When ye come together.
1 Cor 11: 20
There may be many Christians who are concerned at the fact that because of Covid 19, there have not been gatherings for the Breaking of Bread service.
How do we see this in light of the lock down at this time.
Should the church defy the government instructions?
Should we continue doing the Breaking of Bread at home with our families?
Do we do a virtual Breaking of Bread over the internet?
Do we wait until after the quarantine is finished to resume this practice.
Let us look at a few scriptures that may shed light on our decisions.
1 Cor 11:20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.
The context of this verse is the practice of coming together to eat as a fellowship and to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, which was being abused by some.
The view of true believers was to come together in one place to partake of a supper, which included the Lord’s Supper.
The view of some in coming together was not so much to celebrate the supper of the Lord, as to partake of their own supper, which was either the paschal supper, or something like it; They weren’t interested in the Lord’s Supper, they were there just to eat and drink.
The operative words’ for this blog is when you come together in one place.
Acts 2:46 - And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
This was the way that breaking of bread was done during the first and second centuries of the church.
Christian buildings only came about around the time of Constantine, up until then Christians met in houses.
1 Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
The breaking of bread was done whenever the believers came together.
Covid 19 has changed the way that Christians are doing church.
It is right that church leaders take steps to safeguard the fellowship of believers.
As Christians we are instructed in scripture to be obedient to the authorities, both in the church and in the world.
In the church:
Heb 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
In the world:
Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Titus 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
1 Peter 2:13-15 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.
Unless the authorities are forcing the shutdown of churches as a part of Christian persecution, it is right that Christians comply.
However, in the face of persecution of the church, it would be a different matter.
Acts 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men”.
Hebrews 10:25 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
It does not appear that this decision to close churches at this time, is an attack on the meeting of Christians but a decision by the authorities and in turn church leaders, for the safety of the people in the fellowship.
It does seem that this was a genuine safeguarding decision of all concerned.
By closing churches for the immediate future, it has stopped the churches from functioning in the normal way.
However, as the church has always done, in times like these, whether it be epidemics, pandemics, natural disasters or persecution, the church has found a way around the problem.
Whether it was meeting in homes, in the open air, or as many are doing during this pandemic, on the internet.
The scriptures do not specify that the Breaking of Bread must only be celebrated in a church building but when the believers come together in one place.
1 Cor 11:20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.
Acts 2:46 - And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
1 Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
It seems from these three verses that the Breaking of Bread can be accommodated in different ways.
It appears that the object is the coming together to eat and drink, whether it be a church, a home or in some other way.
Having looked at what other fellowships are doing at this time, I find that all three ways are being practised.
In this verse, the operative words are, “For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come”.
This could also be translated, “Whenever you eat this bread”, or “As many times as you eat“.
Obviously, in the circumstances, meeting in a church building is a no go at the moment.
In homes were two or three are met together, it seems a practical way.
Whether people feel that a virtual meeting constitutes “when you come together in one place”, is appropriate to celebrate the Breaking of Bread, is up to that particular group.
There doesn’t seem to be a problem with waiting until the church building reopens, which seems to be the meaning of the text.
1 Cor 11:20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper.
When you, (the church), come together in one place.
Whatever our thoughts are on this matter, we know that God understands and there is no need for any Christian to be anxious about this matter.
God wasn’t surprised by Covid 19, It is we that are taken surprise, but God is not, and God gives grace and His grace is sufficient for all our needs.
We work with what we have in that moment, and you consecrate it to God.
