This thread began under John Waddey's Book Review. However, I believe that it is VITAL to continue to show that the JUBILEE and much of the writing "among the scholars" is an urge to move the church back beyond the cross. We have posted some of the review here:

http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/thread?forumid=150389&messageid=1065219196&lp=1073536789

John Mark Hicks got his Phd from a CALVINIST institution, created the community church discord in the Memphis are but was HIRED by Lipscome and teams with Rubel Shelly and their NEW GLASSES to get a NEW VISION for the church. This is important because our CULTURE has changed and we now know that if you shoot an electron at an electron of equal size you MOVE it or "twang" it into behaving like a WAVE: you know, like a guitar string circling around the Neucleus.

I am happy to tell you that God established the LAWS as understood before SHELLY and a bunch of YOUTH just landed a robot on Mars using Newton's laws. One doubts that a single one of them has been feminized by the NEW STYLE WORSHIP.

Paul warned about the MUSICAL FESTIVAL of sitting down to eat and RISING UP TO PLAY before he told the Corinthians that: "Your assemblies do more HARM than good."

John Mark Hicks advises that PAUL used the SACRIFICAL festivals as the PATTERN for doing the Lord's Supper as a COMMON MEAL (to fill up) with Jubilating music. However, Paul warned using the word METHUO before they SPOKE the Word one to another. That word means to be PIPED DOWN with the flute to CAUSE you to get drunk before.

The festive meal with musical idolatry was so serious that God took away the COVENANT OF GRACE and imposed THE BOOK OF THE LAW to legislate for the lawless. If we follow Hick's advice, Paul will say that we are eating with DEMONS or the "bull demon gods."

WE HAVE POSTED A FULLER LOOK AT JOHN MARK HICKS VERSUS THE BIBLE HERE:

http://www.piney.com/Hicks.Come.Table.html

More to follow:

Ken Sublett

John Mark Hicks: Several features characterize the fellowship meals of Israel. First, it is a moment of communion between God and his people. God eats with his people as the fat is burned to him. God is present at this meal. It is eaten before the Lord as if God sits at the table with the worshipper. Thus, worshippers eat with assurance, thanksgiving and confidence as they experience communion with God in this meal. God comes to the table with his people as he calls them to a table to experience his communion.
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Paul didn't receive the AGAPAE or SACRIFICIAL meal or even COMMON meal from the Lord: these had existed for centuries. Therefore, the LORD instituted an UNCOMMON supper.

Remembrance of Me has no role for singing during the Lord's Supper

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Luke 22:19

A COMMON meal or the Agapae was never in REMEMBRANCE of the flesh and blood of the Lord: One does not eat the FLESH of Jesus Christ as the pagans believed they were EATING and DRINKING the gods.

Rubel Shelly: "The eating and drinking of this text is about the daily appropriation of Christ as one's life and nourishment. Eating and drinking in this passage constitute a powerful metaphor for the nature of faith."

But, Jesus didn't REVEAL Himself to such thinkers. He repudiated the idea of the EUCHARIST which speaks of PRAISE singing of a human:

What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? Jn 6:62
..It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Jn 6:63

John Mark Hicks (aka DLC) teaches that we should EAT, DRINK AND BE MERRY. This is consistent with the idea that AMONG THE SCHOLARS they are Judaizing:

"In Egypt it was "eat, drink and be merry" as the mourners are eating drinking, watching the dancers and listening to the song of the harpist, who addresses the dead man himself:
.."Celebrate the beautiful day! Set forth ointments and fine oil for your nostrils and wreaths and lotus blossoms for the body of your dear sister, who is seated at your side.
....Let ther be singing and music before you cast everything sad behind you and think only of joy." (Quasten, p. 154)

However, Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper without eating the BABYLONIAN PASSOVER which included everyone getting drunk as they assuredly would if they consumed 4 cups of fermented Wine. Jesus used the FIFTH cup which was understood to REVEAL MESSIAH.

Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood , which is shed for you. Luke 22:20
..But, behold, the HAND of him that BETRAYETH me is with me on the TABLE. Luke 22:21

If you EAT A COMMON MEAL which Paul condemned, and you JUBILATE aren't you MOCKING Jesus Christ just as the "Levitical noise makers" mocked the INNOCENT animals?

