Won’t work. Why? God said, “You do it this way. That’s what I tell you to do. You take the red heifer, take the ashes, etc.”

Now, it’s interesting to learn that in history, shortly before the Jerusalem temple fell in AD 70, the Jews, according to Josephus, made the last preparation of “the water of separation,” and they did it as was recorded in Numbers 19. According to historians I’ve read, the Samaritans made a solution of “the water of separation” in about 1670. Whether it is still being made by the Samaritans, I do not know. But the point for our study is this: God said to make this of the ashes of a red heifer, etc. And that’s what they did.

Now, one more. In the book of Matthew, chapter 26, verses 28 and following, Jesus said to His apostles, “I want you to take this bread and eat it; I want you to take this fruit of the vine and drink it, and to do so in remembrance of Me. …this is My blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

In the giving of what we know as the Lord’s Supper, there was bread and fruit of the vine. Now, think about that for a moment. If a religious group decided to have the Lord’s Supper, what would they use? Well, I’m fairly certain if they professed to be Christian in any true sense, they would have bread and fruit of the vine.

“Why?”

“Well, don’t you see…right there [indicating the Scriptures]. That’s what it says. It says, bread and fruit of the vine. That’s what we do! I don’t understand why you don’t see that.”

“Well…what about hamburgers? You got anything against hamburgers?”

“No! I ate one today!”

“You got anything against coca-cola…root beer?”

“No! I drank a root beer today!”

Now, it’s alright to drink root beer and to eat hamburgers, if you want to, and can pay for it. If you can’t, talk to John. He’ll pay for it. [Laughter.]

But now, let’s think about that. If you decided to have hamburgers and root beer for the Lord’s Supper, would that be right? Think about it, now.

Years ago, a young man came from a little town in Illinois; came down to Freed-Hardeman. I at the time was teaching there, and Chairman of the Department of Bible. This young man stayed two or three days. He went to various Bible classes; he talked with different Bible teachers, any student, whatever. And finally, one afternoon, about two o’clock, he came to my office. He said, “I want to talk with you.”

And I said, “Fine. Let’s talk.”

He said, “I’m here to find out about churches of Christ.” And he said, “I want to know why you people don’t use instrumental music in worship.”

“Well,” I said, “that’s a good question. I’ll be happy to tell you. But, before I tell you, I want to ask you a question. Okay?” I said, “Why do you folk, when you take the Lord’s Supper in the Christian church, why do you not use chocolate pie and milk?”

“Oh!” he said, “we don’t do that!”

I said, “I know you don’t. I’m not asking whether you do or don’t. I know you don’t. What I want to know is why you do not.”

“Well,” he said, “we just don’t!”