The Lord's Day - (Part 1)

Several years ago, brethren rehashed the idea that all of life is worship.  We must learn to think in concepts, they said.  If God is God - and He is – then man can only do one thing - worship.  Our life is a life of worship.  But beginning in Genesis with Cain and Abel and continuing through Revelation, our sneak preview of heaven, worship was a designated time, form, action.  God has always been clear about how He wanted to be worshiped.  Ask Cain, Nadab and Abihu, or Uzzah.  Worship is unique, special, different.  I have long said a college degree should include reading and logic.  We must learn to read and think, and we must learn to debate?  Without thought and debate brethren buy more than they can pay for.

Snoring is not worship whether in church or in bed?  Bathroom privileges are necessary, healthy and good, but this must not be confused with worship.  Actions in a bathroom do not correspond with Jesus meeting with us in assembly at the Lord’s table (Matthew 26:26-29; I Corinthians 10:16-21; 11:20-26).  The Lord’s Supper is unique, special and different.

We live a life of prayer.  Yet, Luke records that Jesus ceased a prayer (11:1). Paul, urgently, prayed for a thorn removal (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).  A senator is daily a senator.  He even has the title after leaving office.  But only in the Senate, when it is gavelled into session, does he fully act as a senator.  A husband and wife are always married, but there is something special in what the Bible calls “the marriage bed”.  This is something they cannot share with anyone else.  Yet some brethren conclude, “The only time you do not worship is when the church meets to worship!”  There has to be something special in the Sunday assembly!  Willy Rordoff said it best, “No Lord’s Day without the Lord’s Supper; no Lord’s Supper without the Lord’s Day.” Concerning debate of the church assembly, three questions must be asked and answered:

1.  Did the early church assemble?  Think!  No social group can exist without meeting.  Sinners are called out of sin to be added to the church (Acts 2) and to be the body (I Corinthians 12).  We are called into community-assembly.  God does not call us to be “Lone Ranger Christians.”  God does not give birth to orphans.  The early church assembled (Acts 2:42; 20:7).  Christians are not to forsake such an assembly (Hebrews 10:25).  Obviously, the New Testament church assembled.

2.  When did the church assemble?    Tuesday?  Friday?  Ask the man on the street when Muslims meet (Friday), when Jews meet (Saturday), when Christians meet (Sunday). Sabbatarians don’t have a leg to stand on!  Jesus was a corpse on Saturday.  The Sabbath was for the Jew (Deuteronomy 5:1-5).  No biblical nor historical record tells of New Testament Christians making Saturday special.  Jesus was resurrected upon the first day (Mark 16:9), and the church began on Pentecost (Acts 2, the first day). The church gave on the first day (I Corinthians 16:2).  Disciples could “store at home” any day! Christendom assembles on Sunday!

3.  What did they do when assembled?  They did not assemble to do nothing! Worship means you do something.  You go to worship, assemble, start, do something, stop, dismiss, then return home.  If this is not worship, then what is it? Now brethren are saying, “We don’t have a clue as to how the church worshiped.  Think!  God is always clear about worship!  If we don’t know, then it doesn’t matter.  Does anything go? Is hard-rock music scriptural?  Drunkenness was not (I Corinthians 11).  The word “trinity” is not in scripture, but the “Godhead” is obvious.  The word “providence” is not in scripture, yet it is obvious. By this same no-clue logic, we don’t even know what to do to be saved! No one biblical page gives 1-2-3- 4-5!  Is there no clue about salvation?  Can sinners be saved as they wish?

We don’t know some specifics - did they use a pitch pipe or a tuning fork and was the Lord’s Supper first or last?

However, what they did is obvious.  (1) They went into the Word.  The Word makes worship possible.  Would you affirm the Bible is out of place in worship?  (2) They prayed (Acts 2:42; 4:31).  Would you condemn prayer in the assembly? (3) They sang. Only Christians can sing. (4) They fellowshipped (Acts 2:42).  (5) They observed the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 10, 11).  This is what they did!  Where is scripture logic for what you wish to do?  - (Part 2 next week)

       By Charles Hodge
“Reprinted with permission, Gospel Advocate”