This meal speaks of great suffering and death with blood all over the place. The JUDAS FIGURE had a BAG to carry the mouthpieces of wind instruments. This was prophesied in Psalm 41 which prophesied that JUDAS would not TRIUMPH OVER Him. This was left to Herod's Army which attacked Him with the musical Levites. You cannot REMEMBER this death and victory if you are STUFFING YOUR FACE with a common "agapae" feast which was the pagan "feast with and for dead ancestors."

And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 1Co.11:24

Anamnesis (g364) an-am'-nay-sis; from 363; recollection: - remembrance (again).

I challenge anyone to eat the Supper in REMEMBRANCE of Jesus while watching or listening to people sing their own "inspired" scripture to replace "that which is written."

Anamimnesko (g363) an-am-im-nace'-ko; from 303 and 3403; to remind; reflex. to recollect: - call to mind, (bring to, call to, put in), remember (-brance).

But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Heb.10:32

Therefore, to sing or hum or refuse to "wait" for others is a show of contempt. Fittingly, Judas whos "bag" was "for carrying the mouthpieces of wind instruments" and who prophetically would try to triumph over Jesus with music and singing was DISMISSED from the meal.

After Passover they hymned specific Psalms.

Consistent with this, while Jesus was being mocked and put to death it would have been with the triumph over songs. Would those who sing their own "music" while remembering the death of Christ and showing forth or preaching it ALSO have mocked Jesus while He was dying for their sins?

In Matthew we are told that they sang a hymn but AFTER the institution of the Lord's Supper and no singing during the Lord's Supper as a dismissal.

And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Matthew 26:30

We know from the observation of the Passover that they sang the hallel songs. When the fifth cup was used they sang Psalm 137 which is testimony that Israel hung up their harps outside of Canaan.

The New Testament life was purchased by the blood of Jesus. The cup (symbolic of the contents) was the New Testament life principle.

Singing a hymn is not MAKING MUSIC. When Jesus "sings" with His people it is connected with His death: when we remember His death God had better never catch us MOCKING Him with music or little effeminate hand clappers:

.."Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. Heb 2:12

Declare is to TEACH one another in REVEALED truth:

Apaggello (g518) ap-ang-el'-lo; from 575 and the base of 32; to announce: - bring word (again), declare, report, shew (again), tell.

Sing, even in the Passover, is not to JUBILATE but to mourn the price which had to be paid:

Apalgeo (g524) ap-alg-eh'-o; from 575 and algeo, (to smart); to grieve out, i.e. become apathetic: - be past feeling

Ken Sublett

As I remember it, Rubel Shelly began his historic sowing of discord by promoting women for leadership roles.

He has preached several sermons always HITTING the old traditionalists and promoting women for ministry.

The primary PROOF TEXTS discussed women like Miriam, Deborah and Huldah. Therefore, the elders KNOW exactly what Rubel Shelly and John York believe and promote.

However, they have ASKED that there be more preaching about USING WOMEN. Apparently, there is a MINORITY who want to promote women's roles. However, why not JUST SAY NO? But, the Hegelian or Machiavellian KICKER is that John York and Rubel Shelly CONTINUE to defend the MINORITY which usually means, "the STAFF would like to add more steps in the TOWERS OF POWER."

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The repeat the same old FALSEHOOD:

John York: "As most of you know, we are beginning the New Year at Woodmont Hills by continuing a study on the role of females in the ministry life of this church. On the one hand, it is simply a given that women in God's kingdom are actively engaged in ministry in local churches."

"On the other hand, we live with cultural circumstances and definitions of "public" and "private" -- and even the term "worship" -- that force us to rethink our understandings and practices from time to time.

Because they get to DEFINE church as a PAGAN WORSHIP CENTER they repudiate Jesus Christ Who built an EKKLESIA or SYNAGAGOE or SCHOOL OF THE BIBLE and gave the LONG-PROPHESIED "rest" from ALL BURDENS of "spiritual anxiety created by religious rituals" and further defined as "ADDED TAXES." By radically REDEFINING school AS worship they get to ADD Miriam as a WORSHIP LEADER OVER MALES! And you PAY for it, too.

