TLEM
True Light Educational Ministry
Then
you will
know the Truth and the Truth will set you free ( John
8:32)
|
|
|
The Lord's Supper and Jehovah's Witnesses
Who is
to celebrate the Lord's Supper and when? Christians also refer to this meal as
Holy Communion. The Jehovah's Witnesses prefer to call it the memorial supper.
The Watchtower Society states in their Reasoning book (page 266), that the
Lord commanded His disciples to memorialize the event.
The
Watchtower organization also teaches that this feast is to be celebrated only
one each year. They base this on comparing the celebration of a wedding
anniversary or national event. If you are a Jehovah's Witness or studying with
one, are you willing to risk eternal life based on rules from man, or are you
willing to seek the truth from the Scriptures? The following information and
questions may help you find the truth.
The
PASSOVER and LORD'S SUPPER
The
Passover, also called the Feast of Unleaven Bread, was kept as a memorial of
the Jews deliverance out of Egypt. The lamb, blood on the door post, death of
the first born, deliverance out of a hostile country, and the continuance of
the feast throughout I6rael's history, prepares a grand historical picture of
Christ as our Passover Lamb, and our deliverance out of a hostile world by His
blood. First Corinthians 5:6-8 refers to Christ as our Passover, and instructs
us to keep. the festival in sincerity and truth. The Passover had served its
purpose and had now given way to the new memorial supper, which is kept in
loving remembrance of Jesus until His return.
The
importance of the Lord's Supper is underlined by being described in three
gospels in detail, Matthew 26:17-29, Mark 14:12-25; and Luke 22:7-38. The
important facts of the lord'3 Supper are who should partake and how often is
it to be celebrated?
Partakers
The
Watchtower organization teaches that only the anointed may partake of this
meal. According to the Watchtower, January 1, 1993 [l] less than 0.0006% of
it's members obey the Lord. They state that of the 11,431,171 in attendance at
the 1992 Memorial, only 8,683 received the emblem. Yet that is not what the
Scriptures teach.
Looking
back to the Passover all of the worshipers of Yahweh celebrated the Passover,
not just the priestly Levite tribe (Exodus 12:43-49). Even the unclean were
instructed how to observe this feast (Numbers 9:6-9; 2 Chr. 30:2-4, 17; 2 Chr.
35:3-11; Ezra 6:20. Finally even strangers were authorized to celebrate
(Exodus 12:48,49; Num. 9:14. Thus in the original teachings of the Passover it
was not limited to a small select number.
Then
Jesus instituted the Lord's Supper with the Apostles; they were His disciples,
who were to go on to teach throughout the world about Him. Paul in 1 Cor.
10:16-17 states, "For we being many are one bread and one body for we are
ALL partakers of that one bread. ' He is writing this letter to the church at
Corinth and it's members. He is writing this letter during a time when the
church had many problems. Yet these people were ALL partakers of the Lord's
Supper.
The
Scriptures give us two requirements for partaking of the Lord's Supper. One
must be regenerated by grace, and walking a life consistent with commemorating
the death of Christ. First Corinthians 11:27-29 clearly states these
requirements. Thus all Christians regenerated by grace and walking a true
Christian life should be partakers. If one does not partake of the Lord's
Supper voluntarily, that person is claiming not to be under God's grace. If
refused the opportunity by an organization that organization is over ruling
God's instructions.
HOW
OFTEN TO CELEBRATE
The
Watchtower organization teaches that the celebration of the Memorial Feast is
an annual event. They further teach that it is to be celebrated on the same
calendar date of the feast from which it was derived. Jehovah's Witnesses use
Nisan 14 because the believed Christ died the day. They count the days as
sunset to sunset. Yet early Christians during the first century while some of
the apostles were still alive settled when to celebrate the service. They
decided that were they to do this only once a year, at Passover, would have
tended to keep them effectively within Judaism. This solution would have
obscured the uniqueness of Jesus and wiped out the reality of the new era
Jesus had promised.
True,
Jesus instituted the feast at the end of the Passover meal. Yet He, nor the
Scriptures give a specific time or date when to celebrate this communion. The
Command, 'Do this as often as ye drink it . . . . " I Cor. 11:25 suggests
a more continual recurrence of the memorial of one whom they would wish, never
to forget.
