Changes in the Lord’s Supper

In similar fashion, a more involved ritual was also growing up about the Lord’s Supper. It was during this time that it came to be known as the Eucharist. That’s a familiar term that’s used in Catholic churches as well as some other denominations. It actually comes from the Greek Word which means “to give thanks.” And, once again, we know from reading the New Testament that we can see the pattern there; we can understand the purpose for the Lord’s Supper; we understand how it is to be observed; when it is to be observed, etc.

However, it was, again, during this period of time that the Lord’s Supper began to be looked at with…well, I’m reluctant to say…too much reverence and awe?—I’m not sure that’s possible—but it began to be looked at in the sense that it almost became a mystical thing among a number of people, so much so that a practice was begun where only those who were specially invited, only those who were able to specifically identify themselves as “Christians,” could participate. And so, special communion services—special Eucharist services—began to be conducted.

And then, another gradual departure along this particular line involved the fact that it became an accepted practice where only members of the “clergy,” as they were emerging from the “laity,” could preside over a communion service. Likewise, the members of the “clergy” were the only ones who could officiate at baptismal services.

And so, here again, we see these departures—departures from the simplicity of the New Testament pattern, which were beginning already in these early days.

Observance of Various Religious “Holy Days”

Well, it was also during this time that more and more attention seemed to be given to special days, days which came to be known as “Holy Days.” We get our word “holiday” from that. It was during this time that the observance of what we know as “Easter” became the most prominent of the “Holy Days.” And it would also be during this time, as well, that they moved from just having one special day to specially acknowledge and recognize the resurrection of the Lord, but they began to extend that period of time. And that would eventually grow into what would be known the “Lenten Season.” Again, this was not without controversy.

None of these practices, none of these departures, were without controversy. However, as we began to see during this period of time the rise of the power and the influence of “Bishops” having influence and authority over all, the simplicity of the Lord’s government of the church and the arrangement of the church—every congregation being autonomous, every congregation being independent one from another—did slow the progress of these departures. Where one congregation might develop a certain practice and begin doing certain things like we’ve discussed here, that would not necessarily, then, affect other congregations. However, with the rise and change in the organization of the church, we begin to see, then, that these practices begin to be observed, to be recognized, on a more widespread basis.

Well, this is the period in church history from the end of the 1^st Century into the first part of the 4^th Century. And we’ve noticed that in these lessons that we’ve had that during this time the church was under severe pressure—pressure from without, by way of persecution, but also pressure from within. And the church reacted to these pressures in some regard by elevating bishops [elders], making a distinction between a “bishop” and an elder. We know, again, that it was done to help to stave off some of the false teaching which went on early in the church. It was also done so that the “bishop” could be sort of a rallying point as Christians were being persecuted. What started out as “good intentions” had disastrous long-range effects.

We also see that during this period there was a definite canon of Scriptures, but also, a number of other departures like the forming of creedal statements, the observance of “holy days”, and the changes that began to be brought about in the plain and straightforward teaching in the New Testament about baptism, about the Lord’s Supper, etc.

Each of these actions had far-reaching results in the later history of the church. This fact should remind all Christians that actions have consequences. For this reason, every action taken should be viewed not only in terms of its immediate results, but in terms of long-range results as well.