John York and Rubel Shelly claim that "working out your salvation with fear and trembling" meant that the church had to PARTNER with God to arrive at the olden Bible. All that is left of the olden Bible is SEVEN FACTS ABOUT JESUS CHRIST as AUTHORITY. However, they claim, OUR CULTURE HAS CHANGED (wins a Nobel Prize?) so WE have to work out our own Scripture for OUR CHANGED CULTURE. See this review:

http://www.piney.com/Shelly-York-Narrative.html

First, lets jump to the false teaching before we question motives:

John York: "On the other hand, it is also clear from specific examples in the story of Israel that God sometimes chose women and gifted them specifically for leadership among all of the people.

"Last week, Rubel, you mentioned the sister of Moses, Miriam. It is interesting that when Miriam sang her song of praise in Exodus 15, following the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, we hear these words:
"Then the PROPHET Miriam, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand;

Well, all the Bibles call her a PROPHETESS. This always meant that she was a poet or musician. In Egypt, Miriam would have been a PROPHETESS of Hathor the partner of Apis the golden calf of Mount Sinai. At Mount Sinai the musicians AROUSED the people into the musical idolatr which caused God to TURN THEM OVER to worship the starry host.

John York: 'Sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; horse and rider he has thrown into the sea' " (Ex. 15:20-21). On this joyous occasion of singing and DANCING in praise to God, Miriam is the WORSHIP LEADER before all of the men!

IF YOU ARE GOING TO ADD SOME MIRIAMS WATCH OUT FOR THE LEPROSY. YOU ALSO HAVE TO ADD TAUNT SONGS AGAINST THE OLD CONSERVATIVES, BEAT ON CLANGING CYMBALS AND STRIP OFF NAKED. SURE, WE HAVE PICTURES.

"Worsip" means to fall on your face in the presence of a Holy God which must be approached with REVERENCE because, as Paul speaks of Nadab and Abihu, OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE as the PRESUMERS would soon find out (Heb 12). For the MOCKERS we need to remind you that NADAB AND ABIHU is still a PATTERN for those who want to add the INCENSE behind the women singer-dancer-naked clappers EARS was based on the fact that IT WAS NOT COMMANDED.

Read all about it and see what it means when they GIVE THEMSELVES LIBERTY to interpret the INSPIRED TEXT to fit the sermon.

http://www.piney.com/RS.Women.1.11.04.html

"Miriam" means BITTER or REBELLIOUS. She led the women OUT (to escape) singing, dancing and beating on brass (clanging cymbals or the Sistrum of Hathor worship). The MASCULINE side SPAKE the song. It was not WORSHIP but a taunt song to spook the Canaanites whom they thought they would meet in a FEW WEEKS. The musical idolatry delayed it for 40 years until the OLD PAGANS had largely died in the DESERT (symbolic of the Loss of the Word re Amos 5,6,8 and Isaiah 5)

DON'T BELIEVE IT: TEST THE SPIRITS. Why should WAGE EARNERS be OPPRESSED of their wage in MALACHI'S "seed money giving."

Mal.3:5 And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers (musicians, rhetoricians, sOPHISts), and against the adulterers, and against FALSE SWEARERS, and against those that OPPRESS the hireling in his WAGES, the WIDOW, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts.

Ken Sublett

"In general, the reader will note that Dr. Hicks employs a new brand of hermeneutics to reach his conclusions. For example, he seems to make no distinction between the Old and New Covenants. He sees the O.T. festivals as a communion service and thus we are to model our Lord's Supper after them (p. 47). John Waddey

If you will note carefully, all of the DISTORTERS of the Word are working overtime to move people on the unsaved side of the CROSS. The Israelites PRAYED at Mount Sinai for the right to worship LIKE THE NATIONS or Goyiim. God TURNED THEM OVER to worship the Starry Host. When Stephen revealed the HIDDEN MESSAGE to the Jewish Sectarians (about 10,000) they knew that they were BEYOND REDEMPTION. The murdered their Messiah while understanding that HE WAS God in the flesh Who would tear down the MEGA CHURCHES and fire the doctors of the Law. The "music" is confessed to be Levitical in nature. Therefore, they are STILL MOCKING Jesus by RISING UP TO PLAY during the Lord's Supper.

