"COMMUNION - HOW OFTEN?”
By Dr. Hoyt W. Allen, Jr.
Often one will state
that it does not
matter how often one
partakes of the
“Lord’s Supper” or
“Communion”, as long
as one is sincere.
May we do a brief
study on this
subject.
As Jesus was eating
the annual Passover
Supper with His
apostles, He
instituted the
“Lord’s Supper”
(Matthew 26:26-29).
Following His
crucifixion and
resurrection Jesus
taught His apostles
that they were to
observe all things
which He commanded
them as he taught
them things about
the kingdom (Matthew
28:20; Acts 1:3).
The apostles
undoubtedly
understood that the
“Lord’s Supper” was
to be observed every
Sunday and taught
such to the infant
church. This can be
seen in the
following
scriptures: Acts
2:42; 20:7; I
Corinthians
11:17,18,20; 16:1,2.
As one searches the
Old Testament it can
be soon recognized
that Exodus 20:8
calls for observance
of the Sabbath every
week and the priest
of the Levitical
Priesthood were the
only ones permitted
to eat the shewbread.
This was a shadow of
the New Testament
Church, whereby the
priesthood is
comprised of all
believers and all
are permitted to eat
of the Lord’s
Communion. Thus, the
day of worship was
changed at Jesus’
resurrection from
the Sabbath
(Saturday) to Sunday
(Lord’s Day). The
apostles set the
precedent of Sunday
worship and the
partaking of the
Communion weekly.
Thus, Bible history
and secular history
both verify that
Communion was
observed each Lord’s
Day by the early
Christians. Some
Christian leaders of
the past shout this
from the grave, such
as:
a) Ignatius (2nd
century bishop of
Antioch) b) Justin
Martyr (2nd century
apologist) c)
Irenaeus (2nd
century bishop of
Lyon) d) Cyprian
(3rd century bishop
of Carthage) e) R.A.
Torrey (Moody Bible
Institute President)
f) J.M. Camp
(Baptist) g) John
Wesley (Methodist)
h) Thomas Scott
(Presbyterian) i)
John Calvin
(Reformed Church) j)
Phillip Doddridge
(Congregationalist)
k) Charles Spurgeon
(Baptist)
Sometimes a
Christian will say
that “Communion” is
more meaningful to
them if it is only
partaken of on a
monthly, quarterly,
or yearly basis.
This statement is
saying to God, “I do
not care how often
YOU have said to
partake of
Communion, I am
going to have it MY
WAY”. Due to each of
us having a
free-will, we can do
this. However, let
us remember we will
answer to the
Creator for any
willful
disobedience.
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