Posted: 12/05/2016 at 2:20pm | IP Logged

When Jesus turned the Feast of Passover into the prophetic sign of the New Covenant, it was a meal. What happened to eat and drink in remembrance of Me is, man took over and the meal was dropped.

Slowly the meal was eliminated from the Lord’s Supper and this persists today. Most of the erosion took place over about the first 250 years after Jesus ascended into heaven and began ruling His kingdom by the Holy Spirit.

What happened?

Gradually, apostles, prophets, pastors, teacher and evangelists took over the role of work of service that all believers have in the body of Christ (Eph 4). Eventually, they became known as Apostle so and so, Prophet so and so, or Pastor so and so, as many are today. By using the word “apostle” as a title, they show their disregard for the Word of God. “Apostle” was never used as a title, only as a gift and function. It wasn’t Apostle Paul. It was Paul an apostle with a small “a.” Eventually, saints, God’s holy ones made holy by the body and blood of Jesus, were divided in to two classes, clergy and laity.

Their take over being the case, eating a Lord’s Supper meal together in remembrance of Jesus slowly dissipated.

Constantine cemented the clergy over laity class distinction when the Church allied itself with the sword of the Roman Empire beginning in the mid 300’s. The early Catholic Church took the sword and the world into the dark ages. The Crusades ran on it. When Constantine declared all Romans Christian in the late-300’s, pagan Christianity was established.

Over 100 years ago, Albert Schweitzer put it this way: “Earthly rule, because it depends upon force, is an emanation of the power of ungodliness. Authority in the Kingdom of God, where the power of this world is destroyed, signifies emanation from the divine power. Only he can be the bearer of such authority who has kept himself free from the contamination of earthly rule. To allot it to such as have prepared themselves through suffering is God’s affair and his alone, MK10:39-40.” Schweitzer, Albert, Dr. Theology, The Mystery of the Kingdom of God—The secret of Jesus’ Messiahship and passion A. & C. Black, LTD., London Written in German 1905, translated to English 1925, page 77. 

What is happening today?

Today, institutionalized clergy stands behind a pulpit or a lectern and preaches to God’s people setting in pews. It is rare to find a church where apostles, prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers equip “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12 KJV). It is equally rare to find a local church where Christians truly regard one another as ministers and expect each other to minister.

Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers and evangelists are given by the Messiah to equip us for ministry, not do it for us.

Our Shepherd detests clergy power over His people and calls His leaders to be servants and slaves to those they serve. A few days prior to His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples the kingdom way of serving:

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and bowed before Him to ask Him for something. “What do you want?” He asked her.She told Him, “Promise that one of my two sons will sit at Your right and the other at Your left in Your kingdom.” “You don’t know what you’re asking,” Jesus answered. “Can you drink the cup I’m going to drink?” “We can,” they told Him.“You’ll drink My cup,” He told them. “But sitting at My right and left is something I can give only to those for whom My Father prepared it.”

When the other ten heard about it, they got angry with James and John. Jesus called them and said: “You know the rulers of the nations are lords over them, and their great men are tyrants over them. But among you it’s different. Anyone who wants to become great among you must be your servant and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and give His life as a ransom for all people.” Mt 20:20-28 AAT

People who want to be kings and lord it over the people prefer the King James Version that says they are kings. Paul had sarcastic words for immature believers with a similar view:

Does anyone see anything special in you? What do you have that wasn’t given to you? And if it was given to you, why do you brag as if it hadn’t been given to you?

So you’re already satisfied! You’ve already become rich! You’ve become kings without us! I only wish you had become kings—we would like to be kings with you. 1 Cor 4:7-8 AAT

Ray Ashmore, a friend of mine and a kingdom man lends stark insight into this:

• When the Old Testament prophets preached, what did they receive?
  …Death.
• When Jesus Christ preached, what did He receive?
  …Crucifixion.
• When the apostles of our Lord preached, what did they receive?
  …Martyrdom.
• When Christians in the first centuries preached, what did they receive?
  …Persecution.
• When the reformers preached, what did they receive?
  …Excommunication.
• When preachers today preach, what do they receive? …Careers.

Centuries of the clergy over laity views and practices are ingrained within us. God is slowly bringing change. He is showing more and more of us believers to see ourselves as a God’s chosen race, priests in the kingdom, a holy nation of God’s own people (1 Peter 2).

How this happened over the centuries

• Jesus turned celebration of Passover into the prophetic sign of the new covenant with one another participation.
• Saints broke bread in love/agape feasts celebrated with one another as a meal in homes with food, unleavened bread and wine, remembering the death of Jesus till He comes.
• The meal was dropped where man took over.
• The Lord’s Supper went to Church. No meal was shared and the ceremony was limited to bread and wine. It was clergy over laity in pulpit and pew. The bread was and is limited to a tiny peace of bread or a wafer and only Catholic clergy drank or drinks the wine
• Luther brought the Protestant Reformation in 1517. The Lord’s Supper was still limited to bread with no meal, but wine was restored to the laity. Bread and wine was served by clergy or laity.
• Certain denominations considered any consumption of any alcoholic drink a sin. The Lord’s Supper was limited to bread and grape juice served by clergy or laity or help yourself. Just as a side. If two people from the same church in such a denomination run into each other in a liquor store, what do they do. They don’t recognized each other. My question is, what will they do when Jesus drinks it new in His Fathers kingdom and the Marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:7-9)?
• In highly efficient churches, the Lord’s Supper is observed in under 10 minutes so the leaders can go on with their agenda. A wafer and grape juice is served as fast food in cute containers a little bigger than a thimble. Just peal off the top to expose the wafer, then peal to drink the grape juice. Served by laity to laity.
• House Churches popped up. Celebrating the Lord’s Supper, saints break bread in love/agape feasts celebrated with one another as a meal shared in homes with food, unleavened bread and wine, remembering the death of Jesus till He comes. Many celebrate in the 1 Corinthians 14 mode.
  

What shall we do?

Perhaps us saints could at least celebrate the Lord’s Supper with one another as a meal shared at church with food, unleavened bread and wine, remembering the death of Jesus till He comes. Maybe we could do that once a month in lieu of Church as usual. That would be a start at restoring the Lord’s Supper to the way Jesus taught.

Bill Bremer

Related articles:

• Breaking Bread with Family Sabbath Roots
• Breaking Bread Passover Roots
• Breaking of Bread the Lord’s Supper
• Whenever you come together
• Eat and drink in remembrance of Me
• Love Feast Bible Dictionaries
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• I welcome favorable or unfavorable comments below. Or, email me.