Of course, the sacrificial system was added because of transgression. That mortal sin was sitting down to EAT in a common meal and then RISING UP to PLAY which meant musical idolatry. This was learned in Egypt and not from God:

John Mark Hicks: The feast is always characterized by joy and gratitude. Without exception, the fellowship offering is a celebratory, festive occasion. It is a time of thanksgiving, dedication and renewal.

Demosthenes Against Midias describes what the clergy tried to excite Jesus to do:

"[21.52] Please take and read the actual oracles. Oracles You I address, Pandion's townsmen and sons of Erechtheus,
...who appoint your feasts by the ancient rites of your fathers.
"See you forget not Bacchus, and joining all in the dances Down your broad-spaced streets, in thanks for the gifts of the season, Crown each head with a wreath, while incense reeks on the altars. For health sacrifice and pray to Zeus Most High, to Heracles, and to Apollo the Protector; for good fortune to Apollo, god of the streets, to Leto, and to Artemis; and along the streets set wine-bowls and dances, and wear garlands after the manner of your fathers in honor of all gods and all goddesses of Olympus, raising right hands and left in supplication."

John Mark Hicks: The Lord's supper should be understood as an interactive meal which engages the whole community in joyous, celebrative fellowship with God. If the supper is a thanksgiving meal, why is the dominant practice of the supper so silent, solemn, singular and sad? The supper is a table, not an altar. It is the experience of communion, not the search for atonement.

Well, I suspect that the end time pagans feel very comfortable CELEBRATING as they BREAK the body of Christ. After all, Psalm 41 prophesied that Judas would FAIL in his triumph over. This means "playing instruments and making a joyful noise before the Lord." This was the LEVITICAL WARRIOR musicians PANIC ATTACK to turn the enemy into a Coward.

After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance (recollection) of me. 1 Cor 11:25
For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 1Co.11:26

You may want to MOCK JESUS while "celebrating" His death but then God will or has TURNED YOU OVER to worship the starry host including Chiun or Saturn whose Chaldee number is 666.

John Mark Hicks: In the Hebrew Bible the table is a communal act of communion with God characterized by joy (thanksgiving) and rededication (vow). At Solomon's inauguration Israel "ate and drank before the Lord on that day with great joy" (1 Chron. 29:22). It was not a moment of solemn, private silence. It was not an individualistic act. On the contrary, it was an interactive meal which engaged the whole community in joyous, celebrative fellowship with God.

Of course the people believed that they had God BOXED in the "church house" which was a CIVIL TEMPLE. However, Solomon reluctantly agrees that God CANNOT dwell in houses made by the hands of men as He cannot be worshipped by human hands. God DISABLED the priestly work in the temple: the people prayed FROM WITHOUT and God answered FROM HEAVEN. God permitted that the temple be a place TOWARD WHICH people prayed.

You might expect a DOCTOR OF THE LAW would understand "Context, it's all in the context." They were dedicating a HOUSE for God which He could not live in. This was the shrine of the CIVIL MONARCHY and not the "worship center" of the people. The assembled CONGREGATION was not a million or more but the King, the Priests and the city officials.

And they sacrificed sacrifices unto the Lord, and offered burnt offerings unto the Lord, on the morrow after that day, even a THOUSAND bullocks, a THOUSAND rams, and a THOUSAND lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel: 1 Chron 29:21

But NOT all Israel was present. This was a dedicatory service but the sacrifices were also SACRIFICING and MOCKING thousands of types of Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, this was ONLY for ceremonial certification of the BODY.

And did eat and drink before the Lord on that day with great gladness. And they made Solomon the son of David KING the second time, and anointed him unto the Lord to be the chief GOVENOR, and ZADOK to be priest. 1 Chron 29:22
Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king instead of David his father, and prospered; and all Israel obeyed him. 1 CHRON 29:23

Those who are singing are not eating the Lord's Supper. They may think that this means "I go mine, ate mine, swallowed mine, now I can sing." However, they have no reverence, don't know how to blush and would never have tarried with Jesus because they will not tarry with those who they HAVE seen.

