An article in the Daily Press, states that "Tomorrow [Oct. 6, 1996] is World Communion Sunday, a day when every Christian believer around the globe should come around the Lord's Supper to celebrate unity in communion with God and each other...Some of us will not commune with, fellowship with, work with or acknowledge the legitimacy of other believers. Why? Because we have the correct and true understandings, practices and polity--and you don't. Therefore we are the real church, and the rest of you are false pretenders."
Then the author states: "There is no specific reference to such a celebration." But then tries to justify it by stating: "but neither is there a specific reference to a special celebration of the day of our Lord's birth...Neither is there any specific reference to a special celebration on the anniversary of the resurrection of Jesus." It is impossible to justify one unscriptural action by using two unscriptural actions as proof!!!
Is it wrong for one to not do that which is not authorized to do. Do we need to have Bible authority for our worship? "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life..."(Rev.22:18-19). To add to our worship something that is not authorized will result in our name being removed from the book of life.
The inspired John had something to say about those who fellowship such actions. "If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed" (II John 10). To add a thing to the worship of God that is not authorized, is sin. To fellowship those who worship in a way not authorized, John says: "For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (II John 11).
The Lord's Supper is a memorial that is to be observed every first day of the week. When Jesus instituted it he said: "This do ye, as oft as ye drink it in remembrance of me" (I Cor. 11:25). We learn how often this is to be done in Acts 20:7. "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread...". How many weeks have a first day?
The author quotes John 17:20-21, where Jesus prayed, "That they all may be one...". The question is: Does setting a day for all religious organizations to celebrate "World Communion Sunday" mean the same oneness that Jesus made reference to? Every different religious organization teaches a different plan of salvation, or they wouldn't be different. It is not possible for all to have unity, while teaching differently. There is a vast difference in unity and union. People can disagree on how to be saved and have union, but not unity!!!
"Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit..." (Eph. 4:3). Paul in I Cor. 1:10, says that we are to "all speak the same thing...". To keep the "unity of the Spirit," and to "speak the same thing," can only have one meaning. It is not possible to have unity and teach different plans of salvation. Only ONE can be correct. Christ built only ONE church (Matt. 16:18), and no denominations. The Bible doesn't change just because one does not understand it. We will be judged by what it says (John 12:48). It is possible to know the truth. "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:48). But one must, with an open mind, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Tim. 2:15). Paul said there are some: "Ever learning, and never coming to a knowledge of truth"(II Tim. 3:7).
"If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Pet.4:11).
Don H. Noblin
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