IDENTITY CRISIS (4)

Some of our brethren have made the number of cups served during the Lord’s Supper a test of fellowship.  This belief stems from a misunderstanding of Matthew 26:27-28, “And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  At one time I was involved in an internet debate with a man of this persuasion.   One does not literally drink the cup because one cannot drink a cup.  One drinks the contents of the cup.

They all shared in the contents of the cup.  That is what Jesus wants his followers to do.  The number of cup(s) is irrelevant.  How does one serve a congregation of 3000 or 6000 with one cup.  How are you going to distribute 60-120 gallons of grape juice in one container?  Is it pushed along on wheels?  Does each participant have individual straws? His reply was that using one cup may therefore limit the size of a congregation! If that is the case, you must provide the Scripture that authorizes a specific size for the communion cup. The Bible contains no such information, therefore his argument is invalid!!

There are many splinter groups who for one reason or another have formed so that they could be distinct from us.  May we all pray for wisdom so that we might have the unity that Jesus prayed.

Paul