The Theological Lexicon of the New Testament says the root word "means 'discern' . . . Paul applies the word with a religious meaning, to Christians themselves: 'Examine yourselves.' . . . 1 Cor 11:28 before taking communion, people must examine their conscience in order not to partake unworthily ([anaxios]);
they must discern the true nature of this sacred meal,
which is entirely different from an ordinary repast" (vol. 1, p. 356).

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 1 Corinthians 11:27

Vines Expository Dictionary: B-1, Adjective, 370, anaxios
Topic: Unworthily, Unworthy
A-1, Adverb, 371, anaxios

is used in 1 Cor. 11:27, of partaking of the Lord's Supper "unworthly," i.e., treating it as a common meal, the bread and cup as common things, not apprehending their solemn symbolic import. In the best texts the word is not found in ver. 29 (see RV).
"a, negative, n, euphonic, axios, "worthy," is used in 1 Cor. 6:2. In modern Greek it signifies "incapable."

Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 1 Cor 6:2

Vine's Note: In Acts 13:46, "unworthy" represents the adjective axios, preceeded by the negative ouk.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves UNWORTHY of EVERLASTING life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. Ac 13:46

John Mark Hicks (aka DLU) claims that Paul defined an Old Covenant Sacrificial mean: Jesus and Paul said that it was to PREACH His death.

John Mark Hicks says that the Lord's Supper should be a time of MAKING JUBILEE at a COMMON MEAL. Paul said that FOR HUNGER they should eat at home. If they ate it as a COMMON MEAL they were JUBILATING at their own FUNERAL because they were damning their souls. Jesus asks: "Could you not WAIT with me for one hour." The Judaizers answer with a resounding NO. Because they repudiate what Jesus said about Baptism there is NO way that they could EAT the Lord's Supper without, like the Marzeah in Amos, EATING and DRINKING in a festival WITH and FOR the DEAD.

Ken Sublett

NOT ONLY DIGRESSIVE, OUT-RIGHT ERROR
Garland M. Robinson


Believe it or not, many today deny the murder -- the annihilation -- of six million Jews under the regime of Hitler and Nazism. The claim is made that "it never happened."

In like manner, a host of "Church of Christ" people are denying that liberalism exists among us. The claim is that those who warn about it, expose it, and document it, are cynical, negative, trouble makers and liars. But, let the facts and documentation speak for themselves. They are myriad. One would have to be spiritually blind and no lover of the truth to deny what's presently going on among the brotherhood of the churches of Christ.

In a web-page article by Ken Young titled, "Communion -- Frequency of the Celebration," the practice of partaking the Lord's supper any day of the week is defended and promoted. The article reveals that as the leadership at the Golf Course Road Church of Christ, in Midland, Texas, planned for "Stream '97", they

"decided a very fitting conclusion to Saturday's schedule of worship, study, and share groups would be the celebration of Communion. Many of our members had been on a "Walk To Emmaus," an interdenominational spiritual renewal weekend, and had been greatly blessed by the Communion service taken on a Friday or a Saturday. Golf Course Road had also planned similar weekends, one for men and another for women. A Saturday morning Communion service was one of the high points of the weekend.

For most who participated in these events for the first time, taking Communion on a day other than Sunday was a new experience, and for some, it was approached with a sense of uneasiness. However, almost everyone who went through one of these experiences gave testimony to the significant impact the Communion had on them."

The article discusses how that an elder's wife had been blessed by taking communion at a renewal weekend for ladies that was not in their building. He says,

"somehow it seemed more uncomfortable for her to take Communion on Saturday in the same auditorium where we take the Lord's Supper every Sunday. As time approached for that evening assembly she commented to her husband that she thought the crowd would be small. After all, it had been emphasized to everyone that it was their choice whether or not to come back after dinner for Communion. If they found this offensive in any way, they were encouraged not to come. To her surprise, as she entered the auditorium, she discovered a very large crowd already overflowing to the balcony. She told me the Communion service that evening was one of the most powerful times of worship she had ever experienced."

