|
Taking Communion to Shut-Ins
Wouldn't it be good to take the Lord's Supper
to the elderly and infirm? I have assisted with this in my younger
days. Or , can we say the Lord understands? Not many congregations do take
Communion to infirm today. ~ Thomas Hall, North Little Rock, AR
Five worshipful activities are derived from New Testament
passages for the Lord’s church to engage each Lord’s Day. They are
communion, giving, singing, preaching and prayer. The assembly is
described in Scripture as the whole church come together in one place (1
Corinthians 11:18, 20; 14:23). Whereas giving, singing, preaching
and prayer are described in Scripture as occurring ALSO outside
the worship assembly, communion is in Scripture confined to the assembly.
For instance, regarding communion, “And upon the first day of the week,
when the disciples came together to break bread . . .” (Acts 20:7).
Further, communion is relatively equal to the other four
acts of worship. The elevation of communion by Catholicism to a Sacrament,
I believe, has carried over beyond Catholicism. Many people have
the notion of a heightened importance of communion over the other four
acts of worship. Therefore, well-meaning brethren either request
the communion be brought to them when they, due to illness or some other
hindrance, are unable to attend the worship assembly, or brethren volunteer
to bring communion to those who are unable to participate in the assembly.
It would seem to me that consistency would demand that one bring along
the collection plate as well and offer prayer, preaching and singing, too.
There is no biblical prescription of which I am aware
for communion to be brought to the elderly or infirm. The elderly
and infirm, as far as I can tell, are under no more obligation to eat the
communion than sing, pray, receive preaching and give in the assembly.
In my opinion, we do not have to volunteer to take communion to
the elderly and infirm, though we should take it to those who request it
for their peace of mind. However, were I to take communion to the
elderly and infirm, the other four acts of worship would receive as much
attention. Especially in light of my singing voice and lack of musical
talent, I would take a small number of others with me, too. This
procedure, in fact, would constitute a small assembly for the purpose of
worship.
Saved By Faith Alone
"For Whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved" Romans 10:13 "Therefore we conclude that a man
is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Romans 3:28
. . . Galatians 1:6-7 . . . Sir, I pray that you do not pervert the
Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation Does truly come By
Faith Alone by personally praying and receiving Jesus in your life.
I ask that If you are going to quote Gods word, that you study it more
and use all the verses concerning Salvation. Belief brings us Salvation;
Active obedience demonstrates that our belief is genuine. I too believe
everyone should be Baptized, but only as a profession of Faith to
the public and out of obedience to our Lord, but Salvation does not
require it. Works are not a substitute for, but a verification
of our faith in Christ. Sir I do thank you for your time and I pray
that you allow God to speak to you more through His Word and to give you
understanding. Faith Alone, Plus Nothing, Minus Nothing.
Please do not deceive people. May God Help you, Steve Fincher (emphasis
added, ler)
First, biblical truth is not ascertained by quoting Scripture
in isolation from the passage in which it appears and isolated from the
general context of the Bible. From the paragraph above, it appears
that the querist imagines that a verbal acknowledgement of Jesus possesses
saving quality. It is clear that the writer above also affirms the
participation of faith in the process of redemption. However, the
very element challenged in the citation above, baptism, is immediately
involved in the activity of ‘calling on the name of the Lord’ which procures
redemption. Notice Acts 22:16: “And now why tarriest thou?
arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name
of the Lord.” Baptism is not antagonistic to redemption; it is
integral to it. Baptism is not merely a manifestation of obedience,
it is the final act of obedience and at which point God renders forgiveness
of sins. That is precisely why numerous passages declare salvation
at baptism. “. . . Repent, and be baptized every one of you
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins . . .” (Acts
2:38). “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved .
. .” (Mark 16:16). “. . . baptism doth also now save us .
. .” (1 Peter 3:21).
Second, nowhere in the Bible does God teach that salvation
is procured by “faith alone”! Nowhere in the Bible does God teach
that one becomes a Christian merely by praying! The closest circumstance
to what the querist suggests pertains not to a non-Christian, but to an
erring Christian. In Acts Eight, Simon became a Christian in the
same manner as the Samaritans had become Christians.
“But when they believed Philip preaching the
things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they
were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and
when he was baptized . . .” (Acts 8:12-13).
Later, Simon sinned and was instructed thus: “Repent
therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought
of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22). Hence, a non-Christian’s
role in redemption is belief (Romans 10:17), repentance (Luke 13:5), professing
Jesus as Christ (Acts 8:37), immersion for remission of sins (Romans 6:3-5;
Acts 2:38).
Third, the writer above confuses works of merit pertaining
to the law of Moses versus works of obedience relative to the Gospel of
Christ. The reference to “deeds of the law” in Romans 3:28 pertains
to the law of Moses. Works of righteousness of which James wrote
in Chapter Two are demonstrations of godly faith. “Even so faith,
if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). Surely
a “dead faith” is inefficient and incapable of procuring redemption.
Fourth, though the querist has confidence in “Faith
Alone, Plus Nothing, Minus Nothing,” the Bible does not teach this
doctrine. Actually, the only time the words “faith only” or “faith
alone” appear together in Scripture, is to condemn the doctrine espoused
by the querist. “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified,
and not by faith only” (James 2:24).
Consequently, it is the “faith alone” or “faith only”
doctrine that constitutes a perversion of the Gospel, rather than acknowledgment
of the biblical teaching about baptism. True deception is when one
teaches that baptism is not essential to salvation and that instead “faith
only” will suffice. James wrote that the devils have faith only:
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also
believe, and tremble” (James 2:19). Friends, a devilish faith is
incapable of converting the soul. Faith (like repenting, confessing
Christ and baptism) is merely one of several parts of man’s role in his
redemption. In response to our God-given role, God executes his mercy
and grace on our behalf. Faith alone is rebellion against repenting,
confessing Christ and baptism, for which God will not unleash his mercy
and grace for us.
|
