04/06/2023
Singing, Giving and The Lord’s Supper:
Singing:
Singing is the natural response of a joyful heart to God (James 5:13). The early Christians sang different kinds of songs to God (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Psalms were often taken from the Old Testament book of Psalms. Hymns and spiritual songs were often made up by the Christians themselves, and were based on Scripture’s teachings (“let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” Colossians 3:16). In the Old Covenant the music of man-made instruments was offered as worship to God. The New Covenant is silent about such instruments in Christian worship. (As all know, they are “lifeless,” 1 Corinthians 14:7.) Instead, God wants the spiritual music of thankful hearts to go with our singing (Ephesians 5:19). While our songs and spiritual music go to God, our songs also encourage and teach our fellow members (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; 1 Corinthians 14:15, 26). If you do not already have good worship songs, make up your own, based on Christ’s word, and help your fellow Christians to learn them.
Giving:
In order to help suffering Christians in Judea, churches of Christ in other areas sent money to meet their needs. On Sundays each Christian set aside money “in keeping with his income” (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). This was then collected and sent to the elders in Judea (Acts 11:29-30). The Christians in Macedonia were very poor, yet they still gave with “rich generosity” (2 Corinthians 8:2). Paul urged other churches to follow their example, because such giving proved how real their love was (2 Corinthians 8:8). Later, the church in the city of Philippi sent “gifts” (aid, payment) to help the apostle Paul preach the Gospel. (Those who spend much time in preaching and teaching have a right to be supported and supplied for that work, 1 Corinthians 9; 1 Timothy 5:17-18). The gifts, both private (Matthew 6:1-4) and as a church (1 Corinthians 16:1-6), that help the Lord’s cause are “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God” (Philippians 4:15-19; Hebrews 13:16). Old Covenant Jews were required to give a tenth (a tithe) of their income. The New Testament is silent about such a fraction for Christians. Instead, it makes giving a far more spiritual matter of willingness, joy, trust, love and generosity (2 Corinthians 8 and 9).
The Lord’s Supper:
The purpose of the Lord’s Supper is described best by the Lord Himself in saying “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:25). Jesus used two things to stir our memory of His death. The unleavened bread stands for the body of Christ (Matthew 26:26-29). Eating from it is “a participation in the body of Christ.” The grape juice (fruit of the vine) stands for His blood of the covenant (see NOTE below). Drinking from it is a “participation in the blood of Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:16). Participation or communion means sharing. The Bible does not teach that the Lord’s Supper takes away sin. But Christ does meet with His kingdom people, spiritually eating the meal with them (Luke 22:16-18; Matthew 26:29; 18:20). That is why every Christian should want to participate every time the Lord’s Supper is eaten. How poor our faith is if we reject Christ’s invitation, failing to “proclaim the Lord’s death” (1 Corinthians 11:26), and failing to encourage our spiritual family (Hebrews 10:25). Early Christians met “on the first day of the week” to eat the Lord’s Supper (Acts 20:7; 2:42). The Old Covenant had weekly Sabbaths, and once a year the Passover. The New Testament shows that Christians are no longer judged by such things (Colossians 2:16). Instead it shows that Christ is our one true Passover (1 Corinthians 5:7). We remember His death in the weekly Lord’s Supper. Yet our Sabbath is not a physical day. It is the true spiritual rest we enter when our work is finished (Hebrews 4).
NOTE: “Leaven” is yeast, or anything used for making bread rise. In Scripture it sometimes stands for sin (Luke 12:1; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; Galatians 5:9). Unleavened bread (bread without any leaven) was closely tied to the memory of Passover (Exodus 12). When Jesus first gave the Lord’s Supper, it was during the Jewish Feast of Unleavened Bread (Matthew 26:17). It is thus fitting that the pure and holy Christ, who is our Passover, should be pictured by unleavened bread. Jesus took unleavened bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples to eat (Matthew 26:26-29). That is why we use unleavened bread in the Lord’s Supper. It is easy to make unleavened bread: Mix flour with water, oil and salt. Stir this until it is a thick paste. Shape it for baking, and then cook it briefly.
Jesus also took “the fruit of the vine; gave thanks for it, passed it to His disciples, and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you… drink from it, all of you’ “ (Luke 22:17; Matthew 26:27). “Fruit of the vine” was the Hebrew way of saying “grapes,” which in their dry form are called “raisins.” Grapes are common in many parts of the world. In many other places one can still buy bottles or cartons of grape juice or grape wine. Where neither of these is available, a kind of grape juice can be made by boiling raisins in water. Jesus chose the juice of “the fruit of the vine” to picture His blood for us. Therefore we do our best to honor that choice, and to make arrangements for a supply as we take the Lord’s Supper each first day of the week.