It seems ironic that in the next paragraph we read, "one of our greatest concerns is to do only that which pleases and honors our Lord." Yet, they finish their column by sharing "the results of our studies concerning this issue." Their conclusion is that they find no prohibition of observing the Lord's supper on any day of the week. They say, "the apostles never once specified a correct day to celebrate Communion in their writings. Jesus himself instituted this new celebration on a day other than Sunday, likely Thursday evening." Their further conclusion is that since the Lord favors "heart" over "structure," it matters not what day the supper is eaten.

Let's examine their findings and practice.

Acts 20:7 reveals the day and frequency of the Lord's supper. The verse reads, "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." The background of this passage concerns Paul's journey to Jerusalem (Acts 19:21; 20:16). He stopped at Troas and waited there seven days in order to meet with the brethren on the Lord's Day. At this worship service, the disciples "break bread," i.e., they ate the Lord's supper. This act of worship was the scheduled day on which they were to meet and observe the memorial of the Lord's suffering and death.

If the "supper" could be observed on any day of the week, why didn't the church there meet before Sunday and observe it since Paul, an apostle, was visiting them? It was clear he had a ship to catch (Acts 20:7,11) because he was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem before Pentecost (Acts 20:16). Waiting seven days until the next Sunday would delay his departure even longer. Yet, he waited along with the church until the Lord's day. Why not eat the supper with an inspired apostle every day that week? Would that not have been a "high point" in the lives of the brethren there? Why wait? They waited because the first day of the week was the day on which the memorial of the Lord's supper was to be observed. The Lord's day observance of the communion had to have come from the teaching and tradition of the apostles.

If the memorial of the Lord's supper can be observed on any day one chooses, then it is the only memorial in the whole Bible where such is allowed. The Passover (Exodus 12), the sabbath (Exodus 20) and the atonement (Lev. 23:27) were all kept on specific days given by God. The people were not allowed to observe them whenever they chose. The same is true with the Lord's supper. The only day on which partaking of the Lord's communion is authorized is on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). Every week has a first day, therefore, the first day of every week is the specified day of the Lord's supper.

So many today are not content with the Lord's prescribed worship. They deem it to be cold, drab and lifeless. They desire to pump life into it so they cater to man's whims and desires. They often poll the participants and prospective attendees to see what they want. When they feel they can get by with changes in worship, they incorporate them. Their escape from criticism comes with simply telling folks that if they feel uncomfortable or are offended by these things, then don't come. They care not if discord and strife triumphs between them and the righteous. Just as long as they have their "contemporary worship" is all that matters. As long as they obtain their "high" of human emotion, they care not. They content themselves in thinking that if "they are pleased" then the Lord must be satisfied. How could "we" be wrong since we "feel" so good? But, one's feelings is not the proper judgment of whether one is right before God or not. God's word is the standard, not one's emotion.

You can also have your choice of other programs and activities at the Golf Course Road church. The Brother's Keeper Concert, sponsored by their Youth Ministry, will be held in the auditorium with tickets on sale for $5. Or, single parent families may attend their 12-week program titled "Just Me and the Kids" to be held at the building. The cost, by the way, is $15 per family. Or, you may register for their "Living through Loss" Spring Grief Recovery Seminar or the Parenting Teen Seminar. After Stream in the Desert... their prayer is: "Father, help each of us now choose to allow the Spirit to work in us -- to pour from our cups that have been filled with Your love to those around us who need Your love. In Jesus Holy Name, Amen."

How far will some go to be like the nations 'round about? I guess there's no limit!

The Golf Course Road church decided a very inappropriate, unfit and unauthorized act by their "celebration of Communion" on Saturday night. That is not renewal, that is destruction and ruin!
____________________
“Seek The Old Paths,” Vol. 11 No. 3

DEFILING THE LORD’S SUPPER

Bob Spurlin


One of the greatest events to take place in the life of a Gospel preacher is uniting men and women together in the bonds of holy matrimony. Love created in the hearts of the male and female is consummated by God’s arrangement in “marriage” (Gen. 2:21-24). There is nothing more gratifying or rewarding than to perform the wedding ceremony joining two people together who repeat their vows promising to love each other until the union is severed by death (Rom.7:2). It would be surprising if any preacher would acknowledge that performing a wedding ceremony was not one of the most satisfying duties of his entire ministry.

