Truth Magazine

By Larry Ray Hafley

QUESTION:

From California: “Do we have Bible authority for more than one observance of the Lord’s Supper upon the first day of the week?”

REPLY:

1. The “Second Supper: ” There is no Bible authority for an individual to “observe the Lord’s supper” more than once upon the first day of the week. Does any one know a Christian who eats and drinks the Lord’s supper twice on the Lord’s day? All talk of a “second supper” is wasted effort. Who takes of it twice? Is there a church that “offers” the Lord’s supper twice to the same people? No, it is specified during a Sunday evening assembly that the communion is available “for those who were unable to attend” an earlier gathering. So, each church provides each saint with an opportunity to do what the Lord said to do on the first day of the week, namely, break bread.

2. A Practice Begun “In About 1870: ” Our querist states in a letter accompanying her question that offering the Lord’s supper on two occasions on the Lord’s day began “in about 1870.” Some historians and scholars tell us that the first century church had no church buildings such as we have today. Does this necessarily imply that church buildings are without scriptural authority? No, church buildings are authorized (else we should not have them-the same could be said for songbooks, chalkboards, etc.), but the fact they were not utilized until later does not argue against their scripturalness. Likewise, with the Lord’s supper being provided for certain ones on Sunday evening.

Some tell us that early saints met only once on the first day of the week. Does this fact argue we should meet but once? If we argue that one provision for the communion is all that is allowable, why not contend that one assembly is all that is authorized on the Lord’s day? Obviously, if Christians meet but once on Sunday, the communion is provided but once. Saints who meet twice on the first day of the week offer no one the Lord’s supper twice. Each is offered the Lord’s supper once, though there may be two assemblies.

3. Excuse Abuse: “But if you offer the Lord’s supper on Sunday night, some will take advantage of this and forsake on Sunday morning.” An abuse of a thing is not sufficient reason to abandon the item itself. Suppose one were to object to preaching twice on Sunday. “If you have a sermon on Sunday night, some will lay out in the morning but will attend in the evening.” Does that abuse reasonably argue that we should do sway with “Sunday night preaching?”

There will always be thinly veiled lies called excuses that someone may use to serve himself. This is a form of will-worship. It is an act of one who seeks approval before men. His service is vain. He is not a servant of Christ (Gal. 1:10). It may be that some conceive the communion as a sacrament that can somehow sanctify and purify an otherwise ungodly life. This is not taught in the Scripture.

If one cannot attend a Sunday morning worship service due to some unavoidable cause, but he can be present on Sunday evening, why should he be barred from the partaking of the Lord’s supper? It is still the first day of the week. God has not specified the time on the first day of the week when he must break bread. Thus, one may examine himself and eat and drink of the body and blood of the Lord (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:23ff.)

Conclusion

Some churches have been disturbed over this matter. It is a sad day for the Lord’s people when they will separate over such matters. It shows that other things lurk in the heart-hatred, jealousy, envy, the party spirit. Be not a party to those who rend asunder the body of Christ, but in all things seek for truth and purity in love, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3).

Truth Magazine XIX: 9, p. 130
January 9, 1975

By William V. Beasley

Someone may be thinking, “What a dumb question. Everyone knows that one is one.” Another may be saying, “Well, one is more than none, but less than two.” Both of these are right. It is a dumb question; it is more than none and less than two.

Now that we understand how many one is, let us turn to the Bible and apply our understanding of numbers to the word of God. “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Eph. 4:4-6). Using our knowledge of arithmetic we can see that there is less than two “Gods and Fathers of all who are above all and through all, and in you all,” and at the same time there is more than none; there is one. The same thing is true of the other “ones” listed. There is more than none, but less than two. It is even true of the “one body.” There is “but one body” (1 Cor. 12:20), and that body is, according to Ephesians 1:22-23, the church. There is, my friend, one church. More than none, less than two.

Are you a member of the Lord’s body, the one body, the one church?

Truth Magazine XIX: 8, p. 126
January 2, 1975

By Olen Holderby

Self-control is urged upon us by the Word of God, and for obvious and good reasons. Through many years of working with people in varying situations, I have observed what a lack of self-control can do. Few indeed are the faults of a man that can cause more difficulties than a lack of self-control. Self-control is not to be confused with self-esteem, self-devotion, self-determination, or self-defense. Neither does self-control always suggest independence. Through a study of God’s word we can come to understand that self-control is a must for the Christian, and advisable for all. What, then, does God’s word teach on this subject?

