/feb/index.shtml#communion)