Luke, in
Acts 2:42, describes baptized members of the church as continuing steadfast
in, or to, the teachings of the apostles; in fellowship with them and with
each other; and in breaking of bread and prayer. Paul in his letter to the
Corinthians (l Cor. 10:16-11:34) gives very clear instructions on the Lords
Supper. This is not given just before or after Passover. Reading this section
clearly shows that the memorial was more frequently celebrated than as annual
event.
Although
not inspired, the writings of the early Christians are valuable documents of
Christianity. They are part of the heritage of all Christians. One such
writing is the Didache that is the earliest church service book (100A.D. for,
before) which describes the Communion. A more detailed description is found in
the writings of Justin Maryr (100-165 A. D.) (21. In his First Apology, he
furnishes a detailed description of the Lord's Supper. Here he is describing
what they do on a day called Sunday. 'On the day called Sunday, all who live
in cities or in the country gather together in one place.... When our prayers
is ended, bread and wine and water are brought. In like manner, the presiding
brother offers prayers and thanksgiving according to his ability. And the
people assent saying 'Amen.' Then the bread and wine are distributed to each
person and each partakes, The seryant (deaoons) take a portion to those who
are absent,
Earl
Cairn states in his book, Christianity Through the Centuries [3], that during
the first century, two services were held on Sunday. Communion (Lord's Supper)
was held during the evening service. By the end of the first century they
stopped the evening service. They then served Communion during the morning
service of worship. Cypian's Epistle 62 also describes early Christians
observing Communion every Sunday. Therefore from the evidence we must conclude
that the Lord's Supper was at least a weekly event.
The
Watchtower organization teaches that it is God's only true organization. They
state that since 1914 Jesus is actively ruling as King over all the earth.
They have claimed He is the editor of their publications. New light or changes
in the teachings are based upon increased knowledge. With the Lord's Supper we
have a very difficult thing to understand. For over seventy-six years the
Watchtower leaders proclaimed that, concerning the Lord's Supper, the body of
Jesus meant the whole Christians Congregation. Forty- one of those years were
suppose to be under the direct guidance of Jesus. Then in 1956 the body refers
only to His actual flesh. To prove this point read the Make Sure of All Things
books published in 1953 (page 261) and the copy printed in 1965 (page 323).
QUESTIONS
FOR THOSE NOT PARTAKING
Would a
Loving Lord Jesus invite you to His supper table for fellowship only to deny
you from you from partaking of the meal?
Do you
follow Jesus' Command? Read 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
Are you
condemned? Romans 8:1-2 'Therefore those in union with Christ have no
condemnation. For the law of that spirit which gives life in union with Christ
Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.' Read also John 5:24,
John 17:22-24; 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Is
Christ your mediator? Read 1 Timothy 2:5,6
Is there
partial justification? Read Romans 5:1,2,'Romans 4:2,3,6,7, Galatians 3:8,9.
Where does the Bible speak of partial justification? On the contrary, the
early Christians at Galatia were told they were being blessed together with
Abraham and not apart from him.
On whose
merit will you stand before God? Read Isaiah 64:6, Revelation 7:14, and
Ephesians 2:8,9
In
closing remember a Christian is someone personally united to the Lord Jesus
Christ. All Christians share the 'ONE HOPE' spoken of at Ephesians 4:4. 'Let
us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so we may receive mercy
and find grace to help us in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16 NIV). He said
'come to me!' (Matthew 11:28,29; Philippians 4:7). Take Him at His word. Men
may fail you, but He will never disappoint you (Romans 3:4: 9:33).
REFERENCES
1993,
Watchtower, January 1, 1993, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York,
page 15.
1989,
Justin Martyr, Mark 'Felix, We Don't Speak Great Things We Live Them, Scroll
Publishing, Texas, page 94.
1981,
Cairns, Earle, Christianity Throughout the Centuries, Zondervaan Corp. Grand
Rapids, Michigan, page 83.
For
Additional Information Contact
True
Light Educational Ministry
P.O. Box
310
Shirley,
NY 11967
Telephone
(631) 395-4646
|
|
Send mail to webmaster@tlem.net with
questions or comments about this web site.
|