posted
I'm new to these forums, and have been unable to read ANY of the posts. At any rate, I am allowed to post, so here goes:
In the early church there was a love feast, or Lord's supper held each Sunday. It was held in honour of the Lord Jesus, and is described by Paul. Immediately following the Love Feast, the eucharist (thanksgiving) or communion (sharing) was observed.
All of this was the most important meeting in the early church. Every prayer, every hymn, every word given, was centered around the remembrance of Jesus, His death and His resurrection. It was all about Him. There was also a ministry of the body of Christ at that meeting. Every person, as led by the spirit of Jesus, could express his or her praise and thanksgiving for what Jesus had done.
[This message has been edited by Paidion (edited 03-23-2004).]
Welcome to these forums! The reason you may have had difficulty accessing any of the posts is one setting found immediately under "New Topic". It is normally set at "show topics from last day", but if no posts have been made in the last day, nothing will appear! But if you change that settinng to the one at the very bottom "show all topics" you should be able to read everything that has been posted. Hope this helps!
I agree with you that the "love feast" WAS the Lord's Supper, but would ask you the following questions to learn where you are coming from: (1)From what scriptural statement(s) have you concluded that it was held each Sunday?
(2)From what scriptural statement(s) have you concluded that thanksgiving or communion was "observed" AFTER the supper?
(3) What do you mean by "observed"? Do you mean that it was a ritual which was "practiced"? Do you mean that a clerical class "performed" it and the "laity" simply "observed"?
(4)What scriptural statement(s) have lead you to believe that it was "the most important meeting in the early church"? Was "the breaking of bread" a "meeting" or was it an ACTION by which food was divided into portions prior to eating? See Luke 24:35 and Acts 2:42
(5)How do you know that "Every prayer, every hymn, every word given, was centered around the remembrance of Jesus, His death and His resurrection."?
I'd really like to hear your thoughts on the things you have expressed! Will look forward to hearing back from you!
Your brother in Christ, Bruce Woodford Norwich, Ontario, Canada
[This message has been edited by Bruce Woodford (edited 03-23-2004).]
posted
Thank you, Bruce, for showing me how to find the posts.
You have a host of questions, indeed. In this post, I'll deal with just one:
(1)From what scriptural statement(s) have you concluded that it was held each Sunday?
The ONLY statement from the New Testament which makes reference to this is: Ac 20:7 On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and he prolonged his speech until midnight.
Of course, some will attempt to say that "breaking bread" does not refer to the Love Feast.
But what makes you think that we should get all of our information concerning the practice of the Love Feast and the communion which follows from the Bible? There are many sources of their practice from late first and early second century writings as well.
Justin Martyr[110-165 A.D.] in his letter to Augustus Caesar, describes the practices of Christians.
"On the day called "Sunday", all who live in cities or in the country gather together in one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the presiding one of the brethren verbally instructs, and encourages to the imitation of all these things. Then we all rise together and pray, as as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine are brought, and the presiding one in like manner offers prayers and thanksgiving, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying "Truly"; and there is a distribution to each, and a sharing of that for which thanks hs been given, and to those who are absent, a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks is fitting, and what is collected is deposited with the presiding one, who assists the orphans and the widows, and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in need, and those who are in bonds, and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word, takes care of all who are in need. BUT SUNDAY IS THE DAY ON WHICH WE ALL HOLD OUR COMMON ASSEMBLY [emphasis mine], because it is the day on which God, having wrought a change in matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn; and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.
chubbena
posted
This is for Paidian. Hopefully it's not too late before he's got brainwashed by institutionalized church. You are right at one point - love feast is breaking bread among Christians. However, please also note that it's also the Lord's supper (or should I say to remember the Lord just as Jesus taught when He had the last supper with the disciples). See 1 Cor 11 which is Paul's teaching, not some descriptive verses like you found in Acts. Regarding your findings in Acts 20:7, if we were to follow it as a teaching, we must have a day long service followed by breaking of bread after midnight whether it's a Saturday or Sunday. The truth of the matter is, there's no such thing as a service. If you want to know what a fellowship or worship is like, please read 1 Cor 14:29-40.
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