Expert: Cooper P. Abrams III - 8/9/2010

Question
I have just finished reading my daily verse and today it is: Luke 22:14-20.
After reading the scriptures, I need clarification on,
1.   How often one should TAKE communion.
2.   Is taking communion on the first Sunday a Baptist tradition or is it scripturally based.
3.   If it is not scripturally based, how did we come to create this “tradition”?

I sometimes feel that we take the breaking of bread rather lightly. My church, which is non-denominational, is very careful to create an atmosphere of understanding and reverence, and we take communion on the first Sunday. However, once or twice we took it on an “off” Sunday, and I did not understand why?

Thanks so much! I always have so many questions.  

Answer
Hi Diana,
 I am sorry to be so slow in responding but I have been extremely busy this pass week.
 The key passage on understanding the Lord's Supper is found in 1 Corinthians 11:23-33.
 The New Testament does not say how often a church is take the Lord's Supper.  Verse 26 says, "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)   So the frequency of when a church takes the Lord's Supper is up to the church as there is not set time.  God simply says "as often as you eat this bread and take this cup..."

  Many Baptist churches have communion of the Lord's Supper the first Sunday of the month, so take the Supper once a quarter.  I suppose it would be a tradition in some Baptist churches, but I would not think it was a "Baptist" tradition.
  
  I think those who have a schedule time to take the Lord's Supper simply did it at these times for convenience or to regularly schedule it so people would know when the would take communion.  Although it is not "scriptural" there is nothing unscriptural about taking the Supper on a regular and scheduled basis.  Some church constitutions state the church will have communion on a specific day and time.

  I have never scheduled the Lord's Supper as many Baptist churches have.  The reason is that in many churches that have this practice the Lord's Supper becomes a ritual and people tend to lose their understanding of what it is and why the Lord told us to do this. It becomes a routine and loses its purpose.

The following is information about the Lord's Supper you might find helpful.

    The Lord's Supper is a memorial meal initiated by the Lord Jesus Christ on the eve of His passion, symbolizing His death and blood atonement for sin (Mt. 26:26-28; Mk. 14:22-24; Lk. 22:19-21; Jn. 13). The Apostle Paul plainly tells us that the Lords's Supper is a memorial ("this do in remembrance of me"--Lk. 22:19; 1 Co. 11:24,25) and a picture ("ye do shew"--1 Co. 11:26). The Lord's Supper is to be practiced in the church (1 Co. 11:18,20,22,33,34). Each church, as the body of Christ (1 Co. 12:27), is to observe the Lord's Supper after the Scriptural order. The church is responsible to oversee every aspect of the work of God to maintain doctrinal and moral purity (1 Co. 5:11-13; 2 Th. 3:6; Tit. 1:9-13; 3:10,11). We, therefore, do believe the church has both the authority and the responsibility to restrict the Lord's Table. Those who observe the Lord's Supper privately apart from the church are ignoring the Bible pattern.

   The Seven-fold benefits of the Lord's Supper: (1) In 1 Co. 11:28 there is Examination. But let a man examine himself.' (2) In that frame of heart we then are to eat.' That is Participation. (3) Thus the supper becomes a Proclamation of the value of that wondrous death for poor sinners (1 Co. 11:26). (4) The feast is to have Continuation. But how often? [The Bible does not say how often; it simply says "as often as ye eat"--1 Co. 11:26.] (5) Anticipation is a hall-mark of the supper. Till He come' are words that remind us that the supper is not only retrospective, but prospective. (6) Of course it is primarily a supper for Recollection of the Lord in His suffering and death for our sins. Such continual remembrance ought to stir the heart in love to the One who died for us. (7) A proper preparation of heart beforehand, and a right attitude at the supper will lead to Adoration. In remembrance of Me,' said the Lord. The word translated worship' in the N.T. means to kiss towards.' It bespeaks an attitude of love, of obedience, of allegiance, of adoration (The Church of God: A Symposium).

   Requirements for taking the Lord's Supper: (1) The individual must be a born again Christian (1 Co. 10:16-17). (2) The individual must be a baptized member of the church (Ac. 2:41-42; 1 Co. 5:11; 11:20,33-34). (3) The individual must be in fellowship with the Lord (1 Co. 11:27-31). This involves striving to live in obedience to the Bible and carefully confessing one's sins (Jn. 8:31-32; 1 Jn. 1:5-10).

   Restricted Communion: Some object to placing restrictions on the Lord's Supper, saying we have no right to restrict the Lord's table. But the Bible teaches differently. Following are ways in which the Bible gives clear restrictions in this ordinance:

1. Restricted as to place - in the church (1 Co. 11:18).

2. Restricted as to motive - the social idea forbidden (1 Co. 11:21-22).

3. Restricted as to purpose - to discern the Lord's body (1 Co. 11:29).

4. Restricted to those who are baptized (Mt. 28:18-20).

5. Restricted to church members (Acts 2:41-42).

6. Restricted to those who are orderly (2 Th. 3:6).

7. Restricted to those who live correct lives (1 Co. 5:11).

8. Restricted to those who are judged by the church and found worthy (1 Co. 5:12-13).

9. Restricted to those of the same faith (He. 13:8-10).

10. Restricted as to the elements used - bread and fruit of the vine (Mt. 26:26; Lk. 22:19-20).

11. Restricted as to design--to remember the Lord (Lk. 22:19).

12. Restricted to a united church (1 Co. 11:16-20).

13. On top of all these, the individual must undergo a self-examination. Instead of the self-examination being the only requirement, it is in addition to all of the other restrictions (1 Co. 11:28).

I hope your find this helpful.  If you have further questions or comments please write. (cpabrams3@gmail.com)

Cooper Abrams
http://bible-truth.org
Romans 12:1-2