The Truth in Print Vol. 26 Issue 3, Apr. 2020
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Have you changed the pattern for the Lord’s
Supper because of the Virus to please yourself?
Ok we have a stronger flu virus. Admittedly
all are concerned about one another’s wellbeing. Natural disasters or
calamities have a way of bringing us to that.
Consider
Paul’s warning about the “loss of lives” in this context on the way to Rome:
Act
27:4 When we had put to sea from there,
we sailed under the shelter of Cyprus, because the winds were contrary.
Act
27:5 And when we had sailed over the sea
which is off Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra, a city of Lycia.
Act
27:6 There the centurion found an
Alexandrian ship sailing to Italy, and he put us on board.
Act
27:7 When we had sailed slowly many
days, and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, the wind not permitting us to
proceed, we sailed under the shelter of Crete off Salmone.
Act
27:8 Passing it
with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near the city of
Lasea.
Act
27:9 Now when
much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was
already over, Paul advised them,
Act
27:10 saying,
"Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss,
not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives."
And then
what decision was made?
Act 27:11 Nevertheless the
centurion was more persuaded by the helmsman and the owner of the ship than by
the things spoken by Paul.
Act
27:12 And
because the harbor was not suitable to winter in, the majority advised to set
sail from there also, if by any means they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of
Crete opening toward the southwest and northwest, and winter there.
And how
did the storm go?
Act
27:13 When the
south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their desire, putting
out to sea, they sailed close by Crete.
Act
27:14 But not
long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon.
Act
27:15 So when
the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive.
Act
27:16 And
running under the shelter of an island called Clauda,
we secured the skiff with difficulty.
Act
27:17 When they
had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest
they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands,
they struck sail and so were driven.
Act
27:18 And
because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened
the ship.
Act
27:19 On the
third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands.
Act
27:20 Now when
neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us,
all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.
And what
did Paul remind them of?
Act
27:21 But after
long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said,
"Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and
incurred this disaster and loss.
And what
was God willing to do?
Act
27:22 And now I
urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only
of the ship.
Act
27:23 For there
stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
Act
27:24 saying,
'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has
granted you all those who sail with you.'
Act
27:25 Therefore
take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
Act
27:26 However,
we must run aground on a certain island."
Yes,
such humbles and God knows the thoughts of the righteous.
The word “granted” in verse 24
means “to preserve for one a person in peril” and that was God’s gift to Paul
that displays His concern and ability at such times. So much for the stupidity
that God does not intervene in the affairs of men. Paul had already been told
he was going to see Caesar (Acts 23:11) — and God saved all the passengers
besides the Christians on board (Paul, Luke, and Aristarchus is said to have
accompanied them)— a total of 276. What a lesson!
This was
a prolonged event.
Act
27:27 Now when the
fourteenth night had come, as we were driven up and down in the Adriatic Sea,
about midnight the sailors sensed that they were drawing near some land.
Act
27:28 And they took soundings and found
it to be twenty fathoms; and when they had gone a little farther, they took
soundings again and found it to be fifteen fathoms.
Act
27:29 Then,
fearing lest we should run aground on the rocks, they dropped four anchors from
the stern, and prayed for day to come.
Some
sailors sought to escape.
Act
27:30 And as
the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the
skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,
Act
27:31 Paul said
to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you
cannot be saved."
Act
27:32 Then the
soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.
Act
27:33 And as
day was about to dawn, Paul implored them all to take food, saying,
"Today is the fourteenth day you have waited and continued without food,
and eaten nothing.
Act
27:34 Therefore
I urge you to take nourishment, for this is for your survival, since not a hair
will fall from the head of any of you."
Act
27:35 And when
he had said these things, he took bread and gave thanks to God in the presence
of them all; and when he had broken it he began to eat.
Act
27:36 Then they
were all encouraged, and also took food themselves.
Act
27:37 And in
all we were two hundred and seventy-six persons on the ship.
Act
27:38 So when
they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship and threw out the wheat into the
sea.
The ship
wrecked as foretold.
Act
27:39 When it
was day, they did not recognize the land; but they observed a bay with a beach,
onto which they planned to run the ship if possible.
Act
27:40 And they
let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to
the wind and made for shore.
Act
27:41 But
striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow
stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the
violence of the waves.
Act
27:42 And the
soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and
escape.
Act
27:43 But the centurion, wanting to save
Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could
swim should jump overboard first and get to land,
Act 27:44 and the rest,
some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they
all escaped safely to land.
The Lord’s
Supper and the Virus
So what is this thing that some brethren in
small groups, at home, etc. are partaking of the Lord’s Supper? One of the
concerns brethren have had is that some would do that and change the saints
assembling together to break bread (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11: 17, 18, 20, 33).
Brethren viruses do
not change that! The first time I was introduced to such like is when I was a
teenager and an older member of the church took some of us fishing down in Mexico.
We lived in New Mexico. It was a long trip to Guaymas,
Mexico. We were told we’d have our own service while there on the Lord’s day. We did — we had a scripture — a few comments and
the emblems were partaken of — and off to fish we go.
I came to realize what a mistake we made as
I grew older. Likewise the repetitions today of the unscriptural arrangements
such as at the Cabin with the fellow christians you
are on vacation with, along the roadside while in travel etc. — and you’ve
heard of them all I’m sure.
When younger I recall the announcement that
those who had not yet partaken could meet in the adjoining room to the
auditorium and a brother would serve them after the service was dismissed. How
scriptural is that? It’s not scriptural but the church made that decision and
allowed it.
They did come to correct that with the
understand that the Lord’s Supper was in a planned assembly of the local church
for that purpose, and partaken of by those christians who assembled (Acts 20:7; I Cor. 11:33).
You don’t throw that out just because of a Pandemic! How lightly do some think
of scriptural authority?
Valley Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services – Classes ~10:00;
Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm
To learn more call, visit or visit our website at:
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com