[Church_of_Christ] Re: The Melting Pot
Greetings Norman and Betsy, ED replying
Sometimes I miss a post and I don't know why. I look back and still can't find it. This is one of those. I would never have known Norman posted this had not Betsy replied to it. Thank you Betsy. I suspect the problem is with me.
Norman: To say is was the LS being tuned into a common meal come from outside sources, not scripture. Paul established this church and had already taught them how to take the Lord's Supper. He spent 1 1/2 years with them <Acts 18:11>, and a good while <Acts 18:18>. He had taken the Lord's Supper with them many times; probably about 150 times if they took it every Sunday and only on Sunday as you claim. He showed them how to take it. I am quite sure he did not show them how to remain silent while trays were past with a piece of cracker in one tray and follower by another tray with tiny cup of Welch's grape juice for 150 times and they decided later to have a common meal with alcoholic beverages and call it the LS. They didn't understand or they had forgotten the importance of it.
ED: No one can argue with Paul having been in Corinth 1 and a half years. But one can certainly point out that trouble over the LS was not the only thing that the Corinthians had messed up since Paul had left. The letter is full of stuff Paul corrects. So I doubt that you have helped your cause by acknowledging what we all agree upon - Paul was there 18 mo. The question is - what was going on with the LS reflected in 1 Cor 11. And when we read the text there is no reason to suppose that it is anything more than an abuse of the LS, turning it into a meal. I don't know where they got this - maybe from their pagan background - such was certainly practiced among the pagans. Of course, I cannot force you to adopt this, that is not my intention. All I am offering is that there is a logical explanation aside from a "love feast".
Norman: I have one question on this; can a person follow God to the fullest without knowing about the Restoration history and current study or are those mandatory for a Christian to be fully in Christ through faith in only what the NT reveals? Can I be a Christian and follow Jesus without knowing and following any traditions handed down by Apostolic Fathers or traditions learned from honest men of the RM?
ED: Yes.
Norman: I believe these are important questions. If we can, then all your arguments are moot and if we can't all my arguments are moot. Which is it? Must I have these men or can I live a Christian life without any outside knowledge to know EXACTLY what the NT church did? If it is possible to be a Christian without knowing EXACTLY what they did, of what value is honest man's interpretation of the scripture?
ED: My very participation in a forum like this is an admission that I can learn from others. It has been my experience that the more someone has studied the scripture and has developed expertise in such things as the original languages, the history of the church, etc; the more they have to offer, and consequently the more I have learned as a consequence. This is one reason commentaries are written and other books such as Bible encyclopedias, word studies, on and on. If we could not learn from others, we would be poor interpreter'
> Norman: And when we completely and openly discuss it I am sure there will remain a lot of speculative conclusions, because the Bible is silent as to exactly what the Love Feast was and how and why it was carried out. That is the reason I responded to the post. "Must I copy exactly what they did in the NT church?" Again, I must know exactly what they did, before I can exactly copy what they did and the Bible does not tell us exactly what they did; neither can the honest learned men for the last 2000 years, because the Bible is silent on much of it. Most of what we do today is not from the Bible, but traditions through the years from a lot of speculative conclusions by man.
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ED: Your parameters "exactly" and "perfectly" (in another of your postings), I do not hold to because none of us are capable of reaching such a standard. I work with what I 've got. If I can offer anything that helps another, I am glad to do so. I am equally glad when I learn from them. Let God be praised when we grow in understanding.
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