What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 7 / No. 13”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. VII - No. 1 November 10, 2024
AUTHORITY IN RELIGION
''And when He (Jesus) was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto Him as He was teaching, and said, By what authority doest Thou these things? and who gave Thee this authority?" (Matthew 21:23).
There has always been the recognized need for authority. In civil and criminal disputes, the courts appeal to the law as authority. There is the desperate need for authority in schools and in the home. Even on the ball field there is the need for authority or else chaos will result. Religion is no exception although it is sometimes thought to be the exception. The teaching that Jesus did while on earth was called into question in the above passage. His authority came from God, the Father, the ultimate source for all authority.
There are different theories concerning authority in religion. Modernist places reason above the Bible. This places man's wisdom on equal footing with God's wisdom, thus the individual becomes the source of authority. It is more important what you or I think rather than what God has said. This what has given rise to all the man-made creeds of denominational churches along with their conferences, conventions, and councils where laws and by-laws are formulated. The result of these theories is division which is the meaning of the word "denominations". Authority varies as the individual or organization varies when man's wisdom becomes supreme.
However, the Scriptures teach that man and his wisdom is not dependable as a source for authority. "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12). "O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps." (Jeremiah 10:23).
When you are questioned, as Jesus was, about why you do certain things religiously, what answer will you give: "We've always done it that way!", "We like it therefore we do it!", or “That’s what the preacher says!”.
It’s far more important that you give book, chapter, and verse. “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.” (1 Corinthians 4:6). —E.R. Hall, Jr.
DO WE HAVE SCRIPTURAL AUTHORITY FOR A VIRTUAL LORD'S SUPPER?
When the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic hit a few years ago, Christians faced the difficult challenge of attending worship services when local and federal mandates advised (and on many occasions required) us to not leave our homes. Due to these mandates, many churches shut their doors and stopped physically assembling due to the fear of catching and spreading the illness. As a means for combating not being able to attend the Sunday worship service in-person, some churches started offering the Lord's Supper via Zoom, Skype, or some other virtual live video streaming/sharing platform. While I commend these people for recognizing the importance of partaking of the Lord's Supper every Sunday (Acts 20:7), I will simply ask: Do we have scriptural authority to partake of the Lord's Supper virtually?
In 1 Corinthians 11, five times Paul refers to the fact that we are to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a church (the whole church) who has "come together" in one assembly, meeting in "one place," with everyone partaking at the same appointed time (1 Corinthians 11:17, 18, 20, 33, & 34). Paul's command to the Corinthians (and us today [1 Corinthians 1:2]) to "come together" is supported by Acts 20:7. It is recorded here, "Upon the first day of the week . . . the disciples came together to break bread." The disciples came together all in one place and with the same purpose to partake of the Lord's Supper. Since Acts 20:7 is the verse which gives us authority to partake of the Lord's Supper on Sunday, we must also recognize the second requirement laid out in the verse to "come together" as a church in one place to partake of the Lord's Supper. Either both conditions are required, or neither are necessary – that is the only consistent conclusion we can draw. Of course, the only consistently accurate conclusion to draw is that both conditions are required. The Lord’s Supper can only be administered on the first day of the week and it can only be dispensed when the whole church is together in one place, meaning a virtual Lord’s Supper is unauthorized.
It is scripturally impossible for the Lord’s Supper to be a private event. It is not something that can be done from our homes physically away from the whole church via Zoom or some other video platform. The intimacy and togetherness of the Lord’s Supper was on full display when Jesus instituted it before His death (Matthew 26:26-29). The disciples were physically present and "together" when they partook of the bread and fruit of the vine with Christ. The act is defined clearly in the gospel accounts and Paul reminds us of the requirements in his letter to the Corinthians that in order to partake of the Lord's Supper in a scripturally authorized manner, we must:
- Only partake on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7).
- Be assembled together with the whole church (1 Corinthians 11:18).
- Be physically present with the whole church assembled together in the same place (1 Corinthians 11:20).
- Offer the Lord’s Supper to the whole congregation at the same time (1 Corinthians 11:18 & 33).
Conclusion:
Does the Bible grant us authority to administer a virtual Lord’s Supper? No, we have no such authority. And why does this matter? 1 Corinthians 11:27 gives us the answer: “Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” Administering and partaking of the Lord’s Supper improperly carries severe eternal consequences. —Dylan Stewart
https://thegoodnewsofgod.org/bible-blog/f/
SENTENCE SERMONS
“Truth ever gains, and error uniformly loses, by discussion.” - Alexander Campbell
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We cannot hold a light for another’s path without brightening our own way.
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He who hates punishes only himself.
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A poor listener seldom hears a good sermon.
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Attitudes are nothing more than habits of thought – and habits can be acquired.
"What The Bible Says” is e-mailed twice a month. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in the next mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and you will be removed promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page for further instructions as to how you may contact us.
--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
For The East Albertville Church Of Christ
meeting at
4777 U.S. Highway 431
Albertville, AL 35950
Sunday
Bible Classes …………..….…………… 9:30 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….……… 10:30 AM
Evening Worship …………………........ 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:00 PM
Radio Program
Sunday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 8:30 AM
Monday - Saturday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 11:15 AM
Website: www. EastAlbertville.org
