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I have a problem when the communion is being taken and someone is singing at that time. Is this right in line of the NT or what. Please help me understand. - Herman

This is an issue with is neither scriptural or unsciptural. It is non-scriptural. The New Testament dictates very little concerning the Lord's Supper. We have an example of early Christians coming together to break bread on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7). We know that there was passover bread and what is called the "fruit of the vine (Luk 22:14-23)." We know from that Christians were to continue to partake of the Lord's supper regularly through the phrase, "as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup (1 Cor 11:26)" We know that we are to do so in a right manner (1 Cor 11:17-34). The right manner had to do with "waiting for one another" and recognizing that this was a "Christian" fellowship meal to be shared by all believers, not an occasion to be cliquish with some stuffing themselves while others who are "left out" go hungry. We are to "discern the body rightly." That is a loaded phrase since Paul didn't speficially say whether he meant the literal body of Christ, or the body of Christ which is his church. Both are intimately related, so perhaps Paul had both in mind. We should remember that we have been brought together as one body in Christ. Beyond this, there is little specific instruction concerning communion. That is why I say the issue of singing during communion is neither scriptural nor unsciptural, but non-scriptural.

I don't know how much of a problem the singing during communion is for you. If it keeps you from being able to observe the Lord's supper rightly, you need to tell the leaders. According to Romans 14, we all are to act out of love for each other, not insist on excercizing our freedoms if it will hurt the conscience of our brethren. If this hurts your conscience, let them know it does. Remember to do this in a gracious manner. When we can all serve and worship together in unity, that is what honors God. We are to consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds (Heb 10:25). So if it is hurting you, let your leaders know.

John Telgren
P.O. Box 452
Leavenworth, KS 66048
Web: epreacher.org/ask
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