MORE ABOUT LORD’S SUPPER

 In recent church bulletins I have written about the Lord’s Supper and the primary or main source has been the Scriptures.  The Bible describes the order and arrangement of worship in the early church.  Two New Testament books give the five basic things that churches of Christ still practice on the First Day of the Week.  They are singing, praying, preaching, Lord’s Supper and offering. Incidentally, the two New Testament books are Acts and 1 Corinthians. Also by way of introduction I need to mention that early uninspired writers referred to the communion as the Eucharist.  Eucharist means “the giving of thanks” and early disciples blessed and gave thanks at the Lord’s Supper.  It is good to remember that early writers were not inspired but when they teach and refer to matters that are set forth in the Scriptures such adds to the evidence that New Testament worship is right.

SOURCE

 I have copies of some of the works of Josephus and I have an English copy of The Apostolic Fathers and also I have The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church which has a wealth of information but I will use quotes and materials from the book, Early Christians Speak by Everett Ferguson.  In summary, the writers seem to all agree that early Christians met on a set day called Sunday and that worship was plain and simple.  They sang, prayed, had the reading of the Word with some exhortation and the Lord’s Supper was observed on the First Day of the Week and the Lord’s Supper was only offered on Sunday.  Also early Christians made an offering.  In some way as the early disciples gathered, they pledged themselves to pure and holy living.  I believe it would have been good if this custom had continued.  What do you think?

FERGUSON

 On pages 86 and 87 in his book, Early Christians Speak, professor Ferguson states, “The Lord’s Supper was celebrated only on Sunday… From the surviving accounts we find the following acts in early Christian worship:  Scripture reading, preaching, singing, praying, partaking of the Lord’s Supper and giving… The synagogue service included Scripture readings with psalm chants, a sermon, prayers and also giving.  We find these same elements in the early accounts of Christian worship:  readings, singing, preaching, praying and giving.”  Not only did the early uninspired writers refer to the communion as the Eucharist but also they referred to the Lord’s Supper as the Sacrament.  The word “Sacrament” is defined as a formal religious act that is sacred as a sign or symbol of a spiritual reality. 

CONCLUSION

In 1973 a Christian author by the name of Wendell Willis wrote the following:  “Too often the communion has been thought of as essentially a somber and dismal recollection of Christ’s death.  The cost of the death should not be diminished since the cross stands at the center of Christian faith.  But the Supper is as much joy.  This is why it came to be known as the ‘Eucharist’ (the blessing, 1 Cor. 10:16)…  One congregation closes its communion service by singing ‘Joy to the World”’ (Worship, P.44).  A final word to all, I am not recommending that anybody use the expressions “Eucharist and Sacrament” in referring to the Lord’s Supper, but if you read from early writers then you need to be aware of these terms.  Be in your place at the worship assembly and come with a smile on your face and a Bible in your hand and a spring in your step.  I’ll look for you.

-Pat Casey