Conversely, one of the saddest events to surface for a minister of the Gospel is to receive a phone call being informed of a death in the congregation. Every Christian is cognizant of the New Testament, which teaches, “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). This undeniable fact is keenly felt by all of us and unlike some appointments, this one cannot be avoided or shunned. Of course, the Gospel preacher is faced with the possibility of two kinds of funerals. The one that is a faithful child of God and who has been devoted to the cause of Christ, however, the other is a wayward Christian or unbeliever. Ask any preacher which memorial service he would rather preach. Without fear of contradiction it would be the one, who had dedicated himself to the cause of Christ. Offering hope to the grieving family is willingly offered because the divine record promises such (1 Thess. 4:13-18; Heb. 6:18-19).

Both of these events, the wedding and funeral service, will occur to virtually every individual that lives. It should be stated that not everyone will marry or is required to enter such a sacred union. However, the vast majority will have a wedding, and children will be the product of that loving union. The appointment of death, on the other hand, will be faced by each of us with the exception of those living when Christ will make his second advent with the reverberating trumpet of Michael, the archangel (1 Thess. 4:14-16).

Neither of these events, a wedding and/or funeral, can be recognized as a worship service. Although both of these events generally will have Bible reading, prayer, and the singing of sacred songs, it should be concluded that neither are considered worship.

It has come to my attention that during a recent wedding ceremony, the Lord’s supper (communion) was served by a minister to the couple being wed. One good brother informed me that it is commonplace in some churches of Christ not only to serve the Lord’s supper at a wedding, but also at a funeral service. He stated, “We are becoming more like the Catholic Church serving mass.”

The digression in churches of Christ is becoming like a runaway train and whether it can be stopped will be predicated upon faithful elders and preachers that will stand up and be counted (Jude 3; Phil. 1:27; Gal. 1:6-9). It must also be underscored that the faithful sheep cannot just stick their heads in the sand knowing full well the far reaching consequences of doing so -- like ancient Israel following the evil nations about them (1 Sam. 8:5,19-20). All to often the membership will “go along” and therefore ignore John’s penetrating words, “Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (2 John 9). Proper decorum and respect in both of these solemn occasions should be implemented. Remember the New Testament regulates our worship in the Christian Age and it cannot be put into practice without a “thus saith the Lord.” The apostle Paul quotes from the Lord as he writes, “This cup is the New Testament in my blood: this do ye as oft as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come” (1 Cor. 11:25-26). The first century Christians, on Pentecost, “continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

There are five avenues of worship mandated by Holy Scripture with members participating: 1) Bible study (2 Tim. 2:15), 2) prayer (Acts 12:5), 3) Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11:23-28), 4) giving as one is prospered (1 Cor. 16:1-2), and 5) congregational singing (Eph. 5:19). The apostolic example of engaging in worship is on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). No other day has been assigned by Holy Writ to engage in worship, therefore serving the Lord’s supper on Saturday or any other day is wholly unauthorized and is a total abandoning of God’s will (Rev. 22:18-19).

Local congregations that would permit and/or allow the Lord’s supper to be served during a wedding or funeral service is the equivalent of Nadab and Abihu adding “strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not” (Lev. 12:1-2). Godly elders that would take their work seriously must, in rapt fashion, respond with a firm and forthright rebuke. The membership must know with certainty that this erroneous practice is false and such a thing will not be tolerated, but will be acknowledged as sin. Specific guidelines and directives are important for the membership and/or anyone else that would use the physical building of the Lord’s church for a wedding or funeral service. Elders and shepherds of the flock must be aware of their responsibility as Peter states, “The elders which are among you I exhort... Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind” (1 Peter 5:1-2). If elders refuse to take the “oversight” by giving “a wink and a nod” at such an unscriptural (unauthorized) practice, their leadership should be called into question.

Let us return to the “old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein” before it is too late (Jer. 6:16). We cannot just close our eyes when error is allowed to raise its ugly head. Each of us much respond, as Moses called upon Israel to take action when the golden calf was constructed, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Let him come unto me” (Exodus 32:26).

Can you be counted on to take a stand?

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2101 Glenwood Dr. SW
Hartselle, AL 35640
“Seek the Old Paths,” Vol. 13 No. 11