The word “self-control” comes from a Greek word (Kratos) meaning “strength.” God has given man various powers and these can easily be abused. Proper use depends, to a great extent, upon self-control. In Paul’s discourse with Felix (Acts 24:25), “self-control” follows “righteousness” (ASV). In this case, it would seem that the word “righteousness” represents God’s claim on man, and “self-control” would be man’s response to God’s claim. In 2 Pet. 1:6 (ASV) it follows “knowledge,” suggesting that what is learned is to be put to practice. Here, it should be noticed, “self-control” is one of nine things of which it is said, “He that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.” Paul gives “selfcontrol” as one of the fruits of the Spirit in Gal. 5:23, suggesting, to me, that one who follows the instructions of the Spirit will be practicing self-control. It is used as an adjective in reference to certain individuals: elders (Tit. 1:8), older men (Tit. 2:2), older women (1 Tim. 3:11). In 1 Cor. 9:25, it is used, as a verb, in reference to the athlete with a view of winning the prize. In this passage Paul affirms that he practices “self-control” to win the “incorruptible” crown. These references are enough to clearly establish the fact that “self-control” is required by God, for all who would faithfully serve him. There are three basic areas in which self-control plays an important role: thoughts, words, actions. And, in each case the control can be seen to be both positive and negative.

Aspects of Life Affected by “Self-Control”

Control of our thoughts can be seen to be both positive and negative; there are some things that we are not to think and some things which we are to think. Love “thinketh no evil” (1 Cor. 13:5) well establishes the negative aspect. In Phil. 4:8, we have fully stated the positive, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report: if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Most will recognize that right here is where a great deal of difficulty begins; the thoughts running astray from these divine principles. Jesus, of course, taught this same truth in Mk. 7:20-23.

As it is in the case of our thoughts, so it is with our words. There are some which we should say and some which we ought not to say. The Psalmist said, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psa. 19:14). “A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” These statements of wisdom are in Prov. 18:6-7, and are in excellent parallel with James 3, that excellent New Testament commentary on the proper use of the tongue. The seriousness of proper control of the tongue is well expressed in James 1:26, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” In Christianity, every man is to speak as the oracles of God (1 Pet. 4:11). However, it was left to Paul to lay down the crowning principle for all our speaking: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know haw ye ought to answer every man” (Col. 4:6).

The control of our actions is no less important. If the reader will notice such passages as Rom. 12:2; Rom. 14:13; or 1 Thess. 5:22, he easily will notice the negative feature. 1 Thess. 5:21; Eph. 4:1-3; and Phil. 1:27 will just as easily set forth the positive aspects. Every Christian recognizes that there are some things which he should not do and some things which he must do.

Application

Having noticed, briefly, some thugs concerning self-control with reference to our thoughts, words, arid actions, we are now ready to state more precisely the application of the meaning of self-control. Self-control is not just refraining from thinking wrong things, but the thinking of right things; it is not just refraining from saying wrong things, but the saying of right things; and, it is not just refraining from doing wrong, but the doing of right. Who, then, has self-control, according to the Bible? It is not an impossible feature, for we are instructed to possess it. Wherever and in whatever circumstances a Christian may find himself, he is under obligation to practice self-control.

According to Rom. 6:16, there are two powers to whom we may yield ourselves to serve. A failure to obey the Lord is to place oneself under the control of Satan. On the other hand, to obey the Lord is to practice the self-control taught in his word. This is why it was stated near the beginning that self-control did not always suggest independence. Soul-saving self-control is submission to God’s Word. We need to believe that Word so strongly that we find ourselves in somewhat the same condition as Joseph in Egypt when he saw his brothers for the first time in many years; he “could not refrain himself” (Gen. 45:1). When this is really so, we shall willingly embark upon that never-ending task of maintaining that self-control taught by the Almighty.

Truth Magazine XIX: 8, p. 125
January 2, 1975

By Wallace H. Little

Recently, flooding brought on by two typhoons caused serious want among God’s faithful in the Philippines. Although the disaster this year was much smaller in scope than a similar event several years ago, those. within the affected area were hurt as much as earlier. An appeal was made for financial help for these brethren.

You responded generously. The Scriptural injunction of 2 Cor. 8:14, “but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want; that there may be an equality:” is satisfied. More than $5000.00 has been sent to relieve the privation. There is probably more I do not know about. Excepting for isolated situations, the need is pretty well taken care of. One item still lacking is clothing, but with the import tax imposed by the Philippine Government, it is next to impossible to send this. I have written, seeking a method by which it may be done legally, without the receiving brethren being charged this tax. I am not hopeful for a solution, however. If it does exist, I will advise you through these pages.

Incidentally, not one cent was controlled by any organization or individual. All went directly to the need. This proves again, God’s method of assisting needy Christians is far superior to the schemes of our institutionally-minded brethren. And not so incidentally, God’s method has another advantage: it has His approval . . . something their’s lacks. See 2 Jn. 9 and Mat. 7:21-23.

You are to be commended for your openhanded and rapid response to the needs of our brethren in the Philippines. God will surely bless you for this.

Truth Magazine XIX: 8, p. 124
January 2, 1975