Every time I hear the Covid-19 virus described as the “novel” virus I think of the many “novel” doctrines that the virus has generated among brethren. Certain passages are being explained and applied in ways that they never were before. This is suspicious on its face. Have we been wrong about these passages for all of these years? Have multiple generations of devoted Christians been wrong? The answer is no. The problem is that fear of the “novel” Covid-19 virus has caused some brethren to take these “novel” (new) positions on the Scriptures.
One new position being much touted since the onset of the virus is the notion that the authority for the Lord’s Supper is “generic.” In their desperation to find Bible authority for non-church-assembly observance of the Lord’s Supper, some brethren are now claiming that the Lord’s Supper is established upon the basis of generic authority, not specific authority. Their newfound hermeneutic allows them to observe the Lord’s Supper outside of a church assembly in any social arrangement that is convenient for them. The argument flatly ignores the fact that every aspect of the Lord’s Supper is regulated by specific divine authority! As we shall see, God specified the elements, the purpose, the day, the frequency, the duration and the place (church assembly) for observing the Lord’s Supper. Furthermore, the New Testament contains a uniform pattern of approved apostolic examples and other direct teaching that proves that the Lord’s Supper is a church assembly practice.
I am absolutely certain that most of these brethren have not considered the implications of their newfound position. It will unleash a host of new errors upon the brotherhood based upon a whole new interpretive approach as to how Bible authority is established and applied.
Conservative Bible students have for years appreciated the difference between generic authority and specific authority. Had God merely told Noah to “make an ark,” then Noah would have been authorized to make an ark from any type of materials that he chose. Had God told Noah to “make an ark of wood,” then Noah would have been authorized to make an ark from any type of wood that he chose. However, God told Noah to “make an ark of gopher wood” (Genesis 6:14). This specificity obligated Noah to use gopher wood in the construction of the ark, and he could use no other kind of wood.
Failure to appreciate the significance of specific authority results in all types of errors and false practices. For example, the New Testament specifies singing as the kind of music used to glorify God (Romans 15:9; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16; Matthew 26:30; Acts 16:25). The specific command to “sing” necessarily excludes the use of mechanical instruments of music in worship to God. (Note: As we will later observe in connection with the Lord’s Supper, inherent in God’s commands is the authority for us to use whatever lawful and expedient means necessary to execute those commands. With singing this includes songbooks and other essentials. With the Lord’s Supper it includes containers for distributing the elements.) However, in areas where God has specified, whether with regard to time, frequency, materials, action, format, purpose or other matters, we must do as God instructs.
The Lord’s Supper Is Established By Specific Authority — NOT Generic Authority
Every component of the Lord’s Supper is governed, not by generic authority but by specific authority. Even the most basic command to observe the supper contains a specific instruction related to its purpose — “do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24). There are six key areas that define and govern the observance of the Lord’s Supper. Failure to respect God’s laws results in people doing something that as Paul says, “is not the Lord’s Supper” (1 Corinthians 11:20).
- As noted, the Lord’s Supper is specific with regard to its purpose. If the authority for the Lord’s Supper was generic then we could observe it for absolutely any purpose. Of course God did not merely say, “observe the Lord’s Supper.” He assigned a purpose for its observance. We don’t eat the Lord’s Supper to commemorate the fact that Noah built an ark or that Moses parted the Red Sea or that Daniel survived the lion’s den. We observe the Lord’s Supper to commemorate the sacrifice of Christ — to remember His body and blood (1 Corinthians 11:24-25).
- The Lord’s Supper is specific with regard to its elements. If the authority for the Lord’s Supper was generic then we could use whatever elements that we choose. You could use milk and Oreo cookies. However, God specified “unleavened bread” and “fruit of the vine” (Matthew 26:17, 29).
- The Lord’s Supper is specific with regard to its duration. If the authority for the Lord’s Supper was generic then we could stop its practice whenever we choose. However, 1 Corinthians 11:26 specifies the duration of the Lord’s Supper. It is to be observed until the Lord comes.
- The Lord’s Supper is specific with regard to its day. If the authority for the Lord’s Supper was generic then we could observe the Lord’s Supper on whatever day of the week that we choose. However, Acts 2:42 and 20:7 contain approved apostolic examples of the Lord’s Supper being observed upon the first day of the week.
- The Lord’s Supper is specific with regard to its frequency. If the authority for the Lord’s Supper was generic then we could observe the Lord’s Supper as frequently or infrequently as we choose. However, Acts 20:7 contains an implication from which we infer a weekly observance of the Lord’s Supper, as noted above, upon the first day of every week.
- The Lord’s Supper is specific with regard to its place or social arrangement (the church assembly). If the authority for the Lord’s Supper was generic then we could observe the Lord’s Supper in whatever social arrangement that we choose, whether at home when we feel bad, at home when we feel good, at home when we are afraid to leave the house, on the roadside when traveling, on a cruise ship, in the bass boat, on the deer stand…etc. However, the New Testament specifies the local church assembly as the place of observance (1 Corinthians 11:18, 20, 33). Along with these direct instructions we have two approved apostolic examples of the Lord’s Supper being observed in local church assemblies (Acts 2:42 and Acts 20:7). There are no New Testament examples of the Lord’s Supper being observed outside of or away from a local church assembly.
One brother argued in a Youtube video that New Testament examples of the Lord’s Supper being observed in a church assembly are purely incidental and have no binding authority. He likened it to New Testament examples of churches meeting on different floor levels. He obviously does not know the difference between binding and non-binding examples. The fact that disciples met on different floors (1st floor, Acts 3:11, 2nd floor, Luke 22:12, 3rd floor, Acts 20:9) proves that the floor level is not binding. However, EVERY New Testament example of Lord’s Supper observance is in a church assembly (Acts 2:42; 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:17, 18, 20, 33, 34). The pattern is uniform. It is not purely incidental. If we can take this brother’s approach with regard to the Lord’s Supper passages then we can do so with other uniform examples, including passages that address church support of gospel preachers or saints-only benevolence. This brother’s new hermeneutic is dangerous and could lead to major apostasy if people accept and act upon his faulty premise.
Others are repeatedly arguing that “Paul and his companions must have taken the Lord’s Supper on the road when traveling.” This argument is based purely upon the silence of the Scriptures. Just six weeks ago these same brethren taught that silence does not authorize. What has changed?
Others cite examples of people going into a new area to start a new church. EXACTLY! They start a new church! A church can observe the Lord’s Supper even if it is a “new” church (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 11:18, 20).
It good and wise to take precautions to avoid contracting and spreading Covid-19. However, it far more important that people avoid perverting Scriptures (Galatians 1:6-9).
—Tim Haile