 Communion Every Week – Why Do Churches of Christ Observe Every Week?
Dear Bible Teacher:
"Please explain why Churches of Christ commune each week." - Mitch S.
Dear Mitch:
We are virtually unique among Protest bodies in observing the Lord's Supper on a weekly basis. We do this because of our commitment to worship as did the earliest disciples. We call that restoring New Testament Christianity.
In Acts 20:7 we read that the church in Troas gathered together upon the first day of the week, "to break bread," meaning the holy bread of communion. At that time Paul preached to them. Their purpose for assembling on the Lord's Day was to commune.
Historically we know that in the first several centuries of Christianity, all congregations communed weekly (Philip Doddridge). The purpose of the Lord's Supper is to remind us of what Christ suffered for us so we could be saved. This weekly reminder helps us to keep our eyes focused on Christ and resist the temptation to turn away from him. Just as we give "upon the first day of the week" (I Corinthians 16:2), so when we assemble for worship upon the first day we commune.
Is it not strange that churches have no trouble understanding the importance of weekly contributions but see no value in weekly communion.
Contrary to popular teaching we do not find that weekly observance of communion allows it to be commonplace and taken for granted. Just as the first century Christians, it is our primary reason for our assemblies.
John Waddey |
