Comments on: One Covenant? http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/one-covenant/ Clarke comments on the Restoration Movement and the Church of Christ. Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:12:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.1 by: Clarke http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/one-covenant/#comment-817 Thu, 09 Mar 2006 06:27:29 +0000 http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/one-covenant/#comment-817 Jason: I don't think any of us have derived anything but the fact that Christ used both one cup and one loaf of bread when he instituted the Lord's Supper. The difference of thought here is that while one cup congregations believe that there is something essential in using one cup to take communion, the rest of us believe that the essence of the Lord's Supper is the actual taking of the emblems and remembering the Lord's painful death on the cross to cover our sins. I may be incorrect, but it does seem to me that the use of more than one cup to partake in the Lord's Supper is inconsequential to taking it. Don't get me wrong - I feel that the Lord's Supper is the most important thing that we do in our worship to God, and I take it very seriously - but I think that the form is this matter is not as important in the function when it comes to one or multiple cups. As far as Sunday schools, are they an innovation? Sure, I guess you could say so. I don't feel they are a negative one. Sunday schools are beneficial to our members and children. They provide more understanding of the bible and how to be a Christian. Jesus said in 12th chapter of Matthew that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, when questioned by the Pharisees about his activities on the Sabbath. Based on that fact, I would have to also state that it is lawful for us to good on Sunday morning before we worship. In closing, I respect the scriptures, Jason. I feel that the bible is our sole authority. However, at one time I looked at the bible, and especially the New Testament, as a book of law, a rule book. I no longer look at it in quite that sense any more. I more I read the words of Jesus, the less I consider the scriptures to be law. That is not to say that there are not commandments to be followed and obeyed, but the bible is much more than that. -Clarke Jason:

I don’t think any of us have derived anything but the fact that Christ used both one cup and one loaf of bread when he instituted the Lord’s Supper.

The difference of thought here is that while one cup congregations believe that there is something essential in using one cup to take communion, the rest of us believe that the essence of the Lord’s Supper is the actual taking of the emblems and remembering the Lord’s painful death on the cross to cover our sins.

I may be incorrect, but it does seem to me that the use of more than one cup to partake in the Lord’s Supper is inconsequential to taking it. Don’t get me wrong - I feel that the Lord’s Supper is the most important thing that we do in our worship to God, and I take it very seriously - but I think that the form is this matter is not as important in the function when it comes to one or multiple cups.

As far as Sunday schools, are they an innovation? Sure, I guess you could say so. I don’t feel they are a negative one. Sunday schools are beneficial to our members and children. They provide more understanding of the bible and how to be a Christian. Jesus said in 12th chapter of Matthew that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, when questioned by the Pharisees about his activities on the Sabbath. Based on that fact, I would have to also state that it is lawful for us to good on Sunday morning before we worship.

In closing, I respect the scriptures, Jason. I feel that the bible is our sole authority. However, at one time I looked at the bible, and especially the New Testament, as a book of law, a rule book. I no longer look at it in quite that sense any more. I more I read the words of Jesus, the less I consider the scriptures to be law. That is not to say that there are not commandments to be followed and obeyed, but the bible is much more than that.

-Clarke

]]> by: Jason http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/one-covenant/#comment-813 Tue, 07 Mar 2006 15:20:28 +0000 http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/one-covenant/#comment-813 Clarke, I do agree that all who are baptized for the remission of sins and live their lives according to God's word are Christians. I unfortuntaly do not see these things that we disagree on as "expedients". Sunday school and multiple communiuon cups are nothing more than innovatons that were brought into the Lord's church. If the Lord used one cup when he institued the communion,then who are we to change that? The scripture says he took "the" cup and "the" loaf, both indicating singular use. For the life of me I cannot understand how anyone can derive anything different than that. Clarke,
I do agree that all who are baptized for the remission of sins and live their lives according to God’s word are Christians. I unfortuntaly do not see these things that we disagree on as “expedients”. Sunday school and multiple communiuon cups are nothing more than innovatons that were brought into the Lord’s church. If the Lord used one cup when he institued the communion,then who are we to change that? The scripture says he took “the” cup and “the” loaf, both indicating singular use. For the life of me I cannot understand how anyone can derive anything different than that.

]]> by: Clarke http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/one-covenant/#comment-812 Mon, 06 Mar 2006 23:52:55 +0000 http://www.clarkecomments.com/archives/one-covenant/#comment-812 Jason: We are aware of the fellowship that believes in what you just described (though I'm not sure I would characterize it as large) and we are aware of the website (its in the links section). I'm glad you've been reading the messages here, and I welcome you to return. However, let me make a comment about the word "our." I'm guilty of using that word myself, its easy to do. I take your word "our" to mean "us over here that are different than you." I consider your congregations my congregations, or "our" congregations. We might disagree about certain expedients such as Sunday School, so called "institutionalism," multiple communion cups, etc. However, we are all brothers. We are all baptised into Christ for the remission of our sins, we are all children of the Lord. I hope you will come back on and post an affirmation of the same. -Clarke Jason:

We are aware of the fellowship that believes in what you just described (though I’m not sure I would characterize it as large) and we are aware of the website (its in the links section).

I’m glad you’ve been reading the messages here, and I welcome you to return.

However, let me make a comment about the word “our.”

I’m guilty of using that word myself, its easy to do. I take your word “our” to mean “us over here that are different than you.”

I consider your congregations my congregations, or “our” congregations. We might disagree about certain expedients such as Sunday School, so called “institutionalism,” multiple communion cups, etc. However, we are all brothers. We are all baptised into Christ for the remission of our sins, we are all children of the Lord.

I hope you will come back on and post an affirmation of the same.

-Clarke

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