Why don't many Baptist take the Lord's Supper every week like the early Christians did?

Question

Acts 20:7: "On the first day of the week we came together to break bread."

Answer 1

Actually, there's no scriptural evidence to show that the early church took the Lord's Supper every week. Breaking bread can be taken to mean the Lord's Supper, or it can simply mean eating a meal. By circular reasoning, some churches have constructed a doctrine of weekly observance of the Lord's supper. They reason that if the act of breaking bread in the scripture is on the first day of the week, then it must mean the Lord's Supper, and, conversely, if the first day of the week is not mentioned, that the breaking of bread is just a meal.
The New Testament scriptures do not prescribe the frequency of this ceremony, but simply say that as often as it is done, it is to be done as a memorial of Christ's sacrifice.

Answer 2

As you have noted, in Acts 20:7, it says, “On the first day of the week the disciples gathered together to break bread…”

Every week has a first day (Sunday). This verse indicates that the Lord’s Supper was one of the primary reasons the early Christians met on Sunday.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2 also uses this phrase (“on the first day of the week”) in the command to take up a collection on the first day of the week. The NASB translates this as “on the first day of every week”. It is recognized by those translators that this command was a pattern for every week. (Very few churches have a problem taking up a collection every week.)

This language is very similar to the command in the Old Testament to remember the the seventh day as the Sabbath. Those under the Law of Moses realized that EVERY WEEK had a seventh day, so they remembered the Sabbath EVERY Saturday!

Some say that if you partake of the Lord’s Supper that often, it becomes too commonplace and routine. If an item of worship looses its meaning, it is not because we practice it too often.

Should we pray less often so it is not routine? Should we only worship once or twice a year so that it does not become too routine? Should we not sing as often?

If we love God, we will want to remember Christ OFTEN! This is the purpose of the Lord’s Supper; a reminder of Christ! If we have the proper reverence for Christ, this will be something we look forward to every week and it will not loose its meaning!

Yes, where I attend worship services (church of Christ), on the first day of every week we gather together to break the bread and drink of the cup to worship, honor, and remember Christ! This follows the example given in the verse you cited.

Answer 3

even nevertheless the undertaking isn't addressed interior the Bible, Jesus and his Apostles suggested the Lord's supper consistent with annum, and for this reason it somewhat is going to be suggested consistent with annum via copying them. so a techniques as taking the trademarks (the unleavened bread and the wine), it somewhat is meant to be taken basically via those of the one hundred forty four,000 team who make it to Heaven to be kings and clergymen with Jesus, His Bride style of people. Any human beings of the different Sheep or great Crowd could desire to basically bypass the trademarks and not partake by using fact it somewhat is a sin to partake while you're no longer worth of engaging. there is so lots greater to be found out approximately that, yet temporarily, Jesus suggested the Passover as quickly as consistent with twelve months, and Christians could desire to rejoice the Lord's Supper or The Lord's night Meal as quickly as consistent with twelve months on the time of Passover on the Hebrew Calendar on Nisan 14 which falls in March and each so often in April by using version interior the numbering of the days in a twelve months.

Answer 4

The institution we know of as 'communion' today differs highly from the 'Lord's Supper' of the 1st century for most churches.

In general, 1st century people came together for fellowship and then ate with one another. Today, most people consider proper 'communion' to be the sharing of broken bread (unleavened crackers, etc.) and grape juice or wine.

The idea is that during 'communion' we'd actually commune with our Lord and Savior and remember what He's actually done for us

My congregation has the 'bread and grape juice/wine' communion about 3 times a month but we eat together (at church we actually bring a pot-luck lunch) EVERY week. This has engendered quite a bit of fellowship and prayer for needs that might otherwise go unnoticed. It's amazing what comes up when everyone relaxes for an hour or more.

Hope this helps,

Troy

Answer 5

Well, because acts is a historical book. It records what early Christians did, but often they did things differently. For example, Jewish Christians lived communally. Why don't we live communally, selling all we have and giving as others had need? Well, because Acts is telling us HISTORY, not rules for all of time. Some ate meat, some did not. Some lived communally, some did not. Although there are many things that MAY be done, and might be good to do, there are not rules for church governance in the book of Acts. Timothy has rules for church governance. The purpose of Acts is descriptive, showing the work of the spirit as the gospel spread from Jerusalem, to Judea and Samaria, and beyond all the way to rome. The purpose of Acts is not to show us hard and fast rules, or else we would all be living in a commune.

Answer 6

“I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 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. 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 of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come. 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. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup” (I Cor.11:23-28).

Some churches observe the Lord’s Supper every Sunday; some, once a month; others, four times a year; and still others, once a year; some never observe the Lord’s Supper. What is the Scriptural stipulation for this observance? “As often” (I Cor. 11:26): there is no set, rigid rule.

The words “this do” are a command of the Lord, and the words “all of it” (Matt. 26:27) are better translated “all of you.” This ordinance is for the entire Body of Christ.

How long should the Church continue this observance? Till He comes again. What is our answer to the scoffer who jeers at the Second Coming, and who asks, “Where is the promise of His coming?” We point to the Lord’s Table and reply, “There is the promise of His coming.”

Answer 7

Most Protestant and all "restoration" ecclesiastical groups believe in the Zwinglian view of the Eucharist which is a real absence of Christ and since that is their position they do not have valid clergy to confect the Eucharist. Therefore every time they have the communion it is a perversion of the sacrifice Christ ordered to His faithful. Because of this less is better if there is no real presence and miracle of the Eucharist.

In Christ
Fr. Joseph

Answer 8

As a child I went to Baptist church with my grandmother until I was 13 years old. In all of those years we celebrated communion (Eucharist, grandma was still Catholic in her heart) only once a year and usually at Easter.

Thank God as a child I was taught by my grandma to true meaning of Communion/Eucharist.

Answer 9

The verse that tells when they came together, tells 'why' they came together. Good Question and God Bless

Answer 10

I have wondered that myself, I am Church of Christ and we take communion every week during service. I'll have to keep up with this, I may learn something. : )