Examining Churches and Religions
Part 4
By Allan E. McNabb

In this series we’re examining churches and religions by asking questions, eliminating false churches and religions, and identifying the Lord’s church.

The questions we’ve asked so far are:
Does the church believe Jesus is the divine Son of God?
Does the church believe Jesus is the only way to God?
Does the church teach anything different from the doctrine of Christ?
Is the church a denomination?
Is the church organized as authorized in God’s word?
Does the church wear a name authorized in God’s word?
Does the church exclusively teach and practice salvation as God commands?

By answering these questions we’re able to eliminate every religion but Christian, and every church but the Lord’s church.

Now, we continue with another question that will more clearly identify the Lord’s church.

Does the church take up a collection and observe the Lord’s Supper exclusively on Sunday?
Most churches do not worship according to the New Testament pattern.  In the Lord’s church, we partake of the Lord’s Supper and take up a collection every Sunday.
We learn from the Old Testament that when God commands something to be done on a specific day without giving any exceptions, we are obligated to do it every time the day occurs.
For example, God commanded Israel to observe the Sabbath without exception; therefore, they were obligated to observe every Sabbath.

Correspondingly, we don’t observe the Lord’s Supper or take up a collection at other times, or during other assemblies other than the assembly of the saints on the first day of the week.  God has instructed us to do these things on the first day of the week when we assemble (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2).
For example, we aren’t authorized to observe the Lord’s Supper on Saturdays or at weddings, as do some churches.
For examples, we aren’t authorized to take up a collection during midweek Bible studies.

Many man-made churches take up a collection every Sunday, but only observe the Lord’s Supper occasionally, though both are commanded to be done on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:1-2).

In my humble opinion, this reflects the hearts of men who created religions for financial gain.  They are more concerned about enriching themselves than serving Jesus, as Paul teaches regarding false teachers (1 Tim. 6:5, 9-10; 2 Tim. 3:1-2).

If a church doesn’t take up a collection and observe the Lord’s Supper every Sunday, it’s not the Lord’s church.

And if a church takes up a collection or observes the Lord’s Supper any other day, or in any other assembly other than the first day of the week assembly of the saints, it’s not the Lord’s church.

Does the church observe the Lord’s Supper as God commands?
As already discussed, the Lord’s church partakes of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday, but there are other issues to consider regarding the Lord’s Supper when examining churches and religions.

Some churches observe the Lord’s Supper as a celebration or a sign, which is not authorized in the Scriptures.
Some celebrate God’s grace with the Lord’s Supper.
Some observe the Lord’s Supper as a sign of a covenant relationship with God.
Some celebrate the advent of Christ with the Lord’s Supper.
Some observe the peace they supposedly have with God, in conjunction with the Lord’s Supper, by passing the peace (a greeting from clergy, such as, “The peace of God be with you,” after which the congregation responds, “And also with you.”).

Some churches also encourage children who are not Christians to partake of the Lord’s Supper, for which there is no authority.

And different churches have different methods of partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
Some only serve members one of the emblems, while church leaders partake of both emblems.
Some churches serve the emblems together, and others serve them separately.
Some practice tincture (dipping the bread in the fruit of the vine before partaking).

Observance of the Lord’s Supper by the Lord’s church is very different from secular churches noted above:
In the Lord’s church, we observe the Lord’s Supper as a remembrance (memorial) of Jesus, proclaiming His death (1 Cor. 11:23-26).
In the Lord’s church, Christians partake of the Lord’s Supper, not children who aren’t Christians (Acts 2:40-42).
In the Lord’s church, we partake of the emblems in the order designated by the Lord, not together (Matt. 26:26-29; 1 Cor. 11:23-25).

Examining a church’s practice regarding the Lord’s Supper, to see whether it observes the supper as God commands, helps us identify whether the church is of man or of the Lord.