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One Cup?

When I was a young boy (1930's), the small church where my family worshiped only used one cup. When the church grew to such a large number that all of the people could not be served with one cup without refilling it, they started using two cups. During that period of time, many discussions and debates were conducted concerning this subject. I do not remember all of the things that were said but I do remember some of them.

Let me say in the beginning that, "if a congregation wants to use only one cup, I believe the Lord will accept that." I also believe that the scriptures supports the use of more than one cup, and that the Lord Jesus Christ will accept that method as well. In other words, how many cups are used is a matter of opinion and was within the realm of what is expedient. Before I go further in this discussion, we need to understand the background of the institution of the Lord's

Supper.

BACKGROUND

There are records of the institution of this Supper in Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:12-17, Luke 14:12-17; and I Corinthians 11:23-26. The context in the Gospel accounts shows that they gathered together to simulate the Jewish Passover (because it was not time for the Passover itself). They had their Passover meal and then Christ instituted the Lord's Supper. Luke 22:19, "And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remebrance of me."

A BIBLICAL PRINCIPLE O RECOGNIZE

Christ is our "Chief Shepherd," I Peter 5:4. (He is also our Director, Law Giver, and the One whom we must obey. (Luke 6:46). But under our Chief Shepherd, there are "under shepherds," called elders, bishops, pastors... Laws or instruction cannot be given to cover every detail that man encounters in serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, in congregations where there are no ordained church leaders (where there are no elders -- men must make the decisions, and Christ has given them the authority and liberty to do so). "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another." Galatians 5:13. Peter urged elders to "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking oversight thereof, not

by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock." 1 Peter 5:2-3

Christ has told us WHAT to do in all cases, and in some cases He has told us HOW to do it. Where He has not specified HOW to do something, the leaders of the congregation must decide how they will do it. For example, Christ and the inspired Apostles required that one be baptized (IMMERSED IN WATER) for the remission of sins. That is WHAT they are to do! But the WHERE and HOW of baptizing one into Christ is left for man to decide. (There were in times past, those who insisted that baptism MUST be in "running water," in order for sins to be washed away). They were trying to bind their opinions on others, because the Lord did not specify

"running water," He just said "water." Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 5:26, when he wrote that the church is sancitfied by Christ "with the washing of water by the word." Hebrews 10:22, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water,"

WHY DOES "ONE CUP IN COMMUNION" COME UNDER THIS PRINCIPLE OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION?

It Does So for the Following Reasons

1. Jesus has told us WHAT to eat and drink: "Eat the Bread, Drink the fruit of the vine." He certainly did not mean for US to "drink the cup," nor did He tell US to "drink from THIS cup." If that is what He meant, then two things, would have to occur. One, we would have to literally drink a "cup." That is impossible. And Two, if He meant "this cup (the one He was holding in His hands), that too would be impossible. If that were true, then every Christian on the face of the earth, would of necessity have to drink from "that cup," every Lord's day. IMPOSSIBLE! "That cup" is no longer available to us. Jesus does not require the ridiculous or the impossible.

Furthermore, if what they claim is true, then there could only be "one loaf," a fact that they never mention. And everyone would have to break some bread off of that loaf that they were going to eat. This shows the inconsistency of their argument. (Actually it is more than an argument, it is a law that they have made, and are trying to bind it upon others.)

Christ often used Metaphors in His teaching, sayhing, "I am the Door, " "I am the Way," "I am the bread of life," etc. He says, "this bread is my body," and "this fruit of the vine is my blood. " HOW is it served to all Christians on the Lord's day, is for each congregation to decide.

2. Christians must do that which is expedient and practical. There are some congregations with over a thousand members. Would it be practical to use only one loaf and one cup to serve that many people? How long would it take? It is neither expedient nor is it practical!

3. The important thing is the CONTENT of the cup, and not the cup itself. When a large number of people partake of the Lord's Supper, they are all partaking of the SAME CONTENT, the 'fruit of the vine. " And they are eating the same thing, "the bread."

4. The use of individual cups relates to externals and forces excessive concentration on the cup. (The vessel in which the fruit of the vine is served). And it may very well obscure their appreciation of the Spiritual Significance of that event to the ones worshiping of God.

It is obvious to me, that the Lord did NOT require WHAT some people claims He requires. If that is true, then it must fall in the realm of expediency. When Paul was writing about some things the Corinthians were doing that was wrong; he wrote, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." I Corinthians 6:12. We need to recognize that there are some things which are

expedient and there are some things that are not expedient. Using "more than one cup" to me, is more expedient, and not disapproved by God (or Christ) nor inspired writers of the Bible.

NATURE OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

It is the central and most sacred part of Christianity. "Except ye eat the flesh and drin the blood o fth Son of man ye have no life in you." John6:53. Ther are seven words that describe things that we should do when we observe that Supper.

1. RETROSPECTIVE. We are to look back to Calvary, bringing our minds to the night of His betrayal, suffering, and His crucifixion. Christ died for our sins, that fact focuses our thoughts and our hopes upon Him.

2. PROSPECTIVE. The Lord's Supper causes us to look back, but is also causes us to look forward (prospectively). Jesus said, "this do till I come." Unless Christ is coming again, all true meaning of this supper disappears. He is coming again! This is the faith of every true believer.

3. INTROSPECTIVE. According to Paul, it is necessary for every person to examine self. It should be a rigorous self-examination. And examination of one's life, their sincerity, their devotion, and their dedication to the Lord.

4. COMMEMORATIVE. "In remembrance of Me," Jesus said. It is a great Memorial. It is something that has been put in place to cause people to remember. The Washington Monument in our nations capital was built as a Memorial to the "father of our country." It was built to cause people to "remember George Washington.. The Lord's Supper has been been put in place to cause us to "remember Christ." Under the Old Testament, people were required to "remember their sins" each year. Under the New Testament, people are required to "remember that we have been redeemed (set free) from our sins."

5. INSTRUCTIVE. "Ye proclaim the Lord's death till He comes." If we want to proclaim to others what Christ means to us, what better way than by observing the Lord's Supper every Lord's day. Books are cast aside, sermons are forgotten, words are ignored, but people cannot ignore the life of a faithful Christian when they demonstrate their faith when observing the Lord's Supper..

6. CORRECTIVE. Implied in this is the "self-examination" in 3 above. If one's life is out of harmony with Christ's will, they will make the necessary corrections before partaking of that supper. "Let a man prove himself'," Paul wrote.

7. SEPARATIVE. Here more than anywhere else, there is a distinction made between the saved and the lost" "Except yee eat the flesh o fthe Son of man and & drin khis blood y ehave not life in yourselves." John 6:53. All present in any assembly can sing, pray, listen to a sermon, and give money to support the Lord's work -- but only Christians are invited to partake of the Lord's Supper.

CONCLUSION

Jesus said, "He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life; and l will raise him up in the last day. " John 6:54. Let us not be guilty of "binding things where Christ has not bound," and by the same rule, "we must not let others bind on us things that Christ has not bound.!" He has NOT bound "one cup" on us. (it is the CONTENT, NOT THE VESSEL. It is WHAT is IN the cup and NOT the CUP itself). How it is served must be left up to each congregation to decide.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS,

By: Bro.Jim Bowers